Though a little complicated, Monster Hunter Tri is fresh and very unique when it comes down to it.
I'll start by openly declaring this game is not for everyone. I imagine that Monster Hunter Tri will only appeal to a certain group, and that gamers from other genres who might be lured into this game based on elements that it seems to possess (Fantasy appearance, monsters, swords and fighting) might not find it that interesting. If you're a gamer who enjoys a great plot and an interesting cast of characters, this game isn't for you. It has no story line, and the entire premise is that you have come to a village plagued by vicious monsters in order to free the village from its terror. Beyond that, there is nothing else. So, if you're coming into this game looking for a story, forget it. You won't find it in Monster Hunter Tri. Though the Non-Player Characters do coin in some witty dialogue now and again, it doesn't compensate for what I imagine most people will have in mind if they come into this game at the wrong angle.
If you're still interested, then I'll highlight what makes this game so fantastic. The monsters you fight in Monster Hunter Tri are amazing. They tower over you and act like what you would imagine a monster would act like in real life. To fight these extreme beasts of varying size and power, you'll need some serious weapons, and the weapons in Monster Hunter Tri are just what you need. There are multiple classes to choose from, such as a traditional Sword and Shield, Longswords, bowguns, and all are equally unrealistic and in a way nearly comical, but they're a blast to use and are well balanced when it comes to combat. Each differs itself in playing style as well, which helps to keep combat alive and fresh with new weapons.
Combat in Monster Hunter Tri is the key element. Most of your time will be devoted to slaying gargantuan creatures. The combat at first feels dreadfully clunky and I've seen people complain about a lack of a lock-on feature, but after a few hours of practice it isn't hard to be killing like the best of them. The Monsters themselves are very diverse and all are unique. Each has its own catalogue of moves, and no two monsters feel too alike. Even after fighting the same monster for a while they can still surprise you with a trick or two.
Upon the death of a monster, you are given the chance to carve parts of that monster and take them back to the village. Once there, you can use these parts to upgrade new weapons and armor. These upgrades serve as the only way to advance your character, as there is no leveling system or experience points. Each set of armor has a set of skills that improve your character in different ways, and the weapons increase in power and ability with each upgrade. This sounds simple, but actually the system that is used is difficult and can become frustrating when your attempting to create an armor set. The amount of parts you receive at the end of a quest varies, also what you receive varies, so you might find yourself fighting the same monster over and over in an attempt to get a single material to finish some helmet or to finally get that weapon upgrade. You'll find yourself gathering items and parts throughout the game. Though it is a bit of a chore and can get horribly tedious, it doesn't take away from the overall experience.
Also an important fact, the game fails to really explain in detail what each menu is for and the mechanics of the game. The instructions are somewhat shallow and don't elaborate on how one is to navigate certain elements of the game or work certain features. An important parts of the game are never fully explained to the gamer, which can lead to frustration and misunderstandings. I was forced to search on the internet for explanations on how specific things worked in order to play fully. After learning these unexplained elements though, you'll be able to navigate the odd menus and work the strange nuances without issue.
Graphically speaking, Monster Hunter Tri is astounding for a Wii game. The environments are well detailed and look beautiful, and the art design is truly inspired. The locations you visit in the game are very diverse and each has its own feel to it. Exploring the world of Monster Hunter Tri is a unique experience in itself. The monsters which you face are equally brilliant. All are very original and look and act very accordingly. The sound for the game is also a high point. The monsters all sound appropriate to their appearance and their style, which helps to keep you sucked into the game, and the soundtrack is fabulous. You'll hear melodious tunes while you peruse a greenland isle, and intense scores in the heart of a volcano. Also, the beat picks up when a monster spots you, which then gears into a rousing and frantic combat theme.
The game encourages lots of customization, as you create your own character based on a menu with many good selections for face models and even character voice effects. Nothing to crazy, but the kind of things you'd find in a Legend of Zelda style of game, all the grunts and shouts. There are many weapons to choose from in each class and a catalogue of armors that reflect the appearance of the monster whose parts you're using to construct them. The armors are as outlandish as you would expect from a game such as this, but the artistic style is great and the armors are a lot of fun to look at.
And the last thing I'll mention is the online play. Though you have the option to launch off into a solo-play adventure, you are also able to head off to a city where you can fight with up to four random strangers or personal friends in epic combat just like you would in single player. The online mode is easy to use. As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, your good. Its completely free, which is a bonus, and it provides a lot of features that aren't available in the Solo player mode. Among changes from Single player to Multi player is that you are given a hunter rank which determines which quests you are allowed to undertake. As you complete quests, the rank rises, which then unlocks more difficult quests for you to undertake. Playing in online will take getting used to, as it is still somewhat complicated, but the community is very friendly and most users will be more than happy to give you advice on how to get started. Also, helpful NPCs are everywhere in the city environment to assist you.
All in all, Monster Hunter Tri, while it might not be appealing to all and can be a little complicated for a newer player, is a fantastic game for those of us who can overcome a few bumps, such as repetitious item gathering or poor instructions, to get to the core of a truly inspired game. It offers limitless options and is so diverse that getting over 100+ hours is a breeze. The style and combat are exceptionally unique, and I have yet to see a game like it. My only warning is that this game will steal any free time you have, it's very addicting and hard to put down.