Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Gameplay

Life as a hunter is a life of challenges. When you join a travelling caravan wending its way through a diverse, sweeping land, you’ll be taking up arms against all manner of monsters. Some are small and paltry, others are gargantuan and momentous, but all require a tactical approach: learn your quarry’s individual attack patterns, weak points and behaviours to gain the upper hand, and you’ll emerge victorious.

As the environments become steeper, you’ll reach greater heights, where ascending walls and ledges gives you the ability to launch yourself onto your target and land a flurry of blows. But beware – the tide can turn quickly, as larger beasts cause the ground beneath you to crack and tilt, potentially pitching you into the next area. Worse still, enemies can even be infected by a strange virus which turns them feral: expect more aggressive, faster and downright dangerous beasts than ever before.

Here there be monsters!

Favourite monsters return, such as Tigrex and Rathian, along with the series’ largest ever fauna to hunt and take down. Prepare for behemoths such as Gore Magala, a terrifying, jet-black wyvern, or Seltas and Seltas Queen, a pair of imposing insects that co-ordinates and combines airborne assaults for devastating effect! You’ll need support options at your fingertips, and the Touch Screen can be configured for speedy access to field maps, weapons and items – lock onto the main target, too, to train your attacks accurately during the heat of battle. Palicoes provide further help, with up to two accompanying you on your quest, each with unique, adaptable equipment and skillsets.

New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL give you full dual analogue controls by virtue of the built-in C Stick, for precise command of your character and camera in even the most intense battles. Head to our New Nintendo 3DS website for more information about these systems’ new features. Owners of Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL can use the optional Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro or Circle Pad Pro XL (both sold separately) for the same exacting level of camera control.

Hunt in packs

Even if you’re a seasoned hunter, the benefits of an allied party are immeasurable, as Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate opens up a wealth of handheld allies directly via Nintendo Network for the first time. Connect with friends and other players via the internet or Local Play, tracking and hunting as a team. You can send out and receive Guild Cards with StreetPass, and seek local hunters for via Local Play for offline hire, too.

Weapon of choice

Big or small, all creatures bring rewards, as your kills can be carved for raw materials used to craft weapons and armour. Of course, the best hunter knows the importance of equipment, and the series’ broad arsenal comes expanded with two extra classes. The first is Charge Blade, a style of weapon configured as either a sword-and-shield or an axe, complete with a dual-level charge that absorbs energy from strikes to perform huge attacks. The other class, Insect Glaive, features long staves complete with flying Kinsects you can boost with all manner of powers.

All 12 of the classic classes have been updated with modifications to moves or combos, and as you hunt and carve tougher monsters, you’ll craft hundreds of undiscovered artefacts and pieces of equipment – the most hardened hunters will want to set their sights on the new, rare G-rank gear!

Multiplayer

For the seasoned hunter, the benefits of an allied party are immeasurable, and it’s never been easier to take up arms together, as Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate opens up a world of co-operative play. Connect with friends near and far, then track, hunt and despatch as a single unit, taking a share of the spoils!

Party time

For the first time ever in a handheld Monster Hunter title, you can join up to three other hunters over the internet directly via Nintendo Network! You can also form hunting parties in your vicinity, either via Local Play, or by using the ‘Hunter Search’ function, which lets you form alliances with nearby players. Plan your upcoming hunt in towns and Gathering Halls using text chat, then keep the lines of communication open during a skirmish with ‘Shoutouts’, phrases you can set before battle that inform allies what your approach is, or drop little tips for an easier kill. And if you discover worthy hunters online or locally, you can invite them to become friends – once they’re on your friends list, you can see when they’re online, and arrange sorties more easily, with Palicoes filling in when two or more team mates are battling elsewhere. So whether you’re at home or on the move, you never need go it alone…

Hired help

StreetPass is another great way to acquire strength through numbers: recruit players through ‘Hunters for Hire’ who then undertake tasks on your behalf. Receive Guild Cards from other hunters you encounter via StreetPass, then hire that hunter to quest for you in your offline game. After a set period, you’ll be able to check on them, and collect the rewards if they were victorious. You can also swap LV Quests and Palicoes via StreetPass, too!

What’s New?

As you begin your voyage, you’ll discover Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate brimming with fresh features: explore vast landscapes through a narrative thread as you voyage with a caravan to discover new villages and people. As the environments become steeper, you’ll reach greater heights – use elevation to your advantage by ascending walls and ledges, then launch yourself onto your target and land a flurry of blows, while holding on for your life! But beware – larger enemies cause the ground to crack and tilt, so be careful not to slip, as you might slide into the next area!

Spreading the disease

More alarmingly, monsters can be infected by a strange virus called ‘the Frenzy’, which makes for more aggressive, faster and downright dangerous enemies. If you take damage, the infection will spread to you, lending you harder hitting power, but robbing you of your healing ability! Some creatures even inflict ‘Bleeding’ – the more you move, the faster your health depletes! With over 120 monsters to hunt, such as the hulking Gore Magala, or the Thousand Blade Wyvern, Seregios, the fight ahead will prove a supreme challenge.

Weapons of war

Furry friends

Palicoes are small, cat-like creatures you can recruit to support you in battle. Up to two will join you on a Quest, and they have special abilities, often working together to perform Team Attacks. Just make sure you train and equip them properly: a content Palico is an effective Palico!

Brothers in arms

Hunting together is easier than ever, as dedicated multiplayer turns Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate up to eleven – connect directly to Nintendo Network for co-op play as a team of up to four players, then choreograph your assaults against the most fearsome foes! Find out more in our Multiplayer section.

Extras

There’s a stack of ways to start and expand your Monster Hunter experience – read on to discover how to keep the fight fresh.

New Nintendo 3DS XL Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Edition

From 13th February 2015, look out for an exclusive New Nintendo 3DS XL bundle containing a New Nintendo 3DS XL system, plus a copy of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate pre-installed on a 4 GB memory card. With a new C Stick for pin-point camera control, and super-stable 3D that tracks your head movement, you can be sure you’re getting the very best Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate experience with New Nintendo 3DS XL!

Cover plates

Pledge your allegiance to the hunt with two sets of special, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate-themed cover plates for New Nintendo 3DS*, available from launch.

^{*Cover plates are for New Nintendo 3DS only, and are not compatible with New Nintendo 3DS XL.}

Find out more about New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL

Add-on content

The game’s never over when there’s oodles of free* content to enjoy every first Friday of the month! There are new Quests to test you even further, plus Nintendo, Capcom and SEGA-themed weapons and armour for hunters and Palicoes! Take on fresh challenges sure to test even the most hardened hunters, and kit your hunter or Palico in outfits inspired by for famous characters including Mario,  the cast of Street Fighter, and Sonic the Hedgehog!

^{*Wireless internet access, copy of the game and Nintendo 3DS required. Acceptance of the network related terms and privacy policies required.}

Nintendo eShop demo available

Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted, so why not get the edge over the enemy with a downloadable demo from Nintendo eShop**? Featuring beginner and advanced modes, there’s a perfect challenge for everyone, while full local and online co-op lets you join friends near and far for multiplayer hunts!

^{**Nintendo Network ID registration required to download demos from Nintendo eShop. Terms and conditions apply.}