When on a quest, the player is taken to a remote location made up of several smaller areas, where both passive and aggressive creatures roam. The player can explore through these areas, taking the time to accumulate materials such as ores, bugs, and plant parts used to make gear and potions, or by slaying creatures throughout the areas. Some quests allow the player to explore the area as long as they want to accumulate goods, while other quests have the player attempt to slay a number of smaller creatures. The bulk of the quests in the game requiring hunting one or more of the larger monsters that can inhabit the areas, and ending the quest by killing or trapping the creature. These quests are limited by time, as well as the resources available to player. The character can fall in battle due to loss of health twice, causing the player to continue the quest from the starting area, but after falling a third time, the quest is considered failed, as is running out of time. The player can also quit out of any quest at any time, foregoing any rewards for it.
The player's health and stamina are limiting factors on the field. The character's health is lost due to taking damage but can be restored by health potions. Stamina depletes with many actions including running or using their weapon, and if this runs low, the character will slow down or even stop until their stamina is restored. Stamina will be restored normally by doing less aggressive actions. The maximum stamina will drain over time, and though some be restored through various health items, low stamina can limit the player's effectiveness on the field.
New to Monster Hunter 4 is movement and combat that places more emphasis on three-dimensional movement. Walls can be climbed more fluidly, and players can use height advantages to jump on and attack or even mount creatures. The game also eliminates underwater sections that were present in Monster Hunter 3.[3] The monsters are terrain-aware and use the environment to their advantage. Two new weapons have been added: the Insect Glaive and the Charge Blade.
The game's director, Kaname Fujioka, stated that Monster Hunter 4 has a larger focus on adventure and story progression than previous Monster Hunter titles.[4] Multiple base camps unlock as the player progresses, creating the largest cast of NPCs of any Monster Hunter game to date.
Monster Hunter 4 is the first Monster Hunter game appearing on a handheld to feature fully integrated online multiplayer.[5] Previous titles in the series on PSP and 3DS consoles only allowed local area connections, although online play was possible by linking through a PS3 or Wii U console.
A new "Guild Quest"[6] system has been added. Guild Quests feature different missions for each player, and will generate random equipment with slightly altered stats. In order to access more weapons and armor, players must trade their Guild Quests with other players using Guild Cards or the StreetPass function. Up to 50 missions can be saved for future use. The solo counterpart to Guild Quests—the "Exploration Missions"—generates a different map and different equipment each time it is played. Some of the equipment is unique to Guild Quests and Exploration, and features old armor designs from monsters that appeared in previous installments of the series but that do not appear in Monster Hunter 4, including but not limited to old Khezu, Rathian, and Rathalos armor sets,[7] the Qurupeco Slash Axe,[8] and the Barroth Great Sword.
.jpg)
.jpg)
