Monster Hunter Freedom

It’s literally an Action-RPG with Harvest Moon elements. Not to mention the atmosphere of the game is very well created with the feeling that you actually are in a world of dinosaurs and there is a chance you will die.

The devil may indeed be in the details, but if you dive into Freedom with the mind-set of "knowing is half the battle," you'll be rewarded with a game that will provide you with--no lie--over 100 hours of truly compelling gameplay. [Jun 2006, p.100]

It's a lot more game than you'd expect from your average handheld title, and one that transcends the usual, disposable nature of portable games.

Monster Hunter is certainly an acquired taste. But if you can appreciate the appeal of crafting, if RPGs aren't just about you leveling something, and if you're willing to try something completely different, you're in for a long, open-ended treat.

A great game that could have been much better had there been a real online mode (especially with that VoIP headset, damn it).

The game's short-burst quests and small-scale exploration are perfectly suited to a handheld game, and while it's easy to get into, it gets more fun and involving the more you play.

There are hundreds of ways to style your character at the beginning.

It's Capcom's welcome variation on conventional RPG's, the difference being that you don't really go anywhere. [Sept. 2006, p.81]

It's obvious that the developers spent a long time adapting the single-player mode to compensate for the lack of the online mode. The four-player co-op mode is played via the ad-hock wireless system. Having players equipped with different weapons, both Blade and Gunner style, you will be able to hunt effectively as a team by ambushing the creatures, flanking them or forcing them down paths loaded with traps. [JPN Import]

While it’s unfortunate that Freedom shipped without an online mode, the single-player campaign and multiplayer mode have enough content to produce more than 100 hours of gameplay. It’s one of the longest, most involved titles on the system.

There might not be any online multiplayer, but Freedom makes sure that the player never runs out of things to do. And where else can you find cats who cook for you?

Its sharp visuals, lengthy quests and interesting concepts make this a delightful romp well worth taking if you like hunting and action.

The learning curve is steep and takes time, but the replay value in MHF is very high as there is easily 40+ hours of fun things to do.

An epic RPG quest that rewards patience. It's slow-paced, but once you're strong enough to tackle the bigger monsters it really shines. Just don't expect anything ground-breaking. [June 2006, p.81]

It should be online: simple as that. With just a few people in your vicinity, it's no monster. [June 2006, p.66]

Yeah, it controls fine and looks fantastic, but it suffers the same "been there, done that" feeling as other PS2-to-PSP ports, in this case with the added handicap of no online play. [Jun 2006, p.118]

Monster Hunter Freedom is an improved experience over its PS2 single player counterpart but you won't get the most out of the game until you can find some hunting buddies and really give the multiplayer a proper workout.

The seemingly simple process of having a working camera and an enemy lock-on system has been neglected and as a result we’re left with a ‘nearly’ title – one of those ‘it could have been really good’ situations.

While it's great to build your own hunter and create weapons and armor with creative aspects, and some of the monster hunting is thoroughly enjoyable, the game runs into some slight problems with gameplay and camera control that keep it from being in "freedom" of flaws.

It's a shame that Freedom isn't playable online, and there are a few awkward and unforgiving gameplay elements that hurt the overall experience, but determined hunters will find this quarry worth pursuing.

Despite an almost abandoned lobby when trying to play online, something tells me that Monster Hunter Freedom has so much more to offer once a larger community of gamers get hold of it.

Freedom offers countless missions and roleplaying elements such as mining, fishing and gardening.

The freedom and range of item management creates huge scope for personalised gameplay and strategy, and while the dawdling pace won't suit many, those able to respect the game's qualities should find the experience very rewarding.

MHF is definitely not a game for newbies, and it's not a big fan of loners, but there's some real fun to be had along with the frustration.

Alas, the ridiculous lengthy load times sap much of the fun, and the game only gets really interesting when you play with friends in ad hoc mode. [Jun 2006, p.87]

By neglecting to address the fundamental problems of the original and slicing out the online play, Monster Hunter Freedom negates the few improvements it makes to its PlayStation 2 predecessor.

It may have a pouch full of original ideas, but Freedom makes too many basic errors to be a serious PSP predator. [May 2006, p.87]

If you’ve the patience, Monster Hunter is worth a look – just don’t expect to fall in love with it immediately. [June 2006, p.132]

Freedom's slower pace, lack of story, and frustrating camera do little to warm the cockles of an action fan's heart, but those brave enough to slog through its rough spots will find the game improves with time.

Staking its claim in the under populated wilderness betwixt classic story-driven RPG and balls-to-the-wall splatter action, it's a worthy evolution of a still-fresh franchise and a rather impressive addition to the PSP line up in its own right.

At least the presentation is top-notch: Both the graphics and music are fantastic. The large mythical creatures look stunning.

Combined with clunky controls and a bad camera, Monster Hunter Freedom winds up about as appealing as a pile of the Wolfman's droppings. [Jun 2006, p.119]