Japanese gaming phenomenon set for Wii.

Tuesday 2nd February 2010 - 17:00


Wii Speak compatible game on the way plus Mass Effect 2 storms the charts and EA Sports MMA screens



Wii owners will get to taste the game that has become a phenomenon in Japan, when Monster Hunter Tri roars into life across Europe in April. And wannabe hunters will be able to hunt effectively as a pack, as the game will be fully Wii Speak compatible!

The franchise, which has inspired an entire sub-culture in Japan, is tricky to summarise. The development team has created an entire living and breathing ecosystem, where monsters interact naturally with each other, their environment - and you. Your job is quite simple - hunt them.

The Wii game will feature more new monsters and new environments, including underwater levels and marine-based monsters in an open-ended, quest-based storyline with multiple routes to progression; offering the potential for hundreds of hours in repeat gameplay. The title sold over a million units in Japan on release, spawning a sub genre with venues opening specifically for gamers to drop in, play and chat with other hunters.

Thanks to the game's use of Wii Speak, the microphone-based accessory that allows Wii users to speak to their friends over the internet, hunters will be able to share their knowledge of monsters' weaknesses, discuss hunting strategy in real time, and even cry for help when needed or celebrate after a victorious battle. The game can be played with Wii Remote and Nunchuk and is also compatible with the Classic Controller Pro putting the action right into your hands. We'll have more coverage when our review copy creeps into sight - expect further details soon!

Meanwhile, it's all change in this week's Top 40 multi-format videogames chart. The runaway surprise success of Just Dance has been firmly halted in its tracks by the release of Mass Effect 2. The absolutely stunning sci-fi RPG has debuted in the coveted number one spot after selling a whopping 2 million copies within the first week of release. Just Dance has boogied on down to second position with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 digging stubbornly into bronze medal position.

We round off with a hat trick of hard hitting screens from the next new beat-em'up courtesy of EA. EA Sports MMA looks set to do exactly what it say's 'on the tin'. The game promises the most authentic, intense and broad mixed martial arts experience to date - complete with a vast array of top fighters and fighting styles from around the world. Expect hi-definition blood, broken bones and brawling when this good looking fighter makes its entrance on Xbox 360 and PS3 later in the year.