"Monster Hunter" is a role-playing action game where players cooperate online and fight powerful monsters. The video game series by Capcom Co., nicknamed "Mon Hun," has steadily built up a fan base since the first game was released in 2004, with around 66 million copies of the game sold worldwide before the release of the latest title, "Monster Hunter Rise."
The new game went on sale on March 26, coinciding with the release of a live-action Hollywood adaptation film in Japan. The new franchise is sparking another "Mon Hun phenomenon."
The motto of "Monster Hunter" is "a game that is easy to play." Take their system for rewarding players who defeat monsters, for example. Regardless of whether the player fights well, the condition for earning a reward is the same for all players involved. That is, you never know who will get the better items. This can foster a spirit of cooperation among the players, as it prevents the often-seen conflict in games with a proportional reward system, which places importance on stronger players.
If you are confident, you can go to the front line during a monster fight. If not, you can run away. The players are given a wide range of involvement options and can casually join the fights -- features that have been embraced by gamers and have led to a gradual increase in sales.
The game gained popularity overseas starting with "Monster Hunter: World," which was released in 2018.
"Monster Hunter: World" sold 16.8 million units, the most in Capcom's history. Moreover, 80% of the units sold overseas, while 80% of the previous games had sold in Japan. This achievement is said to have been accomplished by doubling the supported languages to 12 and its release on the same day around the world.
"Monster Hunter" producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, who has been involved in developing the entire series, said when he went to the United States to attend an event, he was told by a local airport employee, "I play Monster Hunter."
"I realized the game was being recognized way more than before," he said. "It made me happy. I was also surprised people knew I am the game's producer."
The latest title, "Monster Hunter Rise," was also released on the same day worldwide as it was domestically, and it is available in 12 languages.
"I want to think about various developments we can make while preserving the world of the series," Tsujimoto said. "The game's history is only a little over 15 years. We want to keep it growing."
-- Music, sounds recorded overseas
The production team has built the world of the video game series with thorough research and great attention to every detail.
First, its music. The theme songs and important incidental music were performed by real orchestras, giving the music a dramatic, dignified feel.
Second, the sound effects. The sound of a jar breaking, for example, was created by actually breaking various ceramics such as flower pots and rice bowls to find the right sound. Various ideas were used to create the cries of monsters and the sounds made by their movements. The flapping of wings were depicted by rustling an umbrella or a leather jacket, depending on whether the wings are light or heavy. The monster cries were created by mixing sounds made by inorganic objects -- such as the sudden braking of a car -- with the cries of animals, such as sea lions and pigs.
The production team was apparently the most particular about the topography and the environmental sounds. Team members visited various places in Japan and overseas, including the Amazon, Scotland and Australia, to experience mountains, forests, meadows, deserts, rocky tracts and snowfields, and they used what they saw to create the background scenery.
They also recorded the sounds of their walking and moving in each location to create the varying footsteps of Hunters depending on where they are. Hunters are controlled by the players to act on their behalf in the game. The sounds of winds blowing, rivers murmuring, birds flapping, insects buzzing and animals crying were also recorded and used as sound effects, adding to the scenes where Hunters are present. The team never forgot to record sounds that would usually go unnoticed or ignored.
Tsujimoto said: "Recording sounds and images and taking pictures are important, but it is much more important for the staff to actually see, hear and smell the various locations first-hand. This gives the game its depth."
-- Producer's favorite monsters
The Yomiuri Shimbun asked Tsujimoto to name his favorite monsters.
Lao-Shan Lung:
Lao-Shan Lung has appeared in every game since the first version and is one of the largest monsters in the entire series, at 60-70 meters long. "I have a strong attachment to this one as it was the first enormous monster to appear in the series," he said. "This one is many times greater than the other monsters regarding its size and presence. When it appears, the entire feel of the game drastically changes."
Felyne:
Felyne is a symbolic character of the series that helps Hunters by cooking and being a hunting companion. The image on the right is a variant of Felyne featured in "Monster Hunter Rise." Felyne is sometimes depicted as a cute little creature, as in the image on the left. Felyne is popular especially among women. Spin-off games with Felyne as the main character and Felyne merchandise have also been created.
"Felyne is growing cuter and cuter as the series goes on," Tsujimoto said. "Felyne is indispensable to keep the world of 'Mon Hun' from becoming only rough-and-tumble. The ratio of male to female players is about 8 to 2, but when we hold events, there are usually more women than men. I think this is thanks to Felyne."
-- From game console to Hollywood
The Hollywood movie "Monster Hunter" was released on March 26 in Japan. The film was directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, known for his "Resident Evil" series (called "Biohazard" in Japan), and stars Milla Jovovich.
Hirona Yamazaki also appears as the only Japanese cast member.
In the story, Artemis (Jovovich), who leads a special forces unit, is caught in a sandstorm in the desert during a military operation and suddenly finds herself in another world where monsters thrive. To return to the real world, Artemis must join forces with the Hunter (Tony Jaa) to fight against the giant monsters.
Yamazaki plays the role of the Handler, a regular character of the game series and a guide who explains monsters and gives other information to players.
Anderson said he started playing "Monster Hunter" in 2008, and in 2009, proposed making a film adaptation. His enthusiasm did not fade, and he developed a clearer idea of the film as time went on and he continued playing the game, he said.
The world of the latest title "Monster Hunter Rise," released for the Nintendo Switch game console, has a Japanese feel to it. New features have also been added, such as a Palamute, a swift companion guide that allows a Hunter to ride on it; aerial movements using a special thread; and various actions performed by a Hunter on the back of a monster.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
