Monster Hunter 4
Fourth mainline Monster Hunter title with enhanced vertical combat and online play.
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/07/this_monster_hunter_4_ultimate_box_art_may_get_its_claws_into_you · via Wikipedia: Monster Hunter 4 · Fair use
Monster Hunter 4 is an action role-playing title from Capcom, who both developed and published it. As the fourth mainline entry in the Monster Hunter series, it was also the second game in the franchise to appear on the Nintendo 3DS. The game first launched in Japan on September 14, 2013. An enhanced version, Monster Hunter 4G, was announced for Japan on January 26, 2014, and released there on October 11, 2014; this edition allowed players to carry over their save data from the original Monster Hunter 4. Outside Japan, this enhanced version was called Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and arrived in North America and Europe on February 13, 2015. It launched alongside the New Nintendo 3DS in every region except Australia, and could be purchased either as a standalone game or bundled with a 3DS XL variant of that newer console model. Players step into the role of a new Hunter who takes on quests and challenges to track and defeat dangerous creatures across various environments. Completing these quests rewards the player with items, currency, and other materials used to craft weapons, armor, gear, and consumables like healing potions and temporary buffs for future hunts. The player character does not grow stronger through experience points; instead, their effectiveness depends entirely on the equipment they bring into each quest, which improves as they tackle harder challenges. Before departing, the player can choose from fourteen basic weapon types, each requiring a distinct combat style to master. Once on a quest, the player enters a remote location divided into several smaller zones where both passive and aggressive creatures live. Exploration allows the player to gather resources such as ores, bugs, and plant parts for crafting, or to hunt smaller creatures. Some quests let the player roam freely to stock up on materials, while others task them with defeating a set number of small monsters. Most quests, however, involve hunting one or more large monsters, ending when the creature is killed or captured. These hunts are limited by a time limit and the player’s available resources. The character can fall in battle twice without penalty, restarting from the quest’s starting area, but a third defeat ends the quest in failure—as does running out of time. The player may also quit any quest at any time, forfeiting rewards but keeping items already used.
- Developer
- Capcom
- Release date japan
- September 14, 2013
- Enhanced edition
- Monster Hunter 4G (Japan, October 11, 2014) / Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (North America and Europe, February 13, 2015)
- Platform
- Nintendo 3DS
- Genre
- Action role-playing game
- Director
- Kaname Fujioka
Lore & Background
Monster Hunter 4 places the player as a fledgling Hunter traveling to the port town of Val Habar. The story follows the Hunter joining the Caravaneer's Capital Caravan to investigate a mysterious artifact called the Article, leading through villages such as Harth and Cheeko Sands. The plot involves encounters with the black dragon Gore Magala, which inflicts a Frenzy Virus on monsters, and its adult form Shagaru Magala, as well as the Elder Dragon Kushala Daora in the capital city of Dundorma.
Gameplay emphasizes three-dimensional movement, allowing fluid wall climbing and mounting monsters from height advantages. Two new weapons—the Insect Glaive and Charge Blade—were added, and underwater sections from Monster Hunter 3 were removed. The game features a Guild Quest system that generates random equipment and requires trading with other players via Guild Cards or StreetPass. Exploration Missions provide randomized maps and unique gear, including old armor designs from previous series monsters not present in Monster Hunter 4.
The enhanced edition Monster Hunter 4G/Ultimate allowed players to use save files from the original game. It was released alongside the New Nintendo 3DS in all regions except Australia, and was available bundled with a 3DS XL variant of that console. Online servers for all 3DS and Wii U software were disconnected on April 8, 2024, ending online cooperative play, though local cooperative play remains available.
Reader's Guide
Monster Hunter 4 is significant as the first handheld entry in the series to feature fully integrated online multiplayer, a major shift from previous PSP and 3DS titles that only allowed local connections. Its enhanced vertical movement and mounting mechanics influenced later series entries. The game's focus on story progression and a larger cast of NPCs marked a departure from earlier Monster Hunter titles. The Guild Quest and Exploration systems introduced randomized equipment and encouraged player interaction through trading, extending replayability. The enhanced edition, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, brought the content to Western audiences and was tied to the launch of the New Nintendo 3DS hardware. The eventual shutdown of online servers in 2024 ended online cooperative play, but local play persists. The game's legacy includes its role in expanding the series' accessibility and its introduction of mechanics that became series staples.
Did You Know?
- Monster Hunter 4 was the first Monster Hunter game on a handheld to feature fully integrated online multiplayer.
- The enhanced edition Monster Hunter 4G was announced on January 26, 2014, and released in Japan on October 11, 2014.
- The game eliminated underwater sections that were present in Monster Hunter 3.
More in Monsters & Creatures
Elsewhere in Monster Hunter
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced