Finally, a Monster Hunter game's coming to PS3

Remember when Monster Hunter Tri was supposed to be a PlayStation 3 game before Capcom jumped ship for the Wii, likely on the grounds that it was cheaper to develop for and had a larger install base? I remember, and it looks like Sony remembers, too, because they're finally getting their PS3 Monster Hunter game.

But it's not Tri, oh no. Rather, it's an HD version of the PSP-native Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, unimaginatively titled Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Version. It'll sport HD graphics, be compatible with 3D (!), and will allow users already playing the PSP version to share and transfer their save data between platforms. Online play will still be available via Ad Hoc Party.

There's some good news in this announcement for folks not into Monster Hunter as well, for this game is the first in the new Sony "PSP Remaster" series, a line of PSP games that will be tarted up and customized for re-release on the PSP. If this works out, a lot of folks who missed out on some great games because they were too stubborn to pick up a PSP may yet get a chance to play them on the beefier home consoles.

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Roars Onto PS3 In August

For Japan, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver. is likely the biggest title in Sony’s PSP remaster series. This line brings PSP games to PS3 with HD graphics and other special features.

Capcom set August 25 as the release date for Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver., but don’t sell your copy of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd just yet. You can import save data from the PSP game into the PlayStation 3 version. Capcom made a significant tweak too. Since the PS3 controller has two analog sticks players can manually move the camera with the right stick. The game supports AdhocParty for multiplayer, but does not have an online mode of its own.



Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver. will retail for 4,800 yen ($60). While that may appear high, it’s actually less than Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. When the PSP game launched in December 2010, stores sold it for 5,800 yen ($71). Watch this video to see the PS3 version in action.

Capcom USA “Pushing Very Hard” For Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver.

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd hasn’t been announced for an overseas release, but the PSP Remasters version, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver., has a better chance of making it over.

Capcom’s Christian Svensson commented on the game in the company’s “Ask Capcom” video Q&A this past week:



“We mentioned the Sony issue around the PSP-to-PS3 line [PSP Remasters] that Sony Japan is doing. I’m still pushing very hard on that…I’d like for that to happen. In the absence of that, at some point in time, we will have some additional news.”