Cavemen never looked cooler.
With this, the PS2 hasn't brought much to the plate. With it's online RPG titles lacking in alot of departments.
Cue in Monster Hunter.
The first thing that strikes you are the pleasant, easy on the eye graphics that are not bad, back dated or lacking, it suits the game perfectly well. The character creation and the limitless options you get to make a character are quite wide, and makes your character feel that more unique.
After creating a character your spun into a pleasant village (or a town, if you desire to jump onto the online game with haste.) with a nice soundtrack behind it. The sound overall is very well done, with most of the monsters out in the wild having there own roar's, there own footsteps, and the movements in long grass and water. It all sums up really nicely.
Then your out on your first quest as a Monster Hunter, after purchasing your new armor which makes you feel jittery inside.
Then you hit a snag, the controls. Capcom decided to go with something new; Revoluntionary perhaps. The controls are something you should learn, and will learn. Once you've had an hour's worth of play you settle into the controls quite remarkabally well.
The online compatibility is what makes this title worth such a high mark, as earlier said, the PS2 has lacked with RPG/adventure online titles. Minus FFXI (if you decided to get it for the PS2). This game hits a really nice spot with the online function, new quests, people to aid you, new items and a ranking system. It all fit's in nicely, creating a game worth getting your hands on.
Though admittedly, it'll only appeal to people willing to give alot of hours, alot of tears and alot of stress, the game can become quite difficult. But most deffinately worth a rent out; If you decide not to buy it.