Monster Hunter Through the Ages: A Journey from PS2 to Wilds

The Capcom logo has inspired awe in many generations of gamers for decades. Over its forty years of existence, the company has created numerous iconic games, and some of its projects have even been adapted into films featuring renowned actors such as Jean-Claude Van Damme and Milla Jovovich.

In the early 2000s, Capcom was undergoing a period of change. The Resident Evil series had not yet reached its revival with the fourth installment, and Devil May Cry, despite the success of its first entry, divided its audience with the second game. During this time, the company decided to experiment with multiplayer games on the PlayStation 2. At the time, multiplayer on consoles usually meant split-screen gameplay, so creating a full-fledged online multiplayer experience required developing an entirely new concept. Capcom decided to create three multiplayer games simultaneously, hoping that at least one of them would reach one million copies in sales.

In 2004, Monster Hunter debuted on the PlayStation 2, starting with 500,000 copies sold, most of which were in Japan. However, after being ported to the Wii and PSP in 2005, the game achieved true success, selling over two million copies, although international reviews remained average.

Monster Hunter

Image: x.com

When Sony released the network adapter for the PlayStation 2 in 2004, Capcom began developing experimental online games for this new infrastructure. One of the fruits of these efforts was Monster Hunter—a third-person action game where players could team up with friends to take down giant monsters. Inspired by games like Sega's famous Phantasy Star Online, Monster Hunter established its signature gameplay loop from the very beginning: gather, craft, hunt, repeat.

However, after its release, Monster Hunter received less-than-favorable reviews, with critics even calling it a "living fossil." Suffice it to say, the game was not a sales hit. Nevertheless, Capcom continued developing Monster Hunter G, adding new monster subspecies, increasing the number of armor sets, and, most importantly, expanding the weapon roster. Monster Hunter G never made it to the West, but its expansion, Monster Hunter Freedom for the PSP, did.

Monster Hunter found its audience on the PSP in Japan, where its cooperative gameplay became incredibly popular in a market that was (and remains) enamored with portable gaming consoles. It was for this market that Capcom began working on the second generation of Monster Hunter.

Monster Hunter 2

Image: worthplaying.com 

Monster Hunter 2 debuted in 2006 on the PlayStation 2 as a Japan-exclusive release, introducing key features such as upgradable armor, "jewel skills," and the now-iconic weapons: the longsword, lance, hunting horn, and bow. However, it was at this point that the series began transitioning from consoles to portable devices, a move that would eventually turn it into the giant we know today.

As Monster Hunter gained momentum in Japan, another expansion for the PSP was commissioned, and in 2007, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 was released worldwide. This game marked the beginning of Monster Hunter's cult status in the West, with many players being introduced to the franchise through Monster Hunter Freedom 2. A year later, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite was released, adding the G-Rank endgame for experienced players, as well as numerous new monsters and, for the first time, downloadable quests. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite sold 3.8 million copies worldwide.

Monster Hunter Tri

Image: youtube.com

Significant changes came with Monster Hunter Tri (2009), which transitioned to the Nintendo Wii and 3DS. The game introduced a new roster of monsters, the series' first underwater level, and an improved resource-gathering system. Special attention was given to the Lynians—small anthropomorphic creatures that became an important part of the gameplay. The popularity of the feline Lynians led to the creation of a separate spin-off.

Sales of Tri on the Wii reached nearly two million copies, setting a record for the mainline series. However, the PSP and 3DS versions performed even better. As a result, Monster Hunter 4 (2013) was released exclusively on portable devices.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Image: nintendomaine.com 

In 2011, Monster Hunter 3G was released for the 3DS, and two years later, in early 2013, a full-fledged online release for the Wii U and 3DS followed. Released in the West as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, this game introduced several quality-of-life improvements to address some of the frustrations players had. The addition of a target lock-on button made it easier to play the portable versions, and a save transfer service allowed players to take their characters from the 3DS to the Wii U and vice versa. New monsters, zones, and weapons not present in the original Tri were also added.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate began to generate genuine excitement for Monster Hunter in the West; the Wii U's online services and built-in microphone made online play seamless, eliminating the need for local co-op, unlike its portable counterparts. With new quests, subspecies, and added depth through armor modification using jewels, the customization aspect of Monster Hunter became even more profound, evolving with each release.

Following the success of Monster Hunter on the Wii, 3DS, and Wii U, Nintendo sought to claim a larger share of the portable gaming market to bolster its 3DS lineup. It was around this time that rumors emerged about the next Monster Hunter game skipping Sony's PlayStation Vita, as Capcom had signed a three-year exclusivity deal with Nintendo. Although these rumors were never officially confirmed, they now seem plausible—from 2013 to 2017, Monster Hunter was entirely absent from Sony's systems.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Image: monsterhunter.fandom.com 

Monster Hunter 4 was released in late 2013 as a Japan-exclusive for the 3DS, featuring greater verticality in its environments and gameplay, as well as a stronger focus on the single-player campaign's narrative and full online functionality. In late 2014 in Japan and early 2015 in Europe, an expansion titled Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was released alongside the "New" Nintendo 3DS, with full support for the console's second analog "nub." The expansion also introduced more monsters and the G-Rank mode. Critics praised the game: Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate received an impressive 86 on Metacritic and became the best-selling entry in the series outside Japan at the time of its release.

After the Monster Hunter 4 formula was solidified, Capcom decided to refine the movesets and styles of each weapon, adding flashy finishing moves to the next installment. In late 2015, Monster Hunter Generations debuted in Japan as Monster Hunter X (Cross), and in 2016, after fans demanded a Western release, the game was localized. Featuring 72 different hunting styles and filled with locations, maps, and assets from the series' rich history, the game included 93 unique monsters and is often regarded as one of the best entries in the series.

Around the same time, Capcom attempted to broaden the series' appeal by releasing the spin-off Monster Hunter Stories, which took a more traditional JRPG approach and eventually made its way to the West in 2017 after its initial Japanese launch in 2016. Despite the shift in approach, the game resonated with fans.

Monster Hunter: World

Image: steamcommunity.com

When Nintendo's exclusivity period ended, Capcom seemed eager to take Monster Hunter to the next level. While the series had enjoyed incredible success on Nintendo hardware, it was clear that by ignoring PC, Sony, and Microsoft consoles, Capcom was missing out on a significant portion of potential revenue. A next-generation game was needed. 

Monster Hunter: World leveraged the power of PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, being unveiled at E3 2017. The bold shift in color palette, emphasis on melee combat, and various quality-of-life changes initially sparked skepticism among long-time fans, but the removal of loading screens for large areas and drastically improved visuals captivated audiences—Monster Hunter: World sold over 25 million copies worldwide, becoming Capcom's best-selling game of all time. 

"Monster Hunter: World is the best entry in the franchise to date," reviews from that time stated." The transition to the PS4 has done it wonders: stunning visuals and environments you'll want to get lost in. Vibrant and thrilling battles will spark countless conversations among friends, and significantly improved online features make it easy to find help." Following this, Capcom released the expansion Monster Hunter World: Iceborne in 2019, which sold an impressive 7.2 million copies. Iceborne is a truly monstrous expansion. Capcom has exceeded all expectations, creating an additional adventure that breathes incredible new life into Monster Hunter World and sets a new standard for the series in terms of sheer quality. Iceborne is Monster Hunter at its best.

Monster Hunter Generations

Image: pinterest.com

However, the story doesn't end there. In 2017, Monster Hunter Generations spawned another expansion for the 3DS in Japan—Monster Hunter XX, which remained exclusive to the region. In August 2017, Japanese players received an updated version of the game for the newly released Nintendo Switch, which was released in the West as Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.

With Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate releasing so close to each other, it seemed that the future of the series would depend on how well each "style" performed. The massive commercial success of World might have suggested that Capcom would continue down this path, but the announcement of Monster Hunter Rise for the Nintendo Switch in 2020 put those fears to rest. Capcom had no intention of abandoning the vast number of portable gaming fans in its native Japan—the very fans who had propelled the series to success during the PSP and 3DS eras.

Monster Hunter Rise

Image: steamcommunity.com

After the overwhelming success of World, it was hard to imagine Capcom replicating such success. And while Rise was by no means as successful as World, its sales figures were astronomical compared to previous entries.

The game marked a return to the form of earlier titles after World, introducing easily trackable monsters that facilitated faster hunts. It also introduced Wirebugs, which significantly improved traversal, and, as always, a host of mysterious monsters.

A year after its release, the PC version of Sunbreak became the equivalent of World's Iceborne expansion for Rise. It added the ability to switch Wirebug skills mid-battle, new areas (including the return of the Jungle), and several truly inspired new monsters. Alongside Rise, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin was released in 2021—another attempt by Capcom to expand the franchise into the JRPG genre.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Image: steamcommunity.com

The release of Monster Hunter Wilds on consoles and PC is being positioned as a potential contender for "Game of the Year." The project has been in development for seven years following the release of World.

The gameplay follows the series' traditions. Players use a rich arsenal of weapons and traps to track down bizarre and dangerous creatures. These creatures drop valuable resources used to upgrade equipment and hunt larger prey. The game features several biomes presented as open worlds. Notable new additions include a unique mount and enhanced functionality for certain types of gear, making battles more dynamic than ever before.

Main image: steamcommunity.com