Monster Hunter Tri, also called Monster Hunter 3, is the third console version in the Monster Hunter series. It was created by Capcom and first released for the Wii in Japan on August 1, 2009. The game later came out on April 20, 2010, in North America, April 23 in Europe, and April 29 in Australia.
Originally, the game was planned for the PlayStation 3, but this was stopped because it was too expensive to make for that console. Capcom chose to develop it for the Wii instead. Before its release, a demo of Monster Hunter Tri was included with Japanese copies of Monster Hunter G. A special package was also sold on August 1, 2009, which included the game, a black Wii console, and a Classic Controller Pro. On August 3, 2009, Capcom announced the game would be made available in North America and Europe. On February 24, 2010, Capcom said online play would be free. In North America and Europe, the game used separate servers and supported Wii Speak, which was the first Monster Hunter game to include built-in voice chat. The game was both well-received by critics and popular with players. An improved version called Monster Hunter 3 (tri-) G in Japan and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate in other regions was released for the Nintendo 3DS in December 2011 in Japan and March 2013 in North America and Europe. The online servers for the Wii versions of the game in North America and Europe were closed on April 30, 2013.
Gameplay
Players of Monster Hunter Tri play as a hunter from the Hunting Guild, who is sent to help Moga Village, a small fishing community that is in danger from monsters on a nearby deserted island. To help the village, players complete free hunts on the island, where they gather materials and defeat or capture monsters. These monsters are turned into resources that can be used to improve the village. Players also complete time-limited quests for the Guild, usually by defeating or capturing a monster in a specific area, which gives in-game money (zenny) and materials to create equipment that helps players fight stronger monsters. Improving the village allows players to access a farming area and a fishing fleet, where they can collect herbs, mushrooms, bugs, and honey. These resources can be used to create companions that assist during hunts and to trade for rare items.
The player's character starts with 1 base defense and can increase it by creating armor. Players choose from one of ten weapon types, divided into melee weapons like swords and hammers, and ranged weapons like bows and bowguns. Each weapon has a different way of being used. For example, sword users must perform a series of attacks to build up a combo meter, which increases damage but requires attention to the weapon's sharpness. Bow users can fire quick, weak attacks or use special coatings on arrows to weaken enemies. Players can also wear different armor sets that improve attack and defense. Some weapons and armor have slots where gem decorations can be added to boost their power. Certain armor pieces provide special skills, and if a player equips a full set that meets specific skill thresholds, they gain extra benefits, such as full resistance to fire or poison. Players can switch weapons and armor in the village.
To progress in the game, players must collect parts from large monsters they are assigned to kill. These parts are used to forge or upgrade weapons and armor. With better equipment, players can take on harder Guild quests, which give access to more monster parts and resources for crafting stronger gear.
During hunts, players have a health and stamina meter (each maxes out at 150), and an item pouch with limited space for storing resources like healing potions, bombs, and materials. Some materials can be combined to make stronger items, such as more powerful healing potions. If the pouch is full, players must choose to discard or replace items. If a player's health drops to zero, they are rescued to a base camp and can continue. However, if they die three times, they are sent back to the village without any rewards from their adventure. Stamina decreases during intense actions like running, dodging, or attacking, but regains while walking. If stamina runs out, the character must pause briefly to recover, making them vulnerable to attacks. Stamina also decreases over time in the field, though some items can restore maximum stamina. During free hunts, players can leave the field and return to the village at any time, keeping collected items. During quests, failing to complete the mission or abandoning it means losing any rewards.
Players with both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions can transfer their character data between the systems, allowing them to continue building their character on either device.
In Monster Hunter on the Wii and Wii U, players can join online quests with up to four others, represented by characters traveling to a nearby city harbor. The game uses the same character data as the single-player version, letting players build better equipment from rewards in both modes. Online quests feature tougher monsters because more players are available to fight. Quests are divided into ranks, and players must complete all quests in a rank before moving to the next. Players can trade limited items, such as healing supplies, with others during online quests or in the game’s trading system, but cannot trade equipment, monster parts, or resources needed for crafting.
The Wii version of online play was shut down, but the Wii U version remained active until the Nintendo Network closed in 2024, a decade after the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service was discontinued.
Development
The ecosystems in Monster Hunter Tri now include underwater areas. In a 2017 interview, Director Kaname Fujioka explained that the team wanted to add underwater sections and combat to the game. They aimed to try something new and test how underwater battles could work. Although underwater combat was included in Tri, Fujioka noted that creating these sections required too much time, which limited development for other parts of the game. Because of this, underwater combat was not included in later Monster Hunter games. However, the team hopes to return to this idea in the future.
Eighteen new monsters were added to the game. Three of the bosses from previous games—Rathalos, Rathian, and Diablos—returned, but their interactive AI was completely changed. Each weapon type received new moves and updates. Some weapon classes were removed, likely because the team had limited time to program underwater battles for each type. The weapon classes that remained in the final version included Sword and Shield, Great Sword, Hammer, Bowguns (Light and Heavy), Lance, Longsword, and the new Switch Axe, which can change between Axe and Sword forms.
According to producer Tsujimoto Ryozo, "[Capcom] love the idea of voice chat and know that it is important for Western players," which suggested that Monster Hunter Tri might include support for the Wii Speak microphone peripheral for Western releases. This feature was later confirmed. Two special bundles of the game were announced. One bundle for North America and Europe included a black Classic Controller Pro. A European-exclusive bundle included a Wii Speak device and a Classic Controller Pro. GameStop offered a free demo disc of the game in North America. GAME confirmed a European-exclusive bundle containing the game, a Wii Speak device, a black Classic Controller Pro, and an ornamental head of the monster featured on the game's cover art, Lagiacrus.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is a video game designed for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems. It is similar to Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. The 3DS version was released on December 10, 2011, in Japan as Monster Hunter Tri G. This version includes local wireless play. In Japan, Famitsu confirmed that Monster Hunter Tri G was an expanded version of Monster Hunter Tri. It was the first game to support the Circle Pad Pro add-on. The game was released in two special packages: one included a limited-edition 3DS, and the other included the add-on. It was also released for the Wii U, which features improved HD graphics, full online and local multiplayer options, and the ability to transfer game progress from the Nintendo 3DS. The Wii U version is called Monster Hunter 3G HD Ver. in Japan and was released on December 8, 2012, when the Wii U launched in Japan. The 3DS version was later made available as a downloadable game on the Nintendo eShop two days earlier at a slightly lower price. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was later released in North America and Europe as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on March 19 and 22, 2013, for both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. Monster Hunter 4 for the 3DS was also announced, originally scheduled for release in Japan the same month as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate in North America and Europe, but was delayed until Summer 2013. A demo version of the game was released on February 21, 2013.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate brings back underwater combat, which was not included in the Japanese-only sequel to Tri, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. This is the first time that the Gunlance, Bow, Hunting Horn, and Dual Blades weapons have been used in underwater battles. The game also reintroduces G-Rank, a level higher than high rank, which includes new quests, stronger monsters, and improved weapons and armor. G-Rank was not present in any Monster Hunter game since Monster Hunter Freedom Unite and marks the first time it appears in a third-generation Monster Hunter title. The game features a new online hub called "Tanzia Port," which is different from the "Loc Lac City" hub in Tri. Unlike "Loc Lac City," players do not need to be online to access "Tanzia Port," allowing them to complete quests independently.
Reception
The game and the Ultimate versions received "favorable reviews" on all platforms, according to the video game review website Metacritic. In Japan, Weekly Famitsu gave the Wii version a score of 40 out of 40, making it the 11th game to receive a perfect rating from the magazine in its 20-year history. It was also the third game for the Wii to earn this honor.
411Mania gave the Wii version a score of 8.8 out of 10 and described it as "a game with a lot of content to enjoy, featuring a rewarding system that keeps players interested. If you have friends who also enjoy the game, you can spend many hours hunting together. Even if you play alone, there is a lot to do. However, while fans of the series will likely enjoy Monster Hunter Tri, Capcom has some problems to fix if they want to attract more Western players." The A.V. Club gave it a B+ and said, "The complex parts of creating new gear from monster parts are a reason to explore Monster Hunter Tri’s world." The Escapist gave it a score of four out of five stars and stated, "There is something very satisfying about defeating a large monster and wearing its skin in triumph."
The Digital Fix gave the Wii U version a score of nine out of ten and said it "could be the best reason to own a Wii U at this early stage in the console’s life. The single-player mode is easier for new players to learn, while the more challenging missions will keep experienced players happy. New monsters and one new location were added, but the main game features are similar to previous games in the series." The National Post gave the same version of Ultimate a score of 8.5 out of 10 and noted, "The larger screen and 1080p HD graphics improve the game’s appearance, but the graphics are not much different from those on a handheld system. The game runs more smoothly now, and online play is available." However, the newspaper gave the 3DS version a score of 7 out of 10, stating, "On the 3DS, the only option is local play. This means all players must have a 3DS, a copy of the game, and be in the same room together, or be in the same room as someone with the Wii U version. Limited multiplayer, the lack of a second analog stick for camera control (without an extra add-on), and very small, hard-to-read text are reasons the 3DS version has a lower score than the Wii U version." The Daily Telegraph gave the Wii U version a score of four out of five stars and said, "The Monster Hunter series continues to be excellent but can be hard to understand, even after changes to make it easier. How much you enjoy the game depends on how much time and effort you are willing to spend. If you are short on time or patience, you might skip it. But if you enjoy learning a game thoroughly, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is essential." Digital Spy gave the same version a score of four out of five stars and said, "With exciting battles, great online play, and free challenges in the future, Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate is exactly what Nintendo’s new console needs." The Escapist also gave it four out of five stars, saying, "While some players might find the game challenging, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is a great game. It is especially good when played with others."
Monster Hunter Tri sold over one million copies before its Japanese release date. It was the top-selling game in Japan for the week ending August 2, 2009, with 520,000 copies sold. By December 12, 2009, Monster Hunter Tri was the best-selling third-party video game for the Wii in Japan, with 960,000 copies sold. By June 30, 2012, over 1.9 million copies had been sold on the Wii. By December 31, 2015, 2.6 million copies had been sold on the 3DS.