It was an audience composed half of games journos, half of Monster Hunter die-hards that gathered at the Science Museum Director's Suite to be among the first to play-test the English-language edition of Capcom's Monster Hunter Tri for Nintendo Wii.

But Monster Hunters were forced to wait as Tri producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and Creative Director Kaname Fujioka first introduced the game and presented its newest trailer. Ryozo's presentation confirmed many of the game's previously-reported features, including 4-way online multiplayer utilising Wii Speak and support for the Classic Controller Pro (with bundles of the game with the Pro, or the Pro and Wii Speak available at launch).

Offline split-screen is a separate mode, and it will not be possible to take two local players online, Ryozo confirmed. The issue of whether there would be free to play online is still, much like one of Tri's winged Rathalos monsters, up in the air. Ryozo also revealed that planned DLC quests were envisaged, but would be available (by the sounds of it) for a limited time only.

Ryozo took pains to address the question of accessibility to newcomes to the franchise (the biggest question in Thumbsticks' mind as we arrived that morning) by explaining that the single-player campaign's gradual learning curve teaches the player everything they need to know to hunt monsters. JRPG fans may be drawn to campaign mode with its customisable characters (voice, hair colour etc.), array of NPCs and an intriguing farmstead tended by "cat-like feylines" (surely just cats).

Thumbsticks managed to briefly play both the split-screen 2-player arena mode as well as the 4-player online mode, though sadly not any under-water levels new to Tri. The split-screen graphics were a far cry from the genuinely impressive vistas showcased in the single player campaign, seemingly stepping back a generation in quality. Graphics in online multiplayer were better, though the environments shown were somewhat bland. Players hoping for sprawling multiplayer maps beware, the online maps on show here consisted of a series of relatively small areas interconnected by tunnels.

Gameplay in all modes baffled newcomers and delighted fans in equal measure, with the depth of the monster-battling only evident in the hands of an experience player. Ryozo and Kaname were keen to stress the need to observe a monster's behaviour to analyse the best means of attack. This, combined with the friendly damage, make for a compelling strategic experience that will be at its richest as players who have mastered the control systems (which differ dramatically with weapon class) encounter unfamiliar beasties, and strategise on the back foot. The longevity among hardcore hunters may lie in beating previous times and high scores, but a constant stream of new monsters via DLC may be essential to lure the less-dedicated hunter back to the fray.

Genuinely encouraging were the excited and frustrated shouts, orders and queries between gamers on the split-screen sofas, proving that the oft-overlooked in-the-room dynamic can deliver some of the richest gaming experiences, and one hopes that this translates to the online mode, where the multiple-arena multiplayer maps surely offer more strategic challenges.

There is no question that bringing what was first envisaged as a Playstation 3 project to Wii is a technically impressive feat, as much for the realisation of its online aspirations as its graphics.

The question remains of just how big a market exists in the west for hardcore games on the Nintendo Wii. The decision to switch development to the Wii has already been justified by the game's success in Japan, but will the effort of localising the game for Western audiences prove worth it if the majority of hardcore gamers here associate their 360s and PS3s with those sort of kicks. There is unquestionably a dedicated Monster Hunter fan-base in the UK, and it is to Capcom and Nintendo's credit that they recognise this in spite of commercial concerns.

The enthusiasm of the experienced hunters present was beginning to rub off towards the end of the day. Consensus among fans present seemed to be that Tri is the best, most balanced Monster Hunter yet. Come April, we'll find out if the game can convert newcomers and please dedicated hunters alike. Judging by the small squeak of excitement emitted when our first monster hit the deck, the signs are positive.