Having already announced three separate PSP projects over the course of two weeks, should we really be too surprised to hear that Capcom has got another ace up its sleeve? Brace yourselves, folks: it may not be what you expect, as the worldwide publisher/developer gave word today of Monster Hunter Freedom, taking the concept of its console counterpart (well, counterparts, if you nabbed the Japanese-only Monster Hunter G) to the portable scale.

Not familiar with ‘em? Well, just as the title suggest, you take the role of a monster hunter, on the hunt for wild beasts throughout a sprawling world. Craft your character as you please and head for the hub village, where the game’s various challenges can be undertaken. With completing objectives come useful rewards in the form of arsenal and equipment upgrades, making you that much more badass for the next battle. And assuming three nearby pals have a PSP and a copy of Monster Hunter Freedom in their possession, hit ‘em up for some cooperative multiplayer or simply get your exchange on with transferable items and guild cards, good for earning points to boot. See, teamwork does pay off!

Monster Rancher Freedom should be ravaging in a store near you once Q1 2006 rolls around, so keep an eye out for it. But what would a game announcement be without… SCREENS!