Capcom have released new Monster Hunter 4 details via a preview of the game in the latest issue of Famitsu Magazine in Japan. The company have also refreshed their website for the game to include some of the images and information below.

Underground Cave

- New field.

• Contains both outdoor areas and cave-like areas.
• Cave part has giant crystals and plants that give off light.
• Camp area shows smoke rising in the background.
• Image of a hunter jumping into a gaping hole.
• Some areas with gas billowing out from the ground are also present.
• Area shown that looks like a giant net, presumably a spider's nest.
• Area shown with a pool of greenish liquid with a flock of some type of animal flying above.

Insect Staff

• Can harvest "ex" that strengthen you by utilizing the staff to throw/release your insects.
• White "ex" strengthens movement, red strengthens attacks, orange strengthens defense, green strengthens vitality recovery.
• Type/color of "ex" received is dependent on which part of the monster you attack.
• Can have numerous different types of ex strengthening effects on you at the same time.
• Mark monsters with smoke to make it easier for insects to reach the monster when released. Insects will fly towards the marked monster or portion of a monster.
• Releasing insects at a monster that isn't marked will just send them forward.
• Can mark a specific monster, or mark a specific part of a monster.
• Order in which you harvest ex from monsters is: mark monster, release insects at the monster, insects will harvest ex, insects that have successfully harvested ex will glow with the color of the type of ex they harvested, have insects return to retrieve the harvested ex (this last part is automatically done when you have the insects return to you).
• If insects don't harvest any ex, they won't glow. Return them and try again.
• Have insects harvest even more ex to further strengthen yourself.

Monsters

Nelscylla (ネルスキュラ)

• Chelicera (arachnid) species.
• Builds nests in caves, utilizes its nest to attack, and can attack in various abnormal manners to corner its prey.
• Has a hidden chelicera in its jaw. This is also used for attacks.
• Can hang from ceilings using silk, or hang from the underside of its nest.

Attacks include:

• Lunge: Sprays a thread of silk towards its target, then uses it to lunge at them.
• Slash: slashes at its target with its claws.
• Chelicera attack: utilizes its chelicera like a pincer attack.
• Silk attack: Shoots silk at target, binding them when it hits, preventing all movement.

Tetsukabura (テツカブラ)

• Amphibious (frog) species.
• Has a giant jaw.
• Utilizes its hind legs to jump around in any direction, even while on steep terrain.
• Can use its jaw like a shovel.

Attacks include:

• Foreleg swipe: mows down anything that's right in front of it.
• Chomp: bites down on its target.
• Mucus: spits mucus from its mouth. Example shown of a hunter climbing, and Tetsukabura spitting its mucus at him.
• Boulder lift: lifts up a boulder using its jaw as a shovel. Similar to a forklift.
• Boulder crush: after lifting up a boulder with its jaw, Tetsukabura proceeds to bite down on it, crushing it, sending a hail of shrapnel around.
• Boulder throw: throws a boulder it has lifted up at its prey.
• Hunts Jaggi using its giant jaw.
• Riding/climbing up the Tetsukabura might be the key to conquering him.

Yian Kut-ku

• Can climb/ride on him now.

Attacks include:

• Spit flame: spits flammable liquid from its mouth. Explodes when it hits a surface.
• Back jump: jumps backwards, can switch to a number of different attacks from this position.
• Can now hunt and eat prey, which recovers its stamina.
• Consecutive peck: uses its beak to incessantly peck at its target.
• Panic run: lunges forward while spitting flames everywhere.

Gypceros

Attacks include:

• Acid spit: spits poisonous liquid; target will be poisoned if it hits.
• Flash: releases light in its general surroundings when it screeches.
• Tail attack: swipes its tail around. Has a long reach given its gum-esque tail.
• Can attack hunters while they're climbing by either flying up to them to attack or climbing up the wall.

http://www.capcom.co.jp/monsterhunter/4/

Gallery

Monster Hunter: 3 Ultimate - NYCC Trailer

Looks great, I have a couple friends obsessed with MH, and I know they'll love this.

Looks great.

Cross-platform play in MH3U seems like a huge deal.

@Cincaid said:

So, uh, won't this make the Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate release somewhat irrelevant?

I don't think so, Monster Hunter 4 is too far down the line for westerners. Most fans I know are gushing over this despite it's graphical shortcomings, and with it essentially being the same game as the last with tweaks. It's the online and connectivity features with 3DS that seem to be selling it to fans, and improved community features via Miiverse and Wii U Chat. Capcom's goal with Ultimate is to broaden their audience, just in time for a release of MH4 in the West.

It looks awesome. I really want to play, but it's simply not enough for me to purchase a 3DS, especially when I've only had my DXiXL for 2 years.

@Wong_Fei_Hung: Yeah, realized it was aimed at a somewhat different audience, hence deleting my post. :)

@BraveToaster said:

It looks awesome. I really want to play, but it's simply not enough for me to purchase a 3DS, especially when I've only had my DXiXL for 2 years.

Hasn't stopped me. There's great software exclusively on 3DS, surely you must see this now. If I were you I'd trade it in for a 3DS XL like I've done. The majority of DSiWare content is transferable.

@Wong_Fei_Hung: Surprised to see some MH love here. Nice amount of info there Fei Hung! I can't wait for 4! It's the biggest factor in my decision to getting a 3DS over the vita.

@supamon said:

@Wong_Fei_Hung: Surprised to see some MH love here. Nice amount of info there Fei Hung! I can't wait for 4! It's the biggest factor in my decision to getting a 3DS over the vita.

Yea, there appears to be little love for it on this site. I think a large number of American gamers are put off it's learning curve and other aspects of it's design. I think Capcom will eventually change that perception which many have, first with Ultimate and then with this title.

@Wong_Fei_Hung said:

@supamon said:

@Wong_Fei_Hung: Surprised to see some MH love here. Nice amount of info there Fei Hung! I can't wait for 4! It's the biggest factor in my decision to getting a 3DS over the vita.

Yea, there appears to be little love for it on this site. I think a large number of American gamers are put off it's learning curve and other aspects of it's design. I think Capcom will eventually change that perception which many have, first with Ultimate and then with this title.

Is that a confirmed thing? I love MH as it is. I have no problems with how MH is played and I wouldn't want them to be simplified. In fact, I feel the core gameplay is extremely simple as it is. They could stand to continue adding complexity like they did by adding more weapons and the monster climbing mechanic could be interesting way to change things up.

@supamon:

That's the impression I get whenever Capcom talk about Ultimate. I don't think the gameplay will be easier (even though it appears to have lock-on ability now), just that the game will be easier to get into - no early levelling slog with little reward. Tri took a good while before you could really get stuck into it, I think they'll address this in the new version, that's all.

Tri Ultimate Gameplay (35mins)

The learning curve for the games has always been ridiculously steep and it does a very poor job of actually telling you what you should be doing/how you should be doing it. If they've fixed that, it'll definitely be a big step forward.

The bigger problem for me has always been the amount of grind involved and I know it's what turns a lot of others off. I put a good 30 hours or so into Freedom Unite, but got bored when I was required to fight the same monster 20+ to try and craft a new weapon, when the boss only had something like a 0.01% chance of dropping the required materials. It's more of a slog than any MMO I've played and I quickly lost any will to continue.

Fighting the large monsters is difficult enough, it seems like if you're able to defeat them, they should always drop their unique materials, especially if you damage their horns or whatever. I'm interested in Ultimate and 4, but only if they've significantly improved the monster drop rates.

@Wong_Fei_Hung: Waa? They're going to add lock-on? Not sure how I feel about that. Yeah the early stages of every MH were always a little slow on the pick-up. What my friends and I would do is pool what little resources we have and help one guy get a way superior weapon. We'd then going on a mission together and let that guy deal with the primary target while the others either went farming for more to build a 2nd set or help distract the monster. It works but I'll admit you'd be stuck grinding a little if you played solo.

Thanks for the link, I'll have something to watch over dinner now. =)

Capcom have announced the release of, "Monster Hunter Hunting Music Festival Orchestra Concert 2012"

• 

  December 05, 2012
• 3,675 yen
• More than 30 tracks
• 2 discs

@Wong_Fei_Hung said:

@BraveToaster said:

It looks awesome. I really want to play, but it's simply not enough for me to purchase a 3DS, especially when I've only had my DXiXL for 2 years.

Hasn't stopped me. There's great software exclusively on 3DS, surely you must see this now. If I were you I'd trade it in for a 3DS XL like I've done. The majority of DSiWare content is transferable.

I've already spent over $1000 building a PC, which was well over my budget. Besides I'm not care enough for the other software to buy a 3DS.

A few new details on 3 Ultimate:

• Circle Pad Pro support confirmed for U.S. version on 3DS
• GamePad can use both the touch screen and analog for camera
• “Zinogre” is the official localized name for “Jinouga”

MH4

@BraveToaster:

Fair enough.

Oh man I don't want to have to buy a 3ds, this and Fire Emblem is going to force my hand though...