Things have been pretty quiet regarding the upcoming Monster Hunter 3 title that's supposed to be released on the Nintendo Wii. Thankfully, word from Famitsu recently came out on some of the finer points of the long awaited Monster Hunter sequel.

Game producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and director Kaname Fujioka talked about all the new features, as well as familiar elements that will be seen in Monster Hunter 3. They mentioned that the new title will be a reboot of sorts in the series, one way of signifying the transition from the PS2 to the Wii.

An unexplored island will be the new setting for the game and will feature a variety of environments, such as forests, caves, and even underwater settings.

The developers also gave an in-depth explanation regarding the new swimming component that will be introduced. Aside from hunting fish and using them as ingredients, you can definitely expect to take down some giant underwater beasts during your adventures.

One important aspect when exploring underwater environments will be the limited amount of air your character will have when taking the plunge. Much like the stamina gauge on land, it will gradually deplete the longer you stay underwater.

Naturally, a new Monster Hunter title also means new monsters to hunt. One of these will be a giant underwater dragon, which will be the game's main monster. Fujioka revealed that the dragon can be hunted above or below water, depending on the player's preference.

However, perhaps one of the most exciting features that will be included in Monster Hunter 3 is the online mode. Up to four players can enter a single world and work together to bring down a beast. Players can convene inside a city setting as a lobby to coordinate their efforts before the actual hunt.

While no solid release date has been planned for the game, we can expect a playable build to be ready by October, when the Tokyo Game Show goes live.

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