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We recently reported that Monster Hunter Tri's stomping beasts had been repelled until later in the year, but a recent press release from Capcom has shone a little light on the matter, putting the game down for an April release.

In a similar deal to one made with Sony to promote PSP's Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, Nintendo will handle the game's sales, marketing and distribution across Europe and Australia, with Capcom retaining the publishing rights. Here's the press release:

Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games today confirmed that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Nintendo for its forthcoming Wii title Monster Hunter Tri, the next instalment in the multi-million selling series. Under the terms of the agreement Nintendo will be responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of Monster Hunter Tri throughout European and Australian territories with Capcom remaining as publisher. Monster Hunter Tri is scheduled for release this coming April and will set the bar in the action/adventure genre with the introduction of new features and gameplay elements as the Monster Hunter franchise makes its debut on the Nintendo system.

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Monster Hunter Tri is one of the most strikingly beautiful games ever created for the Wii and brings to life a living breathing ecosystem where man and monster co-exist. The title’s single player story mode sees gamers taking on the role of a hunter whose village is beset by a series of violent tremors that threaten to destroy it. Charged by the village chief to discover the source of the earthquakes players will embark on a series of quests where they must face gigantic beasts that inhabit both land and sea.

Living the life of a hunter need never be a solitary experience with the option to form a team of up to four hunters via the game’s custom online Wi-Fi mode; alternatively the game also offers a two player split-screen Arena mode. Even solo players do not have to face Monster Hunter Tri’s challenging quests alone as they will be ably accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner whose skills will prove invaluable.

“Nintendo has identified Monster Hunter Tri as a key title for the Wii platform in 2010,” stated Michael Pattison, Senior Director Marketing, Capcom Europe, “We are really excited about partnering with Nintendo to further develop this franchise.”

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director, Marketing & PR, Nintendo of Europe, commented “Monster Hunter has a huge and passionate following in Japan and we are looking forward to introducing the Monster Hunter Tri to a whole new audience in Europe as the series makes its first appearance on the Wii.”

Whether or not Nintendo have a better idea than Capcom of how to market a distinctly core gamer-focused title remains to be seen, but with the Big N's marketing muscle behind it hopefully we'll see Monster Hunter Tri and its free online play get the sales it deserves.