I've never played a Monster Hunter game before this one (besides like five minutes of 4 Ultimate, which I now own so I'll play it before 3DS servers shut down) so for an introduction to the series, it definitely triumphs in that regard. If you've never played a Monster Hunter game before, probably start here.
After dropping 50 hours (and a good chunk of my winter break) into this game, I can definitely say I'm a fan, but wish it had a little more to it. Areas in the game feel a bit empty, Monster AI is pretty rough, and without Sunbreak it does feel a little short (the village section), but I do love playing online and the combat system.
I had my dad walk in one evening and say the graphics were "pretty impressive" and I responded "yeah, for a Switch game" but it's no hyper-realistic game or anything. If you like collectathon style games, this might be up your alley. Give it a shot (or Worlds if you're on PC because that's the better option.)
After dropping 50 hours (and a good chunk of my winter break) into this game, I can definitely say I'm a fan, but wish it had a little more to it. Areas in the game feel a bit empty, Monster AI is pretty rough, and without Sunbreak it does feel a little short (the village section), but I do love playing online and the combat system.
I had my dad walk in one evening and say the graphics were "pretty impressive" and I responded "yeah, for a Switch game" but it's no hyper-realistic game or anything. If you like collectathon style games, this might be up your alley. Give it a shot (or Worlds if you're on PC because that's the better option.)
At first, I was disappointed by MH Rise. It lacked the detailed ecosystems, lush graphics, and (so I thought) polish of World. This was never, however, intended to be World 2, and shouldn't be judged as such. Originally exclusive to the Swtich, Rise is far closer to a mix of the modernized QoL improvements of World and much of what made the countless handheld entries of the past so unique, themselves.
When I realized that the new monsters were based on Yokai and each had their own black and white samurai/horror film introduction (complete with film grain) I began to fall under its charms. The singing waifu in a kimono on the title screen made me initially wonder why the series was going in such a generic, more overtly Japanese direction, style-wise, as opposed to the cavepunk trappings World. I soon realized that it was a match made in heaven (and I believe not a first for the series, technically). Rise in my opinon, has the most character of all the Monster Hunters I've played. There is so much charm and love in every corner of this game.
Purists who love the games represented in MH Generations: Ultimate might balk at aspects of this entry, as will lovers of World (like I initially did). I ask, however, "Why not find reasons to love them all?"
I know I do.
When I realized that the new monsters were based on Yokai and each had their own black and white samurai/horror film introduction (complete with film grain) I began to fall under its charms. The singing waifu in a kimono on the title screen made me initially wonder why the series was going in such a generic, more overtly Japanese direction, style-wise, as opposed to the cavepunk trappings World. I soon realized that it was a match made in heaven (and I believe not a first for the series, technically). Rise in my opinon, has the most character of all the Monster Hunters I've played. There is so much charm and love in every corner of this game.
Purists who love the games represented in MH Generations: Ultimate might balk at aspects of this entry, as will lovers of World (like I initially did). I ask, however, "Why not find reasons to love them all?"
I know I do.