Parents' Guide to

Monster Hunter Tri

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Challenging RPG with some fantasy violence and alcohol use.

Game Nintendo Wii 2010
Monster Hunter Tri Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Monster Hunter Tri Game: Screenshot #1
  • Monster Hunter Tri Game: Screenshot #2
  • Monster Hunter Tri Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

darkay223
darkay223 Adult
January 1, 2013
age 12+

Fantastic Game

It is one of the best games for the wii there is. there is much violence but blood can be redused to almost nothing in the settings. the controls are a bit difficult to propperly master. the enviorment is beautifull in this game you can go to much of different parts of the world like a dessert, the tundra and even volcanos. the multi-player is better then the single player. its a good game for 12 and up. (btw theres a whole bunch of 10 year olds complaining thats it a bed game without any good arguments so dont listen to them)
11BK201
11BK201 Adult
April 9, 2011
age 8+

Great monster game!

I thuroughly enjoy this game. Some of the missions may be a little complicated for really young players but overal it is good for pretty much everyone. The point of the game is to either kill or capture various creatures so there is violence but the blood is very mild and not very well depicted. The violence is very mild and really isn't a problem. The only thing to really watch out for is when starting the game your main character doesn't wear much clothing (this includes both male and female characters). You quickly learn that more armor is better but you still spend plenty of time at the beginning without any armor. This being said, your characters still wear more than most people at the beach. My favorite part about the game is discovering new monsters and wandering around new environments. I love the fantastical world that Capcom has created. It's a great game to develope imagination.
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

You probably haven't heard of Capcom's 10 million unit-selling Monster Hunter game series, but the Japanese publisher is hoping to change all that with MONSTER HUNTER TRI, a Nintendo Wii exclusive now available in the west. Not much has changed in the gameplay department since the franchise debuted on the PlayStation 2 in 2004, but the single-player story in this sequel begins with your village chief asking you, a monster hunter, to investigate disruptive earthquakes. For the uninitiated, these action role-playing games have players running around expansive environments from a third-person perspective and slaying fantastic beasts -- and now in underwater areas, too. Much of the fun is hunting online cooperatively with up to three other gamers (or two players via split-screen view on the same TV).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (22 ):

This game is quite good, but it's not a cakewalk. Completing quests takes time, patience, and, in some cases, repetition, as you'll face many of the same boss creatures multiple times. As a result, even though the multiplayer -- with voice chat support -- is a more rewarding experience, those new to the series should tackle the single-player campaign first to learn their weapons, how to increase health (which can be done by eating defeated creatures), figure out how to upgrade equipment, and analyze creature behaviors so you know how to defeat them. Thankfully, you'll get some help from an AI companion called Cha-Cha. Plus, you can choose between three different control configurations and support for optional gamepads (including a game bundle with Nintendo's new Classic Controller Pro, which costs $59.99). Visually speaking, the graphics are impressive for the Nintendo Wii, but certainly not on par with recent releases for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

In summary, fans of the series won't be disappointed with the latest -- and most ambitious -- Monster Hunter adventure yet. However, first-time players will need to get over the learning curve to appreciate this on- and off-line game.

Online interaction: We tested the online component and it worked quite well. Players can choose to play the game cooperatively with up to 3 other people and chat at the same time to discuss tactics, direction, and such. The WiFi connection was quite smooth and reliable. Parents should note that online communication via Wii Peak could result in hearing inappropriate language. To reduce the chances of interactiving with strangers, however, playing online with friends requires the exchange of 12-digit Wii codes (on the phone or via email with friends).

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether or not it's fair this game is a Nintendo Wii exclusive. On one hand, shouldn't PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 gamers be able to take advantage of this much-hyped action role-playing game? Or is it better for a publisher to pick a platform the game makes best sense on and stick with it? Do you find exclusives frustrating?

  • Families can also discuss the difference between fantasy violence, which involves the slaying of inhuman creatures, and realistic violence, which involves people. How do the two compare? Is one less alarming? Why or why not?

Game Details

  • Platform: Nintendo Wii
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: Capcom
  • Release date: April 20, 2010
  • Genre: Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating: T for Blood, Use of Alcohol, Violence
  • Last updated: August 31, 2016

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