I don't know how to explain it clearly ,this game's all about hunting monsters and crafting new equipments.(That's why we call it Monster Hunter ,ain't?lol)
You need be patient while play this game.Some high level equipment need many hours(or days for some unlucky guy.) to collecting materials and have to get used to die for many many times to learn monster's behaviour.
Multiplayer is the most funniest path for this game.If you not know enough about which monsters you going to kill ,you team may wiped out easily.While good team'll know what to do to take it down.(And prof. team able to kill boss monsters quite easily ,they even able to kill some boss within few mins.)
Hunting ,collecting and learning monsters behaviour.This's my opinion about what Monster Hunter is.