Critically and commercially beloved the world over, the Monster Hunter franchise is set to unleash its most ambitious offering yet in Monster Hunter Wilds. Second only to the juggernaut Resident Evil franchise in lifetime sales, it’s fair to say that Capcom’s long-running Monster Hunter series has been and continues to be a tentpole for the Japanese publisher/developer. Thus, in preparation for what looks to be one of the biggest launches of the year, here is the core history of Capcom’s Monster Hunter series to get you appropriately jazzed.
Monster Hunter (2004)
Kicking the whole thing off on Sony’s beloved PlayStation 2 home console back in 2004, Capcom’s Monster Hunter gave gamers a monster-hunting adventure quite unlike any they had experienced before. With two different hunter types (Gunners and Blademasters), Monster Hunter invited players to specialise in several subtype classes as they set out to take down a range of hulking beasts – in a surprisingly substantial game world – by using attacks, special skills, traps and more. With a robust progression system underpinned by a pleasingly broad haul of new gear that can be scooped up, Monster Hunter arguably got its claws into its super passionate fanbase early on. Notably, Monster Hunter was also one of the few games to support the PS2’s ill-fated modem accessory, providing players with the option to go online with two other hunters to tackle special Event Quests.
Monster Hunter 2 (2006)
Typifying an approach that favours refinement over revolution, Monster Hunter 2 (or Monster Hunter Dos, as it was also known), sought to iterate on an already resoundingly sound design bedrock. Never released outside of Japan, Monster Hunter 2 brought several fresh features to the table such as seasonal weather, that can stymie or benefit hunters during combat, a proper day-night cycle and, of course, all-new monsters and weapons to boot. Finally, in addition to a gem socketing system that allows for additional boosts to armour and weapons, Monster Hunter 2 also allows players to take on special quests where they choose between hunting small or large beasts, with approximate rewards issued in each case. Hardly a revolution then, but still an important part of the Monster Hunter legacy all the same.
Monster Hunter Tri (2009)
Knocking Sony’s then shiny PlayStation 3 console to the curb for a spell due to substantial development costs, Monster Hunter Tri was the first core Nintendo-centric entry in the series and in being so, wholesale changed and upgraded many of the series core systems. When Monster Hunter Tri was released on Nintendo Wii back in 2009, Monster Hunter’s third core entry brought underwater hunting to the franchise for the first time, along with four-player online co-op play. One of its biggest reinventions, aside from a vibrant and fresh visual upgrade that fully utilized Nintendo’s legendary home console hardware, is how the quests and side activities are presented. Instead of feeling like a dry checklist of tasks, they are more organically connected through an overarching narrative. With Monster Hunter Tri, the series looked like it had finally started the first steps along a path of evolution welcomed by both longtime series veterans and newcomers alike.
Monster Hunter 4 (2013)
Akin to how Monster Hunter Tri demonstrated a sizable, almost generational leap over its predecessor, so too would Capcom impressively repeat that feat with Monster Hunter 4 on Nintendo’s wildly popular 3DS handheld. First things first, Monster Hunter 4 would achieve a series first, allowing players to play completely online without the need to link through a home console (handheld Monster Hunter titles had previously only permitted LAN play). Compared to previous series entries, Monster Hunter 4 also boasted a much more laser-like focus on story progression, enabling players to gain access to multiple base camps and the greatest number of NPCs the series had seen to date at that point.
Other meaningful leaps which Monster Hunter 4 made were centred around the core design of the series. Fully leveraging its 3D worlds, Monster Hunter 4 would place a premium on traversal and environmental gameplay, allowing players to more easily scale walls and other such obstacles, in addition to providing lofty ledges for brave hunters to leap and attack monsters, or even in some cases, mount them and redirect their attacks elsewhere on the battlefield. Regrettably, though, the underwater environments that were such a staple of Monster Hunter Tri didn’t make the cut in Monster Hunter’s core fourth entry, which arguably felt like a regressive step at the time.
Elsewhere a brand new Guild Quest system provided players with unique missions that in turn dished out a bounty of randomly generated gear. The kicker though, is that these quests could also be traded with other players, creating a sort of ‘gotta catch ’em all’ incentive in the process. The newly added Exploration Missions, meanwhile, acted as a single-player alternative to Guild Quests, with each mission creating a random map and gear set and thus provided Monster Hunter 4 with a heap of replayability.
Monster Hunter Stories (2016 & 2021)
Though not a core entry in the strictest terms, the Monster Hunter Stories games, which ultimately spanned two titles, are nonetheless worthy of mention solely because of how brazenly they shun the traditional Monster Hunter formula. As alluded to by the title, the Monster Hunter Stories represented a shift away from the traditional, mission-based hunting structures embraced by the core games in favour of a JRPG-style affair. With vibrant, though simplistic visuals and a turn-based battle system that in turn underpins a fairly epic story filled with bouncy and charming characters, Monster Hunter Stories couldn’t be more different from the core offerings in the franchise and as something of a palette cleanser, it roundly succeeded as a means for the series to branch out beyond its long-established raison d’etre.
Monster Hunter World (2018)
If the Monster Hunter Stories games represented a bouncy and somewhat lively diversion from traditional series trappings, then 2018’s Monster Hunter: World is a Laviente-sized lurch back in the other direction. Making full use of the impressive horsepower of eighth-generation home consoles, Monster Hunter: World not only boasted very large and seamless open-world maps where nary a loading screen could occur during play but also provided a sizable uptick in monster, NPC and environmental detail as well.
Bringing some 34 new monsters to the table and then rendering them into terrifying life with a level of fidelity previously not seen and tying it together with a fully fleshed-out storyline with actual characters that you might care about, Monster Hunter: World was every bit the next generation franchise entry that fans had hoped for. Supplementing such sizable improvements, Monster Hunter: World also made several more subtle and meaningful tweaks to the formula as well – introducing new ‘Tempered State’ monsters that presented an elevated challenge for seasoned players, along with a generally higher combat speed to make Monster Hunter: World feel like the most responsive game we had seen in the series to date at that point. Oh, and it’s also worth noting that Monster Hunter: World marked the series’ arrival on PC in the West – and they certainly picked a great one to make the leap with!
Monster Hunter Rise (2021)
Originally developed and released for Nintendo Switch in 2021 before enjoying ports to PC and other consoles in the years that followed, the more colourful and less fidelity-focused Monster Hunter Rise is arguably a step back from the epic spectacle of Monster Hunter: World in some ways, although it did have a couple of tricks up its digital sleeve to still make it a worthwhile entry in Capcom’s long-running series. First off, traversal had seen something of an upgrade, with hunters able to run along walls, ride into battle on new Palamute companions and sprint through the environment with speeds previously not seen in previous series offerings. Elsewhere, a reworked skill system allowed players to switch out skill sets mid-battle, providing Monster Hunter Rise with a tactile feeling in combat that was missing from some of the series’ previous entries.
If you’ve enjoyed past Monster Hunter games, Monster Hunter Wilds promises to take the experience to a whole new level. With deeper storytelling, seamless exploration, and fresh mechanics that build on everything fans love, it’s shaping up to be the most immersive entry yet. Whether you’re a longtime hunter or a newcomer looking for an epic adventure, there’s never been a better time to jump in. Don’t miss out – grab Monster Hunter Wilds now at Green Man Gaming and get ready to embark on your next great hunt!
