Tackle the Charge Axe in New Monster Hunter 4 3DS Footage

The latest trailers and footage from Monster Hunter 4 show the improvements Capcom is adding to the forthcoming Nintendo 3DS game.

In the latest gameplay snippets played by the game's producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and director Kaname Fujioka, the pair highlight some of the new changes in Monster Hunter 4.

The bottom screen how has a clearer look, showing icons for different parts of a town, plus the ability to quickly go to certain towns or directly to a Hunter's house.

The video also highlights the improvements to online play - customisations for joining rooms, visible HR ranks and weapons fellow hunters are using. As with the previous Monster Hunter titles, there'll be local wireless, online and offline solo play. Those in different villages can also remain connected to their allies, allowing for a greater sense of freedom and flexibility when playing with others.

The footage also dabbles in the Charge Axe, a new weapon introduced in Monster Hunter 4, that has the ability to switch between two different weapon modes - sword and axe. Both of these have the ability to unleashed powerful charge attacks after a hunter racks up enough hits.

What do you think of Monster Hunter 4 on Nintendo 3DS so far?