Monster Hunter 3G on 3DS, Japanese version of MH3 Ultimate. The same monster hunting excellence in its original Japanese presentation. For Japanese collectors and fans who prefer original versions.
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Category
Action RPG4 players12+
Co-op
Description
A lone hunter tracks and slays colossal creatures to forge weapons and armour in this expanded version of Monster Hunter Tri. Published by Capcom, released in Japan in December 2011. Real-time giant monster hunting, weapons and armour forged from their remains, underwater hunts, online co-operation. Expanded Japanese edition.
Monster Hunter 3G review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The whole artwork is recalculated for a screen of a few centimetres. The creatures' outlines are thickened, the fragile zones get a sharper hue, the interface markers are enlarged and the scenery loses detail in favour of contrast. That adaptation work, invisible to a newcomer, leaps out as soon as you compare the same beast with its living-room version.
The roars are treated as musical elements. Every cry is tuned to a precise pitch and placed so as to land on a strong beat, so that a monster rearing up punctuates the bar instead of breaking it. The brass in fact withdraws just before, leaving a gap the beast comes to fill, and that collaboration between sound effect and score goes almost unnoticed, so natural does it feel.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Tracking a colossal creature, learning its tells and forging better gear from its remains sets up a hunt-and-craft loop where every victory unlocks a more fearsome target. Fine-tuning your weapon and chasing the perfect set keeps you heading back out. The farming and the early stiffness put some off, but this growing mastery and the thrill of the hunt grip you relentlessly.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Tracking colossal creatures to forge weapons and armour from their remains sets up a hunting loop with no real end. Upgrading your gear, climbing the hunter ranks and cooperating on hunts fills hundreds of hours. That constant call of the next monster, the Monster Hunter hallmark, founds a longevity hunters cultivate relentlessly.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
Monster Hunter 3G Rev 1 is the corrected, stabilised version on the Japanese market, aligned with the build that fed 3 Ultimate internationally. Collector value rests on consistency with the global commercial base and on the game's role in confirming Monster Hunter as Japan's dominant handheld franchise. Large print, lasting demand.
Memorable bosses
Here the 'bosses' are the beasts themselves, believable creatures whose moods you must learn and whose parts you must break to prevail. This entry dares underwater combat, adding a vertical dimension to fights against the dreaded Lagiacrus. Observe, prepare, strike at the right moment: the hunt rests on patience and knowledge of a living ecosystem, deeply rewarding.
Better with friends
The Japanese edition of the console's most emblematic four-player hunt, built for collective effort against oversized monsters. Cooperation is demanding and rewarding: covering each other, sharing resources and syncing assaults makes all the difference. The language barrier and steep learning curve call for patience, but triumphs wrung out together cement unforgettable group memories.
Is Monster Hunter 3G still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2011 in Japan then 2013 in the West on 3DS and known in Japan as Monster Hunter 3G, Capcom's project is the enhanced version of the third entry, which carried the hunting series to a wider audience. The hunt, built on observation, preparation and the mastery of varied weapons, integrates underwater combat phases specific to this entry. The generous content, the addition of monsters and the cooperative multiplayer bind the experience. The austere interface and the demanding learning put off newcomers. An excellent entry point of the hunting game, recommended for fans of technical combat and of cooperation.
