Taken as an online game with friends, Monster Hunter was by fucking far my favorite PS2 game of last year.
I'd have no problem saying it was likely the most underrated game I've come across in quite some time.
The first half hour is really pretty icky, controls are muddy at first and everything seems wonky and unituitive.
But once the game clicks it does so unlike any other game before. Getting a hang of the hunting, gathering, item creation and start tackling the huge Wyverns (MH has the best boss fights in a game ever, IMO, seriously that fun), whee!
The game is just incredible stuff, lots of good memories. The combat system, balance and teamwork is the best in any online RPG, MMO or just co-op like so.
Too bad GA never gave it a real go for any length. There were a few folks who got into it but I was a tad late. Anyhow, it's very forgiving in terms of the time it takes to play. And can be totally relaxing or total white knuckle action.
You should fiddle with it online, MAF. It ppresents quite possibly the most satasfying difficulty level ever played as co-op for ease (which the entire first half can be done as, the second half of the game is really just a hard mode and I never stuck around for it sadly) and strikes a marvelous balance as so. Totally free to boot.
And yeah, MH is an absolute fuckton better than PSO. PSO is solid for what it is, and I enjoy it, but really, MH is just a totally different experenice. SO much more satasfying and unique.