It won't be long before U.S. PlayStation Portable owners get a chance to check out Monster Hunter Freedom 2. Capcom was kind enough to send over two copies of the near-finished game, allowing GameDaily to get more hands-on time with its multiplayer component.

First up, players will need to create their own individual member of the hunting party. They can choose from various accessories, including armor, clothing and other small details. They can also select different voice modulations; for those who enjoy making their warrior talk with a rather strange accent. It just takes a little while for the quest to pick up, with a long introduction to sit through.

Once the game picks up, players should have no trouble getting right into the action. Up to four people can join a quest wirelessly through AdHoc, although they each need a copy of the game. Monster Hunter Freedom 2's multiplayer combat looks haphazard at first, with players simply running in and slashing away at a large beast. (It may even remind Capcom veterans of those old four-player arcade games from yesteryear, such as Captain Commando and Alien vs. Predator.) However, some strategy comes into play, as teams can knock beasts into pits for ranged attacks or go for "weak spots" to bring them down quicker, such as the legs.

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