Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 151 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Game Cover
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is a culmination of the series as a whole, noting all that made past entries great, while building upon them to craft something new, cohesive, and greater than the already fantastic sum of its parts.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is an action-packed game that offers a vast world filled with dangerous creatures and valuable resources. As a hunter, you can choose from 14 weapon classes and craft hundreds of armor sets to take on challenging quests solo or with a team of up to three other players via local or online play. Embark on an epic journey to discover the source of a mysterious virus while hunting colossal monsters in this immersive and expansive game.

  • Nintendo 3ds
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 151 reviews
story14 positive mentions
grinding26 negative mentions
  • The game offers a thrilling and addictive gameplay loop of hunting monsters, crafting gear, and facing increasingly challenging foes, making each encounter feel rewarding.
  • There is a vast variety of weapons and armor, allowing for deep customization and catering to different playstyles, which enhances the overall experience.
  • The online multiplayer feature is well-implemented, enabling players to team up with friends or others to tackle tougher monsters, adding a social element to the game.
  • The game can feel grindy, requiring players to repeatedly hunt the same monsters to gather materials for crafting, which may deter some players.
  • The learning curve is steep, especially for newcomers, as the game does not always effectively teach its complex mechanics and systems.
  • Some players may find the controls clunky, particularly on older 3DS models, which can hinder the overall combat experience.
  • story81 mentions

    The story in this game is generally considered its weakest aspect, with many reviewers noting it as uninspired and lacking depth, primarily serving as a backdrop for the multiplayer experience. While some players appreciate the offline story and its integration with tutorials, the overall narrative is often overshadowed by the grind-heavy quest structure and the focus on combat. Despite these criticisms, the game offers a rewarding progression system and engaging gameplay that keeps players entertained, even if the story itself is not a primary draw.

    • “The game has a well-written storyline with accompanying quests.”
    • “You will watch yourself grow as you progress through the story, and it truly feels rewarding.”
    • “Other features of the game that are enjoyable: great story mode, old monsters come back stronger or in groups to fight again, varying detailed terrain, and the ability to mount the monsters.”
    • “As for story... it's probably the weakest part of the game.”
    • “The story is quite uninspired and doesn't feel like Capcom spent much effort on it.”
    • “But honestly, no one plays Monster Hunter for the story.”
  • gameplay36 mentions

    The gameplay in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is a blend of action and RPG elements, characterized by a slow and methodical pace that encourages players to master its complex mechanics, such as armor skills and item combinations. With improved climbing mechanics, a variety of new monsters, and enhanced multiplayer options, the game offers hundreds of hours of addictive and challenging gameplay, making it both accessible for newcomers and rewarding for veterans. Overall, it represents a significant evolution in the series, providing a rich and engaging experience on handheld systems.

    • “Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate represents some of the most epic, complete, complex, and satisfying gameplay available on a handheld system.”
    • “The age-old addictive Monster Hunter formula and gameplay is here, reinvigorated and improved - faster, more accessible, more difficult, more rewarding; more weapon classes, more monsters, the addition of lag-free and seamless online play; verticality is a legitimate game changer, and adds so much to the game.”
    • “Long, engaging game, fights are generally fast-paced and challenging, changes to the engine with climbing and ledges really benefit the gameplay, a vast improvement over the older games, a very impressive range of monsters to fight.”
    • “The gameplay, however, is somewhat unorthodox in that it plays as an action game with RPG elements, but is very slow and methodical.”
    • “You'll be hard pressed to finish even the single player if you don't learn the game's mechanics such as armor skills, combining items, and palico management.”
    • “I can admit when I'm not good at a game, but I can only do so much when the game mechanics feel like garbage.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    The game is heavily grind-focused, requiring players to repeatedly battle monsters to collect materials for weapon upgrades, which can lead to a sense of monotony. However, the combat remains engaging and varied, with each encounter offering unique challenges. While some players appreciate the purposeful grinding, others find it tedious and suggest that the game could benefit from more diverse quests and story elements to alleviate the repetitiveness.

    • “On the downside, it is a little bit grindy to get the rarest monster parts and the small number of maps quickly grows stale.”
    • “You will be spending a lot of time farming, and learning combos and monster moves.”
    • “It's grindy and the controls could use some work.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered adequate for the 3DS, with some reviewers noting enhancements in performance and graphical fidelity on the n3DS. While the visuals may not be outstanding and there are occasional frame drops and texture issues, the overall smoothness and impressive 3D monster designs contribute positively to the experience. However, some players feel that the graphics could still be improved, especially on older 3DS models.

    • “So yes, the game, despite not being exclusive to the n3DS, is factually enhanced in both performance and graphical fidelity.”
    • “[A more accessible Monster Hunter, complex systems add serious long-term depth, impressive 3D visuals and monster design, new weapons and mechanics enhance gameplay.]”
    • “[Online multiplayer is just what the series needed. Graphics really push the 3DS. Gameplay has been refined and made a bit more user-friendly. Hours of potential gameplay.]”
    • “Graphics: not great visually, but runs very smoothly.”
    • “[sometimes unforgiving difficulty, large time investment required to see endgame, graphics and textures still a little underwhelming]”
    • “[sub-par graphics at times, could try harder to teach new players, rare drops can be frustrating, reused moves from older monsters on new ones can be very obvious]”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game is optimized to run better on the New 3DS, offering enhanced performance and graphical fidelity; however, players on the standard 3DS and 3DS XL report smooth gameplay without any noticeable performance issues. Overall, it is accessible and enjoyable across different 3DS models.

    • “New 3DS XL, runs smoothly; gameplay: amazing.”
    • “The game is supposed to be better for the New 3DS, but I play it on my 3DS XL and I never had any difficulties or noticed low performance. So if you have a 3DS and not a New 3DS, it's definitely not a problem; you can buy and enjoy Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate!”
    • “So yes, the game, despite not being exclusive to the New 3DS, is factually enhanced in both performance and graphical fidelity.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The game is praised for its strong sense of humor, highlighted by funny dialogue and quirky characters, including amusing cat companions with useful abilities. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone that balances the challenges of gameplay, providing a comedic relief amidst the action. Overall, the humor enhances the multiplayer experience and enriches the game's world with engaging interactions and quests.

    • “Hilarious cat companions with very useful skills.”
    • “The game has a great sense of humor shown in the individuals you talk to, and despite the danger and frustration of failing to beat up a monster, gives you lots of opportunities to train elsewhere and hone your skills before proceeding.”
    • “Built-in multiplayer, funny dialogue, more towns, more quests.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is generally considered solid, though some players find the accompanying sound effects, like palico meowing and heavy breathing, to be distracting, leading them to prefer playing with their own music instead.

    • “The graphics are fine for 3DS, and the music is solid.”
    • “Sometimes the random palico meowing or the strained breathing from sprinting annoys me, too, but that's why I play with my own music on.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users consistently report that the game exhibits excellent stability, with no flaws or glitches encountered, indicating a polished and reliable experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

Play time

382hMedian play time
306hAverage play time
153-382hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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