The Monster Hunter games for PS2 and PSP have gotten some pretty mediocre reviews in the past, but that doesn't stop Japan from being obsessed with the series. When Capcom's Monster Hunter Freedom PSP game launched in Japan last year it was quickly bought by one out of every five PSP owners, making it the best selling PSP game of its time by far. Altogether the series has sold 2.4 million games worldwide, and that number looks like it's about to go way, way up now that Monster Hunter Freedom 2 just came out in Japan. Of the top thirty best selling games right now in Japan, only two measly PSP games have made the list, but check out how much ass this game is kicking overseas right now:
- Best selling game (PSP): Monster Hunter Portable 2nd - weekly sales: 705,281
- 2nd best selling game (PS2): Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri - weekly sales: 80,000
- 3rd best selling game (Wii): Fire Emblem: Akatsuki no Megami - weekly sales: 75,359
- 4th best selling game (DS): SimCity DS - weekly sales: 50,826
Nope, that's not a typo or a misplaced comma. If I was the type to wear hats, I'd take it off and bow to that kind of domination over in Japan. Those numbers have earned it the honor of being the fastest selling third party portable game on any format - even the coveted Nintendo DS. Maybe it's time I finally buy a PSP? LocoRoco did look good, but I wish there were more unique games to choose from that I couldn't get else where.
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is supposed to have 50% more content than the first game, so even if it disappointed it would at least take a while to beat. And there's even co-op multiplayer battles with up to four wireless friends to consider too, the game seems well rounded. Monster Hunter Freedom 2 comes out in North America some time in September 2007 - that still gives me plenty of time before I have to make any decisions. A price cut shouldn't be too far off anyways.