With a game like Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, it's easy to see why a number of gamers would be tempted by the 3DS version. This is an experience that devours dozens of hours of your life, and indulging in the quest to that degree can be tricky if you're fighting over access to a shared TV in order to enjoy it.
Of course, the GamePad is designed to ease that problem, and Capcom has now released its promised update that introduces off-TV GamePad-only play, meaning you can pick up where you left off within a reasonable range of the console. In addition you get Wii U goodie such as accessory-free dual sticks, stronger visuals and, of course, the terrific online play.
Next time you fire up the game the update should install; it's live in Europe and Nintendo of America has tweeted to confirm the update for today. The off-TV mode is in the options, though this setting needs to be changed every time it's loaded — it doesn't remember that you played off-TV the last time around. There are two places to activate the new setting:
- From the Main Menu screen select Options and then Game Settings; in this screen select Type 2 for Wii U GamePad (switch back to Type 1 for the normal dual screen setup).
- Alternatively you can change the setting in your save. Hit Select to bring up your menu, and then select Options from the Info tab. Scroll to the third page and you'll see Wii U GamePad; you can switch between Type 1 and Type 2 here as well.
It's worth bearing in mind that this new setting does little more than mirror the TV view, rather than apply any external logic. For example, if you have the map set for your GamePad screen rather than the TV, it will disappear from view in off-TV unless you take it off the touch screen panel, at which point it will return to the main HUD. For veterans of Monster Hunter Tri on Wii, it's really a switch back to the HUD and controls of that original.
Another benefit of the update is that the servers are now trans-Atlantic, so gamers in North America and Europe will be able to play together. This should make it even easier to find games — though that's not been an issue to date — and GamePad-only play also works as normal in the online play. Naturally this does take away the convenient touch button to turn the GamePad microphone on for in-game chat, but you can switch that on, in online mode, with the following simple steps.
- When in the Tavern or Marina bring up the menu with Select, then move along to the Online tab.
- Select Network Options, Chat Settings, and then move down to Mic Input to turn it on for in-game chat.
For text chat, meanwhile, you can still bring up the GamePad keyboard for typing messages. Once you open the Chat box with ZL, hit the Start button to toggle the keypad on and off.
So there you have it. If ever a game needed off-TV play, it's this one, so let us know how you get on with the new mode — and your online matches with North American friends — in the comments below. Also drop a comment if you have any issues or enquiries and we'll try to help.
Comments 28
Great! Downloading now, Thanks for doing this Capcom!
Wooo! will try this out later. Can't wait!
Still waiting to play the demo (tonight ) - Looks too good to ignore though!
I will download it today. And I'm sure I'll enjoy it a lot, but tonight, I'll be playing on my big bright tv.
This update is very well worth it though, it makes the game that much better!
@LavaTwilight But keep in mind, the demo is crap and doesn't represent the game at all! Also, the demo throws you into battle without even giving you instructions, unlike the full one which will take a lot of time before you even fight big monster. Not to mention, there's a lot of fun aspects about the game that the demo doesn't even mention. Word of advice, just buy it or borrow it and just skip the demo, it will just turn you off.
I downloaded this hours ago and used it for a bit but expect to be using lots more in the future.
Did anyone find a way to edit your panel setup in "gamepad only" mode ? I sat in the living room and wanted to play (WiiU is setup in a different room on a different TV) but didnt have my map on screen, since i had the map panel setup on the Pad.
Do i really nead to switch to mode one and then blindly find my way to the Panel setup, or is there another way ?
Just downloaded this an hour or so ago, but I haven't had much of a chance to try it out. Hopefully I'll be able to rectify that soon. It will probably get a lot of use when I'm watching TV.
Capcom should make a patch for 3DS version with on-line play.
@Koapa I doubt that thats possible. Telling the WiiU to stream something on the gamepad is one thing, but implementing something like that coulb be really complikated, if not impossible. I dont know if the cartridge itself needs some hardware for that.
@Einherjar Maybe you are right, but there is many other games that deals with multiplayer without any problem. They maid online WiiU version so I dont understand, why not also the 3DS one.
It´s my wish for the future. Hope for MH4
@Koapa Online play in the Wii U was there from the start, the patch only merges servers.
I downloaded the update last night and tried a few quests on just the Gamepad. The mirror image of the TV screen threw me as I thought for sure it would automatically revert to a Wii style HUD layout. I had put my entire HUD on the Gamepad as my TV cut off my health bar.
@Einherjar
As far as I can tell, there is no way to change those settings while in Gamepad only mode. I recommend saving your panel layout as a panel set, then creating a second panel set with no panels. That way, you just have to change panel sets before you enable Gamepad only mode.
Like the update. But capcom needs to add a text size editor.
The text is just way to small.
@bonesy91 As ive heard, even the 3DS Version has a major problem with the text size. I didnt play long anough on the gamepad to notice it though.
@Koapa These other games were made with online MP in might from the start. MH3U was planned without one. Like i said, i dont know if aditional chips a required or how flexible the patching is on the 3DS, but i wouldnt get my hopes up too high. I personally think that its not possible.
@Einherjar I have the MH3 and I like it. It´s really good game that is doing amazing job. Text is really "hard readable", even if I disable 3D.
I must start thinking about making own 3DS game...
I still need to get this game
Got this update last night, but I had access to to big screen so I did not test it
This will be useful for when I want to watch a show while playing for a limited time but don't want to end a quest and/or transfer to the 3ds just for that 30-60 minutes.
Going to give it a try this weekend hopefully. With this out now my 3DS version is going to be collecting dust unless my son is using the Wii U.
Cool. I probably won't be doing off-TV play unless I go somewhere that I can't use a TV, but servers being spread out to other places is good. I'm assuming there are twice as many hunt rooms now?
@Koapa Well the Wii U version of the game is a port of the 3DS one. They probably added the online multiplayer during the porting process.
I think it was already confirmed somewhere that MH4 has online multiplayer.
http://www.siliconera.com/2012/09/19/monster-hunter-4-has-online-multiplayer-out-in-march-2013/
The offscreen play is very good news for me, because I've only been playing on my 3DS so far.
"The off-TV mode is in the options, though this setting needs to be changed every time it's loaded — it doesn't remember that you played off-TV the last time around."
Oh boy, I find it very annoying, if my wife is watching tv I will need to ask her 5 minutes in order to adjust the settings, every time.
Still no screen-shots, though, ey?
I'll update in a bit. I got both versions (madness! I never do this!), even being my first Monster Hunter experience. Absolutely incredible so far, and I'm thrilled I didn't go by just the Wii U demo. I love that I could transfer my game to 3DS when my boyfriend wants to use the Wii U.
edit: sorry
There isn't much details on this game anywhere on the web. I'm probably gunna get the game, but still have some doubts. I loved the arena play mode on the Wii version, and was wondering how it is different on the wii u.
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