Welcome to our review of Monster Hunter Rise, a must-buy for fans of the series, for others, you are in for a ride…
The critically acclaimed action-RPG series returns to the Nintendo Switch! Set in the ninja-inspired land of Kamura Village, explore lush ecosystems and battle fearsome monsters to become the ultimate hunter. It’s been half a century since the last calamity struck, but a terrifying new monster has reared its head and threatens to plunge the land into chaos once again.
Hunt solo or in a party with friends to earn rewards that you can use to craft a huge variety of weapons and armor. Brand new gameplay systems such as the high-flying ‘Wire Action’ and your canine companion ‘Palamute’ will add exciting new layers to the already robust combat that Monster Hunter is known for. Whether it’s at home, on the go, online or offline – you’ll always be ready for your next hunt on the Nintendo Switch!
When I ask my friends if they like Monster Hunter or not, it is always a strong yes or a strong no. There never seems to be an “it’s fine”… One of my Japanese friends adores the series and she has been asking me for so long to start playing so we can go hunt together. Obviously, I am not telling her beforehand that I am playing the game, no, I want to surprise her out of the blue by actually becoming a seasoned fighter.
Having no real experience as a monster hunter, Monster Hunter Rise is a completely new world for me and I have had some issues with the beginning of the game. I spent most part of the first hour reading all about how to handle the hunter, ride Wyverns, use the jumping mechanic and so much more. It was really overwhelming how all this information is literally dumped on your shoulders straight away and the tutorial does nothing to soothe the pain.
I know I often complain about how tutorials can be absent or bad, but nothing prepared me for this. Actually resulting in me stopping the tutorial midway just to think about everything I had learned up till then. This game comes with a hefty tutorial and it can be very old-school in this approach. Luckily there is also a very extensive in-game manual, so you can instantly get a refresher when needed.
Now, once you get past the first few tutorials and finally get to hunting, it becomes even more clear that if you rush the game, you will end up getting wrecked the entire time. Take on the easiest of quests first, so you can get acquainted with the mechanics and after around 3 hours of gameplay, I figured out how to really play this game. I scored my first real successful mission and boy, this feeling just felt like a relief. Not enjoyment, but actual relief, so I decided to really keep playing and see where the game would lead me.
So I went into more quests and slowly but surely, I was able to score and pass quests. From taking out 8 smaller monsters to slaying a big monster. I was slowly having fun in Monster Hunter Rise, but at the expense of having played 3 hours at that point. A long entry but in hindsight, a needed one. Monster Hunter is a complicated game that isn’t always that accessible.
Now on to what I like about this game, Monster Hunter Rise is gorgeous, to say the least. The village which serves as a major hub in the game is where everything starts and finishes. Once you get to the monster hunting, it is clear the very extensive material management in this game is where its main power resides. From tons of weapons and armor to probably even more items. Item management is critical in this game.
Your entire playstyle will depend on how good or bad you are at it. In general, the bigger weapons have slower movements and the double-bladed ones will allow you to play a little more smoothly. Obviously, the hit points will depend on how and when you hit a monster. This is where the biggest challenge lies in this game when it comes down to actually hunting monsters.
Monster Hunter Rise is actually not so bad as a game, it takes a while to really get into it and I can see one losing itself in the mechanics in both a positive and a negative manner. I still think the manual needed to play this game is more than thick enough, heck, I kept looking for a way to autofocus on 1 monster during combat and I am still unsure if this exists or not. My attention span took a few hits during the original reading part and despite really enjoying the game at times, I seriously wonder how to continue from here on.
Sure, there are tons of cool things in this game, from getting quests to defending the town to doing just about everything inventory-related. I can see tons of players addicted to this game and at the same time, a similar amount of players that can not get into such a technical game. I guess I am the first person I know that is in between both.
Yes, I seem to have a love and hate relation with the game, some mechanics are really not to my liking. The speed at which some attacks are made… The delays in popping a potion… But at the same time, getting your buddies to help you out in battle, riding that Palamute of yours, having a Calico to assist in battle… I think the game is a mixed bag for me.
In conclusion, Monster Hunter Rise is a tough nut to crack if you have never played a game of the series before. I was new to the series and I clearly suffered from mental overload during my gameplay. I sincerely wonder what the game would be like with a higher speed, but I guess it is all part of the charm. Graphically, this game was amazing and it just felt so complete at times.
A very big chunk of a game to chew off when you are new, but a dream for lovers of the genre? I guess that sums up the game that is called Monster Hunter Rise.
