Graev picked up Monster Hunter Tri last week and he’s been playing it steadily every day.  It’s a game that, as far as I can tell, is all about killing monsters.  As simple as the name and premise sound, the game has an inordinate amount of depth.  The crafting and customization of your play style in this game is mind boggling.  It’s also really hard.  Anyway, I’m writing this because I just watched an epic boss battle play out.  Graev and his buddies online boarded this sand ship that sails the desert sand like a boat on water.  This enormous sand-fish-like thing then jumps out of the water and swims in the sand alongside and attacks.

Below is a video showing the cut scene (you can youtube the rest of the Jhen Mohran fight) which doesn’t exaggerate how the fight players out.

During the fight, the ship sails alongside the beast and the players on it have to shoot harpoons over in order to attach these tethers. They then jump across and attack the monster. They can get knocked off and get dragged behind the ship, leaving them having to get back onto the ship or find a way to swing over onto the beast (usually the tail). Ballistas and Cannons could be shot at the beast and a gong could be rung to hurt the monster’s senses. The monster has weak points such as his outer shell which can be cracked by players jumping on his back. It took them significant amount of time to finish — like 15 minutes. It wasn’t always about constant DPS or or spamming attacks either. There was an element of calculation to the encounter. In the end the encounter was broken down into driving back the monster while sailing, and eventually having it come up and fight you as your ship is stationary.

Why am I telling you about this? Aside from being really cool, I want to know why this type of stuff isn’t more common. Even in WoW, which has the greatest raid encounters available, doesn’t offer this type of fight. Even in ICC during the airship battle, the most unique boss fight yet, it’s still a fundamental encounter bearing a resemblance to most things WoW. I see no reason why the monsters can’t be bigger, the fights more involved, and the style of fights changed. Instancing of raids/dungeons is already common place. The technology is most definitely there. Just do it.

If you ever want to feel really bad about the type of content you’re playing in a MMO, just check out some videos of Monster Hunter Tri. The big fights in it are just ridiculous. As for the game itself, Graev says that it is “fantastic” and he would recommend it to anyone. It’s available on the Wii and in the multiplayer you’ll find “some of the better parts of the game”.

Go here to see the original:
Want to see what big boss fights should look like?