Monster Hunter (PS2, 12+)

Herald rating: * * *

Monster Hunter seems to have been inspired by those classic paintings of Cro-Magnon Man throwing spears at the woolly mammoth. Its world is made up of an imaginary population of dinosaurs that battle bands of sword-wielding humans.

The monsters start out meek and herbivorous but become blood-thirsty and aggressive as you progress. After talking to various characters in your village you set out to slay monsters and are set tasks along the way - killing certain beasts or protecting the villagers. The fighting can be fierce and realistic, especially as the level of difficulty increases.

From the carcasses of the beasts you cut raw meat for nourishment and hides and horns to be fashioned into weapons.

You are kept rigidly on a set path throughout the game and run into an invisible wall if you try to stray too far. Other games limit you from wandering but do so in a smarter way, using the landscape to pen you in.

The story interface is text-heavy and slightly clunky, recalling much earlier games on lesser consoles. The use of the right controller stick for weapon strikes means you can easily move and fight at the same time. And a press of the L1 button will re-centre your point of view, which is useful for getting perspective amid the action.

The prehistoric binoculars are good for spotting monsters on the horizon, but also show up the horribly blocky landscape.

While the lacklustre single-player game will struggle to keep you absorbed for long, Monster Hunter is considered one of the better online games available on the PS2. Worth a look if you're interested in online multiplayer gaming.* $120