Where Freedom means "70 - 80 meters"

User Rating: 8.5 | Monster Hunter Freedom PSP
Like the mighty Shadow of the Colossus,Monster Hunter Freedom is awash with atmosphere.You feel honored to walk in this breathtaking pretty world,where beasts roam and the distant cries of animals unknown beckon to you from afar.You repay this honor,incidentally,by braining innocent dinosaurs with a 10-foot sword.

Freedom is a decent minification of the PS2 beast-basher.It's rammed with weapons,beautifully animated monsters,and neat touches like farming your own health-giving food.The overriding problem with it,however,this is a game that belongs online.

On the PSP,you only get to hunt with up to 3 other people who happen to be near at a time.It's no real substitute for a proper online multiplayer.On top of this,when playing solo,there's limited fun in hundreds of little quests that aren't much more complicated than a walk to the shops (except it's "kill dragon and steal egg" rather than "buy toilet roll") and Triangle to attack?Whoever designed the game's controls could do with a substantial clonk on the head themselves.

All in all this is a great game to play with,but don't expect to much.