HERE IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT MONSTER HUNTER ULTIMATE, DIFFERENCES AND SIMILITUDES FROM OTHER GAMES FROM THE SERIES.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (モンスターハンター3アルティメート) is an expansion of the Wii title Monster Hunter 3 (Tri), released on the Nintendo 3DS alongside a Wii U version that supports 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolution graphical output. The game has been confirmed to arrive by Capcom's Dubindoh from Capcom-Unity. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is scheduled to be released in North America and Europe during March 2013.

Capcom will be providing more information as the release date draws near.

Notes:

▪   The 3DS version of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is known as Monster Hunter 3G in Japan.

                        The Wii U version is known as Monster Hunter 3G HD Version in Japan.

▪   The underwater features that were not present in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd return in this game.

▪   The 3DS and Wii U versions are able to connect and play together locally.

                        Savegames can be shared between the two versions, but saves from different regions cannot be transfered to another country's release. 3G's save cannot be transfered to Ultimate, or vice-versa.

                        Online play is supported only on Wii U. This feature is not present on the 3DS version, which only has local multiplayer support.

▪   Monster Hunter 3G on 3DS scored a 38/40 (10/10/9/9) from the reviewers at Famitsu.[1] 

                        The HD Version on Wii U got a 35/40 (9/9/8/9).[2 

Monsters

Main Article: MH3U: Monsters

▪   A new Brute Wyvern named Brachydios, which is first encountered in the Volcano but also in subsequent quests found in the Tundra and Deserted Island. It is also the flagship monster of the game.

▪   Lagiacrus, Zinogre, Duramboros, Ceadeus and Jhen Mohran now have their own subspecies.

▪   In addition, Nargacuga Rare Species and Lagiacrus Rare Species are introduced.

▪   A new monster named Guran-Miraosu appears in MH3U's opening cinematic. It dwells in the Disastrous Sea area, and can be considered the final boss of the multiplayer mode, although other monsters can still be unlocked after its defeat (Jhen Mohran Subspecies, Gold Rathian, Silver Rathalos, Nargacuga Rare Species, Lagiacrus Rare Species).

▪   Some of the returning monsters have new attacks during G-rank quests, such as Barroth flinging mud after its charge attack, Gigginox laying Giggi eggs on its back, Qurupeco performing a Sleep-inducing dance, Uragaan connecting its roll into a jaw slam, and Jhen Mohran expelling a massive jet of sand from its mouth.

Azure Rathalos, Silver Rathalos, Pink Rathian, Gold Rathian, Plesioth and Green Plesioth all receive moveset changes from past Monster Hunter titles.

More Features

▪   Another Shakalaka called Kayamba is able to join hunts. At first, Kayamba is not at very good terms with Cha-Cha though the two eventually become friends. Both can join the hunter in the single-player campaign, similarly to the Felyne comrades in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. When heading into Tanjia Port, the multiplayer mode, both Shakalakas can be taken along if the player isn't playing wirelessly with a friend. When playing with another person, the hunters are allowed to bring either Cha-Cha or Kayamba, as long as the total amount of participants doesn't exceed 4.

▪   A new feature called Target Camera allows hunters to center the camera on nearby large monsters instead of the direction they are currently facing by pressing the L Button. This feature is optional and can be toggled via the bottom screen. If the L button is pressed twice in succession, the camera shifts behind the hunter as normal. MH4 director Kaname Fujioka has revealed that the Target Camera system was implemented into 3U as an experiment and that a further modified version would be used in Monster Hunter 4.[3]

▪   The bottom touch-sensitive screen can be customized to access various kinds of info and menus. All information (health bar, map etc.) can be optionally displayed on this screen, freeing up space from the top screen. Items can also be easily used or combined this way.

▪   Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is the first game in the franchise to feature dynamic shadows (i.e., realistic shadows which are of the same shape as the character casting them). The game does temporarily switch to the previous round shadows when flying monsters are high up or moving to another area.

▪   The Mountain Stream area from Monster Hunter Portable 3rd returns.

▪   All 12 weapons types present in MHP3rd return in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

                        The Dual Sword, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, and Bow weapon classes can be used underwater for the first time.

                        Similarly to MHP3rd, Bowguns are split between Light and Heavy types, omitting the Medium type and unique customization present in Tri. The Bowguns' attributes can still be customized but the parts cannot be changed, much like with Bowgun kits in Monster Hunter Tri.

▪   The city of Loc Lac from Monster Hunter Tri is replaced with Tanjia Port.

▪   Supports local wireless multiplayer via multicard play and SpotPass but not single card Download Play.[4] Online multiplayer is not supported. Event Quests can be downloaded online and are accessible from Tanjia Port at any time once downloaded, like in the PSP games.

▪   Village Quests now have High Rank equivalents. These quests include some of the subspecies from MHP3rd and Brachydios first appears here.

▪   Several of the returning monsters' G-Level armors look different and they provide skill points towards different skills.

▪   Features from Monster Hunter Tri that were not present in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd return to this game.

▪   Free Hunt mode in the Deserted Island where resource points can be earned.

▪   Before you begin Free Hunt, you can choose whether you want to hunt during the day or at night. The daytime setting is largely the same as in Tri but the nighttime version has High Rank monsters and materials.

▪   In addition to the monsters encountered in Free Hunt mode in Monster Hunter Tri, different monsters can be encountered at night. Examples of new monsters and subspecies that were not previously found in the Deserted Island such as Barroth, Dosufurogi, Brachydios, Great Baggi and Black Diablos can be hunted for resource points this way.

▪   Moga Farm is the farm area of the game, and is identical in appearance to the version found in Monster Hunter Tri. However, some items that were previously unable to be cultivated, such as Thunderbugs, can now be left the task of the Felyne helpers.

▪   The Torch item is again found in Supply Boxes and outside Moga Village in Free Hunt mode, though all the previously dark areas now have normal lighting like in Portable 3rd.

▪   Dragonblight, a status ailment absent from Portable 3rd returns in this game.

                        Unlike Monster Hunter 3, Dragonblight now gets rid of your element instead of taking your affinity.

okay, so it's basically an exact copy of MH3 (wrt existing zones) plus the addition of new areas as well?  so kind of like a re-release (of borderlands or whatever) where all the DLC is included on disc?

What would be DLC if this wasn't Capcom and Monster Hunter, basically. More monsters, more weapons, and a new difficulty level.