Monster Hunter Portable 3rd / Weapons Review Part 1

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is already available for Japanese release! Though the US release of the game is yet to be announce, hardcore fans from outside Japan are already preparing as they taking the first step in learning the new moves of old weapons from MHF series and the new addition to the arsenal, the Switch Axe from the Monster Hunter Portable 3rd Demo.

So for now, let me share you my personal impressions and opinions on the new groove of each weapons of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd based on my first hand play in the demo game.

Sword and Shield

It’s the most basic weapon of all. Although its sword attacks doesn’t deal much damage compare to heavy ones like Great Sword and Hammer, its quickness compensates it, also having a shield to block but greater attacks will only make you push away really hard.

Sword and Shield’s move didn’t change much. There are some new swings of the sword but didn’t greatly change the overall maneuver of the Sword and Shield. The most noticeable improvement is the addition of the move that I would call the Shield Bash where the hunter will attack using the shield. Shield Bash executes when pressing the directional (analog) followed by Circle button. Shield Bash does 2 hits (pressing circle twice)

The shield bash is actually an impact type of attack. Like any impact weapon’s basic strategy, the attack is very effective when hitting the monster on the head resulting for easy knock down of monsters though I’m not sure how strong its impact attack. I was able to knock down Royal Ludroth couple of times but still, I cannot say if it’s just the monster was weak or the shield bashing was that strong.

Personally, I like in the sense that Sword and Shield became a more balance weapon because of having both slash and impact type of attacks. But I’m afraid that it will still be the least usable weapon in MHP3rd, unless you’re a hardcore MH gamer and willing to take up the challenge of using Sword and Shield all the way.

Dual Swords

Like Sword and Shield, it doesn’t have much of a raw damage but rather giving quick attacks. Its main skill is to go “demonize” and perform an attack what they called Devil Dance. Despite of its many disadvantages like losing sharpness level very easily and no blocking abilities at all, Dual Sword still have this charm for most players.

Just like Sword and Shield, Dual Swords doesn’t have much of a change in their moves. There are some but doesn’t change much of the overall maneuver. The new things are, when in demonize mode your rolling maneuver is change to dash making you a bit quicker to move and there added a gauge that fills up for every hit you’ve made only when you’re in demonize.

Once this gauge fills up, you’ll be envelope by shiny red aura (much lighter colored) and you’ll undergo a certain mode (don’t know what is called yet) where you can do moves like in demonize mode even NOT in demonize mode at all. Does my sentence sound confusing? To make it simple, if the gauge’s full, you can attack like in demonize mode and you can dash like in demonize mode even without being demonize, only exception is the Devil Dance. The only thing I’m not certain is whether if your attack also increases in this mode. Overtime the gauge slowly drains especially when performing a move. It’s very much similar to Long Sword’s Spirit Blade ability.

Personally, the improvements on Dual Sword’s ability have made it more interesting to use though it may need time on getting use to it. The new ability may offer new strategy for the Dual Sword users much better than overusing Power Juice and abusing the Devil Dance.

That goes for my Part 1 review. See you in my next post.

Until then

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