The surprise bombshell at Nintendo’s pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference today came as quite a shock to many. Despite having just announced Monster Hunter 3G for 3DS, an expanded version of the Wii’s Monster Hunter Tri, they dropped a trailer for Monster Hunter 4.

While it’s still unclear whether or not the game will also appear on other platforms, the trailer had a lot to analyze. While running away from a Tigrex, a hunter is seen jumping (gasp!) to various rock structures before they’re smashed to bits, not just landing on top, but clinging to sides from a jump as well. And just when things get really vertical, you can see the Tigrex climb the side of the rock face in pursuit of the hunter.

Things get real interesting when a Rathalos shows up and the entire play field gets knocked over, making a steep slope out of what use to be flat land. There seems to be no wall the hunter can’t climb as he dodges fireballs while hanging on for dear life. As the Rathalos draws near, the hunter pulls out a smaller weapon independent of his great sword to attack the monster while in a climbing position.

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After holding the world record in “number of times to announce Mega Man Legends 3” (via our podcast), we somehow willed the game into existence.  Then, just like that, Capcom put its mouth up to our ear, as if to whisper a release date for the long awaited game, and shouted, “PSYCH!!”

Capcom gave the official word on the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3 today on their blog. With the game still not greenlit, the prototype delayed indefinitely, and dev room blog updates slowing down to a trickle, the writing was certainly on the wall. Still, after over a decade of waiting for a sequel, it is a mighty blow to fans of the series.

With the cancellation of Mega Man Universe and Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune’s departure still fresh in mind, the news of Legends 3‘s death has led many to wonder what the future holds for the blue bomber. Maybe now we can get a Mega Man Legends Official Complete Works art book. Too Soon?

Source: Capcom Unity

I’ve been a bit irresponsible when it comes to Dragon’s Dogma. I had my first taste of the game a couple months back while at Captivate 2011. In lieu of there being any Mega Man titles, Dragon’s Dogma was easily my favorite of Capcom’s offerings (and this was still the case at E3). I fully intended to report my impressions on the game back then, but I sort of just… let it fall by the wayside. It would be a travesty to make the same mistake twice, so I’ll now, finally, regale you my impressions along with data I picked up from Captivate.

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When fans were asked what they’d like to see from Monster Hunter in the future, one of the more common answers seen was, “Bring it to PS3!” Well, it looks like Capcom had already been secretly preparing to make that a reality.

Today, Sony has announced the PSP Remaster Title Series. The first game to get the HD treatment (at least in Japan) is none other than Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, the latest (yet to be released in North America) game in the main series.

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Version will allow players to experience the game in all its uprezzed glory. You’ll also be able to make use of the second analogue stick for camera control. That’s right. No more hand cramping claws! (more…)

Earlier this week, I discussed how the Monster Hunter series could be taken to the next level. Well… we’ll still have to wait to see how that goes. In the meantime, Capcom has announced Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting, an iOS addition to the series that looks to take things in the exact opposite direction.

Dynamic Hunting appears to take a page from the Infinity Blade book (which had already taken a page from the Punch-Out!! book), boiling down the experience to simplified 1-on-1 battles. It’s strange to see such a deep game like Monster Hunter streamlined down to such a basic concept. Even the highly detailed behavioral tells have been scrapped in favor of a standard health bar. Still, we should all try to remember that this is a spinoff, not the next iteration. Who knows? Maybe it will be a gateway drug to ease in newcomers.
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If you read the site frequently or are a long time listener of our podcast, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that most of the staff here really likes the Monster Hunter series. With each new iteration, the games see a lot of refinement. Having spent over 100 hours with the currently Japan-only Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, I can honestly say it’s really hard to go back to Monster Hunter Tri, a game we collectively decided to call the #3 best game of 2010.

That said, when spending hundreds of hours with the same game, you still run the risk of things going a bit stale. While I’m still having a great time with Portable 3rd, I can’t help but think what the future of Monster Hunter might bring. Call it wishful thinking, but here are some of my ideas on how the series could continue to improve.

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Want a 3DS, but don’t have the 250 bucks required to make it happen? No problem! The Mega Man Network has got your back, assuming you have what it takes. In an effort to spread the word about the Mega Man Legends 3 prototype (available on the eShop on June 6th), TMMN is giving out prizes to whoever can promote the title the most.

The most successful promoter will get a free Nintendo 3DS, the new D-Arts Rockman X figure, a Servbot Bobble Bud, and a Mega Man Legends 3 poster. Second and third place will get these prizes as well (minus the 3DS). Additionally, there are a few special prizes winners will be able to choose from including an alternate signed Mega Man Legends 3 poster and complete copies of Mega Man X and Mega Man 8. (more…)

“Tales From the Backlog” is a series of articles in which WingDamage Editor-in-Chief, Jonah Gregory, finally gets around to playing through the many games he has collected throughout the years.

Well folks, it looks like I already blew it. This series of articles was started as nothing more than an excuse for me to play through old video games, specifically ones that I either completely missed or never finished back when they were new. But with Mega Man Legends, it turns out I actually did complete it way back when.

Still, it was a great excuse to play through what is a more enjoyable experience than I was expecting.

That may have come out sounding more like a backhanded compliment than intended. The truth of the matter is, our memories are dirty liars. There are so many games from the PS1 era that don’t hold up (I’m not singling it out, N64 is at least as guilty of this, if not more so), that I was very worried Mega Man Legends was going to fall into that category.

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Before the release of the Nintendo 3DS, I had already essentially purchased Street Fighter IV twice. The first time I picked up the special edition of its original release, while the second time I grabbed the vastly improved second iteration.

I didn’t really feel like I “needed” to buy a third version, but as an early adopter of the new system, I wanted a good showpiece for the more powerful handheld. Since the graphics of Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition are arguably the best looking of all the 3DS launch titles, it seemed like a natural choice. But as I got it home and spent the better portion of a week playing it, my feelings gravitated from buying it for lack of other games to falling in love with it all over again.

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In Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Lynne dies. Oops, did I spoil it for you? In truth, I spoiled nothing. Lynne has to die. If she didn’t, there would be no way to progress the storyline. That’s really how Ghost Trick rolls: death is only the first piece of the puzzle.

This latest adventure title from Capcom’s Shu Takumi is the first to come completely separate from the well known Ace Attorney series, and not only features a new world with unique characters and story, but an entirely different gameplay system as well. Nevertheless, logic and problem solving are still key in this quest to avert fate.

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