After a period that seems to have been long enough for our fingers to fossilize (but which, in reality, is only less than two months since the game's Japanese release), Capcom has released images and footage of the follow-up to the massively popular hunt-or-be-hunted PSP adventure, Monster Hunter Freedom.
The sequel has already broken PSP pre-order and sales records in Japan after its February release and is expected to achieve similar success when it arrives in Europe and the US this autumn.
If you can force yourself to keep reading rather than start flicking through the screens above or hitting the video on, we'll quickly tell you that confirmed for the western version is the series' skill-based gameplay, full character customisation and impressive visuals, as well as more than 250 quests spread over eight new maps (featuring day and night cycles) to meet brave digital adventurers.
While we're talking numbers, you should also expect more than 70 types of monster, 700 weapons and 1400 items of armour.
A new infrastructure mode supports additional content download but, alas, no four-player option – for that you're stuck with wireless ad hoc mode whenever planning your hunting party (which, obviously, is better than nothing). More multiplayer comes promised in the form of a two-player co-op 'treasure hunter' timed game.
Other improvements include an all-new Pokke Village home base complete with an upgraded farm area, while for those who battled through the first Monster Hunter PSP game, the news that a background loading system option will reduce loading times during quests should prove as enticing as the sound of a dragon stomping furiously nearby.
Which is exactly the sound you should expect us to make the moment we get further news on this game before its September release.
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