User blog comment:Lord Loss/Discussion of the Week: Generation 2/@comment-97.103.106.168-20130212162603

Now here's a generation I can certainly talk more about! Ah, but where to begin... hmm... well, I must say it was rather awkward starting out at first, going from Monster Hunter Tri to Monster Hunter Freedom. The screwy hit boxes and controlling with the "hook" really took some getting used to... but once I got the hang of the latter, I was able to get into the game pretty well... although I deeply missed wielding Switch Axes from Tri the whole time.

I can certainly say that I found the Dual Blades, Gunlances, and Bows to my liking. I forged a respectable arsenal of those weapons, along with numerous Long Swords and Hammers. Never really bothered with the Hunting Horns though, since I couldn't go online with MHFU.

I'll never forget finally getting my Punishment Blades (did the crazy Silver Rath + Gold Ian arena quest) and using them to destroy virtually every monster weak to fire - especially Chameleos! (although the bastard did steal some of my prized Dash Juices and Max Potions...) Wailing Cleaver Shin and Smolder Dragonsword are also very memorable weapons for me, as I used them both throughout the game to slay dozens upon dozens of dragons and wyverns. When it came to a certain couple of monsters in G-Rank though -namely Rajang and Black Gravios- I totally needed to use Bows to take them down solo. I really gained a great deal of respect for that weapon class when I saw that insane golden Rajang finally go down after pelting him with arrows for nearly 30 minutes.

Along with weapons, there were two sets of armor that really appealed to me throughout the game. Dark Akantor (Blademaster ver.) and Lava X (Gunner ver.). I forged dozens of armors, but those are the two that I can honestly say I've used the most. Both of them look awesome, and have epic skills. That Guts skill on Lava X was a LIFESAVER against Rajang... but I understand that it got nerfed in MH3U... A shame. Anyway, Dark Akantor pretty much became my default choice once I finally defeated Ukanlos and got its defense up. I'll also say that I really like Chameleos' armor.

Actually that's something I'd like to bring up. Did anyone else sort of get a Mega Man vibe with Kushala Daora, Chameleos, and Teostra? I mean, once you forged their armors, you had a skill that protected you from one of the other dragon's primary gimmick, giving you an advantage. I liked that, honestly.

As for monsters... Tigrex definitely left an impression. I mean, he was the first monster in the game who seriously beat my ass down. I didn't have any trouble with Plesioth or Blangonga or Khezu when I started out... but Tigrex? Hah... yeah, he really thumped me good the first time. And later on he'd do it again with his wife on that dreadful Dual Tigrex hunt in the Snowy Mountains....... I hate those mountains. Hate them, so much...

Rajang was the next monster who really put my skills to the test, but not until G-Rank. I seriously couldn't even get to close to him without getting my face punched through my skull... so this bastard made me do something I've never had to do before - rely on ranged weapons, namely the amazing Bow. I went with the Abominable Bow III, since it was the easiest ice bow to make and I was in a serious rush to get my Wailing Cleaver Shin... and I really wanted that sword just for the purpose of torturing Tigrex. It did a very good job of that...

Overall I really enjoyed the 300+ hours I spent with MHFU. There weren't many things I disliked about the game, but I hated the training school quests, still do, I think they're the worst thing they added to the series, and I never ever want to see them again.

Aside from that, my only regret with MHFU is that it never got HD port treatment like MHP3rd and MH3U have, which is a true shame. With all the content stuffed into the game, I really think MHFU totally warranted a such a port, but alas...