So Kojima has proven that Monster Hunter also works well if you cannot use any slicing weapons or hammers with his latest game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. So I was wondering what other mashups could also prove to be cool. Because, let’s face it, Monster Hunter just makes about everything better (except maybe trying to study for your exams). Hit the “read more”-button to get to the list.
Monster Hunter has become incredibly popular these days. Just today I was talking to a friend when he mentioned MH Tri. It went something like this “Dude, I saw this trailer of a Wii game. It looked totally amazing with em big swords and dragons. I wonder what the name of it was…” – “Monster Hunter?” – “Right, right! Monster Hunter! What is the game about?”
It’s pretty awesome to see the game getting popular. Especially if you’ve been playing for years and now see how hunters struggle to make their way to the Top hunter ranks ^^ Anyway, following this “new trend” a lot of people have started drawing comics and mangas of Monster Hunter. Huge weapons, giant wyverns, tales of heroes… kind of seems predestined for great stories. Enclosed you find my top 4 comics with a short description of each one. Also, the site will from now on feature a “Comic” section. So if you know any other Monster Hunter Comics (the same goes for other cool Monster Hunter sites) please leave a comment and let me know.
Inkoseh’s I want to be a Monster Hunter is probably the most popular MH-online comic by far. It’s very well drawn and the stories are well thought out and really funny. If you love to play Monster Hunter, you will love this comic! READ IT HERE
Monster Hunter Orage is the only commercial MH-comic I know. At least the only one that has been published in English. The art is from Mashima Hiro who already published popular mangas like Rave or Fairy Tail. He was also an assistant of Eichiro Oda (One Piece). The story is quite short and a little too crazy for my taste. However he really put his heart into the drawings and concepts of the monsters. It’s definately worth having a look at. READ IT HERE
The Monster Hunter Chronicles are a fan-project of Rafael Izoshy, a Brazilian Artist, on DeviantArt. It’s very well drawn and really entertaining to read. Though only three chapters have been published so far, the first impression of the comic is great and I hope for many more pages. READ IT HERE
Hellwingz’ Monster Hunter Comic is still pretty much at the beginning. The art is great but it is kind of slow paced. I’m still looking forward to see the first couple of action scenes. Make sure to check this one out too. READ IT HERE
After having had a look at the Top 10 monsters that didn’t make it into the series, it’s time to take a closer look at the objects of many a hunter’s great affection – the weapons. Again Capcom had some really incredible ideas and it’s probably incomprehendable to us lesser mortals. Anyway, enclosed you find the Top 7 concept weapons, enjoy!
7 – Whip
All of you guys who read Monster Hutner Orage will remember the “battle-whip”. All of you others should at least know Indiana Jones and be somehow able to imagine how this weapon could be used.
Another version of this weapon is the “sword-whip”, basically a sword that can extend and become flexible and whip-like (NSFW: pretty much like Ivy’s in the Soul Calibur series)
6 – Baton
The alternative to the dual blades. Fast and flexible, they would prove to be quite useful to remaining agile, while attacking your opponent.
However the might be quite useless against opponents like Lao, Fatalis or Akantor. So their usability is quite constricted. Still, it would have been fun to see the weapon in the game.
5 – Scythe
Most of you will be familiar with the Dark Scythe you can craft in the series. In the game you can only use it like a tachi though. Formerly (like all tachi) it was even constricted to the moves of GS.
The possibilities of a scythe would be numerous. For one you could lauch cutting attacks and wound your opponent. Maybe you can also plunge the blade into the beasts body to restrict its movements or not be blown away by screams.
4 – Claws
You can’t tell me that you’ve never wanted to slay a dragon wolverine-style! Claws would be a really interesting tool. Similar to dual blades, but allowing you to move more freely.
But mainly it would just look incredible to slay those huge wyverns with (almost just) your bare hands!
3 – Morning Star
Morning stars have been something like the berettas of the middle age. Why don’t the hunters in Monster Hunter have them? There are more than enough reasons to include them in the game.
First of all they look cool. Secondly they’re as brutal as a dinner with your parents-in-law and third, and most important of all, they look totally awesome!
2 – Axe
Of course Switchaxes have now been included in Monster Hunter 3. But what would have been even nicer would have been huge, heavy axes that are more like hammers. Basically a mix between GS and Hammer. For example it would have been possibility to allow blocking with an axe and as a compromise lower the attacking power. Just my 2 cents though.
There have been some axe-looking weapons in the series, but none of them really was one. Most of them were treated as Tachi, GS or Hammers. An own fighting-style would have been nice. Still, let’s see how the switchaxes will do.
1 – Double-sided sword
There is no explanation needed. This weapons is just badass. The possibilities for comobos are virtually countless. Also a possibility to mix certain parts to create a unique weapon would have made this arm a great tool for hunters.
This is the second part to the countdown started a couple of posts ago (part 1 here). It was really hard to decide on final five since Capcom has so many brilliant concepts and each one of them is interesting in its own way. Still, decisions had to be made and I hereby proudly present you the TOP 5 monsters that didn’t make it into the series – enjoy!
5. Fog Dragon
At first sight it kind of reminds of Khezu with the whole non-eye-wyvern-thingy. However it looks older and more dangerous. The vapour coming from its mouth would suggest that it uses this fog-like substance to fight. Maybe it can cover the area in dense fog, so you that you can’t rely on sight anymore and the battle ground becomes more advantegous for the dragon. Maybe it uses it’s breath in a similar way to Kushala, which freezes you and makes you unable to attack.
No matter what it does, it looks incredibly cool and we want to hunt it down, that’s why this one is our number 5!
4. Stegosaurus meets Fatalis
It’s too bad that there were no more illustrations from this fellow here. Judging from its appearence, this guy is pretty evil. With his massive body and the razor-like claws attached to hands, wings, chin and forehead the fight would definately have become rather intense.
Still it bears some ressemblence to other dragons, like Fatalis or even Lao Shan-Lung, even though this one seems more compact and agile.
3. The Hydra
This Hydra-like creatue is pretty much the prey every hunter dreams of – remember: two heads menas more items to carve. In the early sketches of Monster Hunter (for PS2) there was quite a number of ancient egyptian creatures and armor. I can however not comprehend why they would drop the idea, everything looked so great!
Still, the idea of a monster with two heads might have been a bit too much or too unrelated to the original aspect of the game. Maybe that is why the hydra can only be found in this countdown, though not in the game itself.
2. The Leopard Dragon
50% Teostra, 50% Diablos, 100% awesome! This fellow was just way too awesome to make it into the series. Hunters would pass out from the pure concentrated amount of awesomeness that is emitted from this guy. That’s just how awesome it is!
It’s true that it ressembles Teostra and Lunastra a lot, but it also has certain characteristics that make it different and a lot more appealing (like the knife-like-horn). It really aches my hunter-heart to not be able to hunt this one down.
If you wonder what could be even more awesome than the Leopard Dragon, here is your answer! You don’t fight this guy in castle, this fellow IS the castle! If you look closely you can see a tiny little hunter standing before the monstrosity. Imagine taking this thing down, not with a group of 4 people (like Ironbeard would suggest) but with a whole clan (maybe 8-10 players) instead. Do you read that Capcom? Do it!
In Monster Hunter Frontier, there is a similar Monster. Not quite similar in appearence but the idea behind it is very much the same that would have been behind this one too, the name is Raviente.
In the world of Monster Hunter there are dozens of vicious and bloodthirsty Beasts, which by now every Hunter should know. However there have been more concepts of monsters and other creatures that didn’t make into any of the MH-titles. Therefore Hunting Grounds proudly presents the top 10 monsters that didn’t make it into the game, but are still too awesome to just be ignored. Starting with:
10. Zebrasaur
We all know about Aptonoths, Popos and Kelbis; however there were plenty more of those kind of those walking meat thingies peaceful creatures planned for the game. Unfortunately only very few of them can now be seen in the actual game. The most impressive one would probably be the Zebrasaur (it has some characteristics of a Giraffe too, but Zebrasaur sounds way cooler). Just imagine how awesome it would be to see one of those eat the leaves of a tree or even better to strike it down with blow of your hammer!
9. Bulbasaur?
This creature might not look so interesting at first sight, but it’s unique ability makes it quite an interesting prey. The volcano-like thing on its back shoots little eggs, from which other mini-bulbasaurs hatch. It ressembles Blangongas pattern, but in a much more interesting way. A pity they haven’t included this one in the upcoming MH3 or MHFO.
However Capcom has picked up the Idea with Gigginox and the Giggis (which kind of sounds like some weird 80′s band) in MH3. Still, too bad we didn’t get to see more of this one.
8. Leftvent-eel
In terms of pure style this monster should definately be included in the games. It ressembles the the Linophryne Lucifer, a deep sea fish, has however the body of an eel. From the looks of it, one could conclude that the beast would be quite agile and fast, which would make the hunt all the more thrilling. Especially in MH3 with all the new underwater-monsters it would have been great to see this one too. Still, it seems they haven’t completely abandoned the design if you look at Gobul.
7. Blade Dragon
Apart from looking pretty cool, this fellow seems quite ferocious. With the blade-like things on his back and his tail this guy would have made a great opponent. As we can conclude from the concept-sketches one of his attacks would be a rolling-charge, similar to Uraagans attack in MH3. As awesome as the hunt would have been, Blade Dragon isn’t included in any game of series.
6. Blossom Giant
This one would have made one hell of an opponent. Just imagine striving through the forest when you see bushes and trees moving and realize that the stuff grows on the back of this giant. Not only that, but judging from the pic the monster is also able stand on just his hind legs which makes it even harder to take it down. There is a slight ressembles to Lao Shan Lung and Espinas, still too bad we didn’t get to fight this buddy too.
That’s it for now. Look forward to the top 5 monsters that didn’t make it into the series (i couldn’t thing of a shorter title -_-’) soon.
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