Monster Hunter Dos is the JP-exclusive sequel to Capcom’s 2004 debut title Monster Hunter. The franchise had a niche set of fans, enough to keep it going, that is until 4 Ultimate and eventually Monster Hunter World propelled it into mainstream status. But as a veteran of the series who started with 3U, I wanted to take a look back on the PS2 iterations of Monster Hunter.

Monster Hunter Dos has you acting the role of a small-town hero, who arrives in the humble village of Jumbo. The chief is thankful for your services and sends you on simple gathering missions to get your bearings in the nearby jungle. The first thing any long-time Monster Hunter fan will notice about Dos is exactly the creatures they didn’t notice before. Small monsters are highly aggressive, able to stagger you constantly, and deal large amounts of damage quickly. A single hit from a crab under the sand will take a third to half your health bar, wasting precious healing potions.

At all turns, Dos rejects convenience in favor of hard work. Gathering spots are not marked, leaving you as the hunter to gauge whether a small plant is decoration or a valuable commodity. No automated farming means every single resource you gather is due to you pressing the circle button on a gathering point during a quest. It’s brutal. You start with no money, no armor, and only a Sword & Shield. Quests cost money, armor costs even more money, and don’t even think about upgrade costs. Need mega potions? Not if it’s cold season, you’ll need to wait roughly 5 hours for Warm season to gather honey again. Seasons introduce variety, but also lock off quests, zones, and specific materials to gather. In order to change seasons immediately, you need to pay more than 8x the cost of the simple gathering quest you start with.

But here’s where it changes.

You learn. You grow. With every hunt you understand how to manage the attacks of small monsters. You learn the rotation of the seasons, understanding when to gather what resources. You accept this inconvenience not because it’s inherently fun, but because the lows can make the highs all that much sweeter. Perhaps you go online, learning the strengths of working in a group. Fellow hunters lift you up, helping guide and hone your abilities.

And with you, Jumbo grows in kind. The village expands, paying you back for the favors you performed for its residents. The once-small village becomes something more, a thriving community and a home away from home.