Zero Punctuation: Monster Hunter Tri

[KelsieKatt]

That does make sense. But alot of people would wait there for a while, and play the game wondering what the hell happened to continuiety now-a-days

Yeah, it's a bit confusing at first, as the initial map that you load up and do quests on stays fairly similar (aside from a few changing monsters, which someone probably wouldn't even notice) for the first few hours before you open up alternate levels. So, it's not surprisingly that people might assume it to be identical every single time or label it as some kind of open world. However, that's not the case at all since the monsters within a level change drastically depending on the mission, and there are several different types of levels as well. Like snow, volcano, swamp, desert, etc.

 

[Count Igor]

That does make sense. But alot of people would wait there for a while, and play the game wondering what the hell happened to continuiety now-a-days

Yeah, it's a bit confusing at first, as the initial map that you load up and do quests on stays fairly similar (aside from a few changing monsters, which someone probably wouldn't even notice) for the first few hours before you open up alternate levels. So, it's not surprisingly that people might assume it to be identical every single time or label it as some kind of open world. However, that's not the case at all since the monsters within a level change drastically depending on the mission, and there are several different types of levels as well. Like snow, volcano, swamp, desert, etc.

To be honest, I'm on the fence about getting it.

I'm taking it you like it?

 

[cynicalsaint1]

This really has to be his most half-assed review ever. Now I'm not mad that he trashed the game, I saw that coming a mile away, this sort of game is totally not the kind of thing that he's going to like. I'll give him that the game starts out slow as hell, and I almost gave up on it myself - but I stuck it out till I hit the 3* quests then things started really picking up, and then I tried some online hunting and had a load of fun.

While overall I enjoy the game, and hunting big-ass monsters with my friends online is fun enough that I'm willing to forgive many of the negatives, there are a ton of things that he could have picked on, but the only thing he really touched on was the fact that the game starts out really !@#$ing slow (which I'll give him, I really was on the brink of giving it up before I started finally getting into it). So instead of an amusing examination of all the problems the game has, it just seems lazy and half-assed to me, and a perfect example of why I don't really take him all that seriously as a game critic. And I was really looking forward to this one too.

Too bad. Hopefully next week's will be better.

 

[Dfskelleton]

Wow, Yahtzee completely missed the point of the game. Me thinks he didn't play long enough to fight some of the bigger monsters.

People always say things like this, but the problem is that if it isn't good enough to keep you interested in the game, then it isn't a well developed game. It's much like Stephen King's "IT." If you're willing to read the first five hundred pages, then you might actually get to the part that most people consider good. The problem is keeping the reader engaged for the first five hundred pages of a thousand page book. In that aspect, King failed. To me, just as that book was a failure, so is any game that you put some serious play time into, but it's just after you finally give up out of sheer boredom that it's supposed to be good.

Exactly. I tried reading IT, but I couldn't get past page 50 before being bored to death. Games like this and prototype where you start of with weak weapons and it gets more fun the further in you get can't compare to games like Alan Wake and Doom where it starts off fun and gets better. Don't get me wrong, prototype is really fun once you get something besides the claws power. However, that's about 5 minutes, whereas Monster Hunter Tri, as I've heard, takes about an hour and a half of gameplay before that happens.

 

[KelsieKatt]

To be honest, I'm on the fence about getting it.

I'm taking it you like it?

Personally, I like it a lot. Although, I realize that it's the kind of game that may very well not appeal to a lot of people. As it's essentially a one trick pony that focuses entirely around boss fights, boss fights, and more boss fights. And personally, I love boss fights, a lot. So, that works great for me, especially considering that it's one of the few games I can play in 4 player coop as well (said coop also have significantly more content than the single player campaign, which isn't even available offline), so for me, all around I enjoy most of it a lot. Other than that, I also like the tactical nature of the combat system as it's not simply a game where you can just charge in and wail on stuff, as that sort of strategy is likely to get you killed in a span of seconds. Attacks take a fairly realistic amount of time per swing and you need to plan before doing so, otherwise you could leave yourself vulnerable, and of course there's the whole recognizing different tactics that the bosses employ and using them to your advantage.

In that particular respect, namely the tactical nature of the combat, it reminds me a lot of Demon's Souls, which is another game I got a lot of enjoyment out of. However, once again, I can see why many people might hate it.

Although, if boss fights, coop, tactics, etc... aren't someone's thing, chances are they won't enjoy it even remotely. So, it's not the kind of game I would recommend to just anyone.

 

[cynicalsaint1]

Exactly. I tried reading IT, but I couldn't get past page 50 before being bored to death. Games like this and prototype where you start of with weak weapons and it gets more fun the further in you get can't compare to games like Alan Wake and Doom where it starts off fun and gets better. Don't get me wrong, prototype is really fun once you get something besides the claws power. However, that's about 5 minutes, whereas Monster Hunter Tri, as I've heard, takes about an hour and a half of gameplay before that happens.

I get this, I really do - but when your entire review is basically "The game started off too slow for me to get into, and I gave up before things started getting good" what's the point of even making an entire review in the first place?

Yes, I think the game taking too long to get into the real meat of the game is a very valid complaint. But an entire review where this is really the only point made is just lazy.

 

[Count Igor]

To be honest, I'm on the fence about getting it.

I'm taking it you like it?

Personally, I like it a lot. Although, I realize that it's the kind of game that may very well not appeal to a lot of people. As it's essentially a one trick pony that focuses entirely around boss fights, boss fights, and more boss fights. And personally, I love boss fights, a lot. So, that works great for me, especially considering that it's one of the few games I can play in 4 player coop as well (said coop also have significantly more content than the single player campaign, which isn't even available offline), so for me, all around I enjoy most of it a lot. Other than that, I also like the tactical nature of the combat system as it's not simply a game where you can just charge in and wail on stuff, as that sort of strategy is likely to get you killed in a span of seconds. Attacks take a fairly realistic amount of time per swing and you need to plan before doing so, otherwise you could leave yourself vulnerable, and of course there's the whole recognizing different tactics that the bosses employ and using them to your advantage.

In that particular respect, namely the tactical nature of the combat, it reminds me a lot of Demon's Souls, which is another game I got a lot of enjoyment out of. However, once again, I can see why many people might hate it.

Although, if boss fights, coop, tactics, etc... aren't someone's thing, chances are they won't enjoy it even remotely. So, it's not the kind of game I would recommend to just anyone.

Sounds like it'd be one of my top games if I got it.
I dooo lurv to strategise.

Well, I'm off to buy it... at some point in the future. Thanks

 

[mike1921]

"Hey, Yahtzee's reviewing Monster Hunter Tri. I wonder if he'll complain about the Wii. Again."

(...)

"Well, what do you know. He almost made it all the way through."

Why shouldn't he complain about the wii? Due to the nature of the console it is extremely relevant to any game that is on it.

 

[crypt-creature]

Why shouldn't he complain about the wii? Due to the nature of the console it is extremely relevant to any game that is on it.

In this case, the fact the game is on the Wii isn't really that big of a deal. At all.
What he complains about are minute things, the load times are long in every version of MH that has ever been produced (people saying it doesn't have a good enough processor for this type of game don't know what they're talking about).
The fact that you can use a 'classic' controller, and that you can get the game with one (which is different, it has 'handles' like a PS2 controller) makes it easier for normal, casual, or 'hardcore' gamer to use.

The console itself doesn't exactly hinder the game or experience, and affects very little.

 

[milskidasith]

If the tutorial lasts significantly longer than oblivion's, and I can't skip it, and the tutorial itself isn't fun, for me that's enough of a reason not to even consider renting a game.

It's 15 minutes of stuff that's boring, and 45 minutes of doing missions that involve fighting minion monsters that attack you, before you get to the actual bosses.

Judging by yahtzee's opinion of the game (or you say the tutorial), it was a bad idea whether you know what you're doing or not.

Yahtzees opinion is based on not reading what the game says (it says "OH NO THIS IS THE GIANT END BOSS FLEE", not "Oh look, a big monster. Maybe another will show up if you wait in rank one missions instead of actually playing the game."), and playing... well, it doesn't even seem as if he got to the mission to hunt Jaggis, which is 15 minutes into the game, and he certainly didn't reach the first boss. I consider it more likely it's due to laziness than the fact he really couldn't be assed to play 15 minutes.

 

[mike1921]

Why shouldn't he complain about the wii? Due to the nature of the console it is extremely relevant to any game that is on it.

In this case, the fact the game is on the Wii isn't really that big of a deal. At all.
What he complains about are minute things, the load times are long in every version of MH that has ever been produced (people saying it doesn't have a good enough processor for this type of game don't know what they're talking about).
The fact that you can use a 'classic' controller, and that you can get the game with one (which is different, it has 'handles' like a PS2 controller) makes it easier for normal, casual, or 'hardcore' gamer to use.

The console itself doesn't exactly hinder the game or experience, and affects very little.

So, if the game was on another console or the PC , and it had a faster processor, would the load times be reduced?

The fact that you can use another controller means the game shouldn't be on the wii. The wii's only selling point is motion controls. If a game that doesn't need motion controls is being made I don't think it belongs as a wii-exclusive title. Especially if it'll have load time problems on the wii.

 

[milskidasith]

Why shouldn't he complain about the wii? Due to the nature of the console it is extremely relevant to any game that is on it.

In this case, the fact the game is on the Wii isn't really that big of a deal. At all.
What he complains about are minute things, the load times are long in every version of MH that has ever been produced (people saying it doesn't have a good enough processor for this type of game don't know what they're talking about).
The fact that you can use a 'classic' controller, and that you can get the game with one (which is different, it has 'handles' like a PS2 controller) makes it easier for normal, casual, or 'hardcore' gamer to use.

The console itself doesn't exactly hinder the game or experience, and affects very little.

If the game isn't
So, if the game was on another console or the PC , and it had a faster processor, would the load times be reduced?

The fact that you can use another controller means the game shouldn't be on the wii. The wii's only selling point is motion controls. If a game that doesn't need motion controls is being made I don't think it belongs as a wii-exclusive title. Especially if it'll have load time problems on the wii.

It doesn't have load time problems. The load times have been identical for all the games. The game runs just as well on the Wii as it did on the other systems. The wii has sold more than twice as well as the other systems. Putting it on the Wii is the smart business choice.

Please, don't make comments like "It shouldn't be on the Wii because of X issues" when A: you don't know about the issues (or, in your case, are just making them up as you go along) and B: you don't understand that more game sales = more money, so the Wii is the platform of choice when the game works equally well on all consoles, or at least a completely fair choice.

 

[KelsieKatt]

So, if the game was on another console or the PC , and it had a faster processor, would the load times be reduced?

Probably not. They're already only like half a second long at best.

The main purpose of the loading screens is to seperate different areas within levels, to make it easier to track a boss while fighting it. So, no matter the system, it would still be there.

 

[mike1921]

Why shouldn't he complain about the wii? Due to the nature of the console it is extremely relevant to any game that is on it.

In this case, the fact the game is on the Wii isn't really that big of a deal. At all.
What he complains about are minute things, the load times are long in every version of MH that has ever been produced (people saying it doesn't have a good enough processor for this type of game don't know what they're talking about).
The fact that you can use a 'classic' controller, and that you can get the game with one (which is different, it has 'handles' like a PS2 controller) makes it easier for normal, casual, or 'hardcore' gamer to use.

The console itself doesn't exactly hinder the game or experience, and affects very little.

If the game isn't
So, if the game was on another console or the PC , and it had a faster processor, would the load times be reduced?

The fact that you can use another controller means the game shouldn't be on the wii. The wii's only selling point is motion controls. If a game that doesn't need motion controls is being made I don't think it belongs as a wii-exclusive title. Especially if it'll have load time problems on the wii.

It doesn't have load time problems. The load times have been identical for all the games. The game runs just as well on the Wii as it did on the other systems. The wii has sold more than twice as well as the other systems. Putting it on the Wii is the smart business choice.

You said

the load times are long in ever version of MH

If that's not a load time problem I don't know what is. Maybe load times being too short?

Please, don't make comments like "It shouldn't be on the Wii because of X issues" when A: you don't know about the issues (or, in your case, are just making them up as you go along) and B: you don't understand that more game sales = more money, so the Wii is the platform of choice when the game works equally well on all consoles, or at least a completely fair choice.

You admitted the load times are long, that's an issue. I looked at the game, it looks as ugly as WoW, that's also an issue. Are you telling me capcom are so incompetent where no matter where they put this game it'll look ugly and load slowly?

So, if the game was on another console or the PC , and it had a faster processor, would the load times be reduced?

Probably not. They're already only like half a second long at best.

The main purpose of the loading screens is to seperate different areas within levels, to make it easier to track a boss while fighting it. So, no matter the system, it would still be there.

...........I'm getting the impression you and milsk are talking about two completely seperate games.

 

[milskidasith]

So, if the game was on another console or the PC , and it had a faster processor, would the load times be reduced?

Probably not. They're already only like half a second long at best.

The main purpose of the loading screens is to seperate different areas within levels, to make it easier to track a boss while fighting it. So, no matter the system, it would still be there.

Admittedly, if it was on the PS3, it might have high definition wavey grass in the foreground. Seirously, that's the only major difference I can notice between good looking Wii games and HD games on other consoles. Well, that, and that HD games also do a lot more close ups on characters faces so we can see the HD shading, but besides those two things... I really don't see the whole "srs business" about HD. It's not like SD games look like old compressed video files or crappy cell phone videos uploaded to youtube, after all. Then again, I play Dwarf Fortress, so maybe I'm just used to amazing games coming without graphics.

 

[milskidasith]

You said

the load times are long in ever version of MH

What the hell are you talking about? That wasn't me who posted that. Seriously, you're complaining about the load times in a game you haven't played, then outright lying about what I've said. Are you *trying* to make yourself sound bad?

If that's not a load time problem I don't know what is. Maybe load times being too short?

Load times aren't long, at all. .5 to 2 seconds, at best, except when you first encounter a boss, the load times stretch from 1 to 3 seconds to load the intro video.

Please, don't make comments like "It shouldn't be on the Wii because of X issues" when A: you don't know about the issues (or, in your case, are just making them up as you go along) and B: you don't understand that more game sales = more money, so the Wii is the platform of choice when the game works equally well on all consoles, or at least a completely fair choice.

You admitted the load times are long,

No. I. ****ing. Did. Not. Please, stop the bullshit here. Honestly, I could put up with dozens of people making up issues out of thin air (as you've done) and arguing about issues they've heard of incorrectly but haven't played (as you've done) but seriously, do NOT make up shit I haven't said and try to strawman me.

that's an issue. I looked at the game, it looks as ugly as WoW, that's also an issue. Are you telling me capcom are so incompetent where no matter where they put this game it'll look ugly and load slowly?

Doesn't load slowly, doesn't look ugly.

.I'm getting the impression you and milsk are talking about two completely seperate games.

I'm getting the feeling you're trolling.

 

[mike1921]

You said

the load times are long in ever version of MH

What the hell are you talking about? That wasn't me who posted that. Seriously, you're complaining about the load times in a game you haven't played, then outright lying about what I've said. Are you *trying* to make yourself sound bad?

[/quote]
No, I didn't realize you and crypt-creature are two seperate people.

If that's not a load time problem I don't know what is. Maybe load times being too short?

Load times aren't long, at all. .5 to 2 seconds, at best, except when you first encounter a boss, the load times stretch from 1 to 3 seconds to load the intro video.

Please, don't make comments like "It shouldn't be on the Wii because of X issues" when A: you don't know about the issues (or, in your case, are just making them up as you go along) and B: you don't understand that more game sales = more money, so the Wii is the platform of choice when the game works equally well on all consoles, or at least a completely fair choice.

You admitted the load times are long,

No. I. ****ing. Did. Not. Please, stop the bullshit here. Honestly, I could put up with dozens of people making up issues out of thin air (as you've done) and arguing about issues they've heard of incorrectly but haven't played (as you've done) but seriously, do NOT make up shit I haven't said and try to strawman me.

that's an issue. I looked at the game, it looks as ugly as WoW, that's also an issue. Are you telling me capcom are so incompetent where no matter where they put this game it'll look ugly and load slowly?

Doesn't load slowly, doesn't look ugly.

.I'm getting the impression you and milsk are talking about two completely seperate games.

I'm getting the feeling you're trolling.

Dude, read the fucking post I was responding to before you started responding to me, I confused you with that guy. I wasn't trying to strawman you. I thought you actually said that.

Although I will never let go of: It looks ugly. Ugly enough where the only thing that could justify it on a non-portable console is it being a MMORPG

 

[milskidasith]

No, I didn't realize you and crypt-creature are two seperate people.

Yes, I totally believe that you could consider somebody with a completely different avatar, avatar size, title, posting style, and name the same person even when you actually had to go up and quote the other persons post.

Do you think I'm really that stupid?

that's an issue. I looked at the game, it looks as ugly as WoW, that's also an issue. Are you telling me capcom are so incompetent where no matter where they put this game it'll look ugly and load slowly?

Doesn't load slowly, doesn't look ugly.

Dude, read the fucking post I was responding to before you started responding to me, I confused you with that guy. I wasn't trying to strawman you. I thought you actually said that.

I read it. His avatar is completely different than mine, so you either have a .0001 second attention span between seeing his post and scrolling down to see mine, or you're bullshitting. Since you seem fairly intelligent and have enough attention span to continue the argument, I'm calling bullshit.

Bullshit.

As for looking as ugly as an MMO: It looks far better than WoW; I don't even know how you can say that with a straight face. Furthermore... it is an MMO. Haven't you gotten that yet? It's all about playing with three other players online, and it manages to have better netcode than most Xbox, PS3, or PC games.

 

[mike1921]

No, I didn't realize you and crypt-creature are two seperate people.

Yes, I totally believe that you could consider somebody with a completely different avatar, avatar size, title, posting style, and name the same person even when you actually had to go up and quote the other persons post.

Do you think I'm really that stupid?

that's an issue. I looked at the game, it looks as ugly as WoW, that's also an issue. Are you telling me capcom are so incompetent where no matter where they put this game it'll look ugly and load slowly?

Doesn't load slowly, doesn't look ugly.

Dude, read the fucking post I was responding to before you started responding to me, I confused you with that guy. I wasn't trying to strawman you. I thought you actually said that.

I read it. His avatar is completely different than mine, so you either have a .0001 second attention span between seeing his post and scrolling down to see mine, or you're bullshitting. Since you seem fairly intelligent, I'm calling bullshit.

Bullshit.

I don't remember people's avatars unless you're one of like...5 people on this board. I wouldn't notice if you changed your avatar to a picture of a dog in the middle of this conversation if you didn't draw my attention to it.

As for looking as ugly as an MMO: It looks far better than WoW; I don't even know how you can say that with a straight face. Furthermore... it is an MMO. Haven't you gotten that yet? It's all about playing with three other players online, and it manages to have better netcode than most Xbox, PS3, or PC games.

It looks the same to me. that's just multiplayer and online, not massively multiplayer. 4 player co-op does not make a game an MMO. Even if it's central to the game. Leftt4Dead2 is all 4 player co-op and it's not an MMO.

 

[milskidasith]

No, I didn't realize you and crypt-creature are two seperate people.

Yes, I totally believe that you could consider somebody with a completely different avatar, avatar size, title, posting style, and name the same person even when you actually had to go up and quote the other persons post.

Do you think I'm really that stupid?

that's an issue. I looked at the game, it looks as ugly as WoW, that's also an issue. Are you telling me capcom are so incompetent where no matter where they put this game it'll look ugly and load slowly?

Doesn't load slowly, doesn't look ugly.

Dude, read the fucking post I was responding to before you started responding to me, I confused you with that guy. I wasn't trying to strawman you. I thought you actually said that.

I read it. His avatar is completely different than mine, so you either have a .0001 second attention span between seeing his post and scrolling down to see mine, or you're bullshitting. Since you seem fairly intelligent, I'm calling bullshit.

Bullshit.

I don't remember people's avatars unless you're one of like...5 people on this board. I wouldn't notice if you changed your avatar to a picture of a dog in the middle of this conversation if you didn't draw my attention to it.

I'm not sure how many times I'm going to have to repeat this: Bullshit. Even if you aren't paying attention to them, a mostly black avatar and a mostly white avatar are different enough you would even notice with your peripheral vision.

EDIT: As for looking like an MMO... I have the opposite vision of you, apparently. MMOs look like pixellated, badly compressed crap (in most occurances), while the difference between Wii games and Xbox/PS3 games hardly look different except for the fact Xbox/PS3 games have wavey grass in the background, or spilling guts, or close ups of faces with a ton of detail on the shading. Even then, I care more about the game than the graphics, if that's your only complaint. Again, I'm possibly crazy, since I play Dwarf Fortress and rogulikes.