The Japanese phenomenon will arrive in 2010. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19148 This past weekend, Capcom released the highly-anticipated Monster Hunter Tri in Japan alongside a black Wii and Classic Controller Pro. Today, Capcom announced that they will bring the title to North America and Europe in "early 2010".
Monster Hunter Tri will feature four-player online co-operative play and two-player offline split-screen for multiplayer. In Japan, the game requires the purchase of subscription tickets (purchased with Wii Points) in order to play online. It is currently unknown if North American and European gamers will need to pay in some form to play online.
In single-player mode you are accompanied by Cha-Cha, your cat-like hunting partner who aids you with tracking and trapping skills. The game boasts some of the most impressive graphics ever to grace the Wii, along with new gameplay features, items, and weapons.
Capcom plans to have a playable demo of Monster Hunter Tri at the upcoming GamesCom gaming convention, held in Cologne, Germany from August 19 to 23.
CAPCOM ANNOUNCES WESTERN RELEASE OF MONSTER HUNTER Tri FOR Wii
Four-Player Online Co-Op, 2-Player Split-Screen and New Underwater Environments Introduced When Japanese Phenomenon Comes To North American and European Markets in 2010
SAN MATEO, Calif. — August 3, 2009 — Capcom Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Monster Hunter Tri will be released in both North America and Europe for Nintendo’s Wii system in early 2010.
Monster Hunter Tri will set a new bar in the action/adventure genre with the introduction of new features and game play elements as the multi-million unit selling franchise makes its debut on the Wii system.
One of the most strikingly beautiful titles ever developed for Wii, Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where man co-exists with fantastic beasts that roam both the land and the sea. Featuring both online and offline cooperative modes, players can join online hunting parties with up to four players or play with two players on a single TV for select quests. Players also have the option to face Monster Hunter TriÂ’s challenging quests as a single player experience accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner whose tracking and trapping skills will prove invaluable in the hunt. New items, weapons and armor sets will also be available to assist the hunters as they embark on the most incredible Monster Hunter adventure to date.
“Fans of Nintendo and Monster Hunter are eagerly anticipating the launch of this title in the US, which will be the first time the series is available on a Nintendo home console,” said Steve Singer, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Licensing. “Having Capcom bring Monster Hunter Tri to the Wii console provides tremendous action, fun and entertainment to both veteran players and series newcomers alike.”
Visitors to this monthÂ’s GamesCom European gaming convention in Cologne, Germany August 19-23, will be the first to sample a localized version of the title on CapcomÂ’s stand as it makes its English debut for a western audience. GamesCom attendees will have the opportunity to play the same game that took last yearÂ’s Tokyo Game Show by storm, with lines that stretched around CapcomÂ’s stand as eager Japanese gamers waited in excess of five hours to play.
This desire to be one of the first to experience Monster Hunter Tri is indicative of the impact the Monster Hunter franchise has made on videogame culture in Japan. With sales of the series totaling well over 10 million units and 3.5 million sales of Monster Hunter Portable 2ndG alone, it’s no surprise to find that Monster Hunter has given rise to dedicated “training camps”, country-wide festivals and numerous licensed products. The franchise doesn’t just top the charts in Japan; it’s become a social phenomenon.