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Monster Hunter Rise review: A grand hunt that’s far from over

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Image used with permission by copyright holder
Monster Hunter Rise review: A grand hunt that’s far from over
MSRP $60.00
“Post-game updates will ultimately decide whether this is a sure-fire classic or simply a solid stepping stone to something greater, but even at launch, Monster Hunter has never felt better.”
Pros
  • Optimized, fair combat
  • Gorgeous visuals
  • Full of charm and detail
  • Deep, but streamlined RPG systems
Cons
  • Too dependent on post-game updates
  • Frame rate spikes

With each new Monster Hunter title comes a streamlined experience designed to shred the notion that Capcom’s biggest series is a punishing grind that’s out to make you weep. On the surface, Monster Hunter Rise could easily be mistaken for a figurative Monster Hunter World Lite–a less visually striking Action RPG that simplifies Capcom’s most successful game yet to run on the compact and comparatively weak Nintendo Switch console. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

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Monster Hunter Rise is a brilliant standalone entry that builds upon what the previous game did both right and wrong. It takes the franchise another bold step forward in the right direction while retaining just enough of the old-school charm to not further alienate veterans left wanting after the last. Whether it outshines what came before, though, depends on what the future has in store.

Web-slinging wins again

As in previous games, Monster Hunter Rise pits you against terrifying beasts at the top of their respective food chains. The titular monster hunts are lengthy battles of brain and brawn where even a poorly timed chug of a potion can open you up to a world of hurt. Unforgivingly long animations and steep learning curves have sent many hunters packing over the years. It’s that stigma that recent titles have attempted to shake without foregoing what made it great.

Built to add a new level of verticality and speed to the traditionally sluggish combat system, the crowning achievement of Monster Hunter Rise is the Wirebug system. This new swiftly-recharging resource allows players to web-sling their way through any given part of the hunt, turning the largely grounded experience of past games into a far more fluid and reactionary affair.

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Whether you’re lugging around a hefty hammer or packing lightweight dual blades, you can close in on fast-moving targets, zip out of harm’s way, or quickly execute a bunch of flashy weapon-specific assaults at the push of a button. It’s both an offensive and defensive toolkit that builds upon the situational Wedge Beetle and arguably unbalanced Clutch Claw from the previous title, with at least a half-dozen reasons to use it arising every second.

Everything about the core formula has been optimized to the tee.

There’s a level of expertise needed to properly time a Wirebug skill, though. Committing to the assault is like watching a game-deciding shot unfold in your favorite sport. It’s a tense moment of judgment with plenty of risk, and you’ll doubt your decision until the moment you touch down. From large enemy attacks you can vault over to sling-shotting yourself from the quest hub and straight into a seat at the restaurant for a pre-hunt meal, it’s clear the game was designed around the Wirebug from the get-go.

As the possibilities present themselves, it’ll be hard to go back to a time before. Everything about the core formula has been optimized to the tee. From seamless battlefields littered with supplies to a level of player mobility far and away from the franchise norm, there’s virtually zero downtime between battles. Once you decide the hunt is on, it’s on.

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Another part of what enables the break-neck pace of Monster Hunter Rise is the return of open-world gameplay. Though noticeably less dense and detailed compared to the last major release, Rise features sprawling zones that, at a glance, often dwarf that of its predecessor. The reduction in ground clutter results in areas that feel less nestled in farfetched fantasy and better suited to the frantic action of the hunt, with tools like Great Wirebugs, additional spawn camps, and your rideable Palamute doggy pal helping make traversing the grandiose locales an adventure in and of itself.

To keep fast-travel from shrinking the scope of the world, creatures able to boost your combat prowess are strategically scattered around, creating just enough reason to take the long route to your target. There are even a bunch of secret messages masterfully hidden around each map for the lore-hungry few to scout out when not on the clock that should take a good while to fully uncover.

Hope you like Dango

As a potential casualty of the effort to streamline the core experience, Kamura Village is a little smaller than your typical in-game quest hub. But with a smaller village comes a greater concentration of the franchise’s charming cast of throwaway characters. The people of Kamura Village range from quaint and elegant, to rough, boisterous, and theatrical–though some signature janky facial animations can cause the English localization to result in some cringy and uncomfortable cutscenes.

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It’s a slight shame to see the Meowster Chef get axed after making his silver-screen debut in last year’s live-action movie, but Yomogi the Chef and her cute little rice-pounding kitties inject a level of cuteness that was sorely missed in the gruff and goofy Monster Hunter World. Skip the adorable song and dance that comes free with your meal of dubious nutritional value and you’ll prove you’re the real monster. Like much of the game’s soundtrack, you’ll struggle to resist whistling along as she skewers the little pudding pops like the culinary ninja she actually is.

Skip the adorable song and dance that comes free with your meal of dubious nutritional value and you’ll prove you’re the real monster.

And the fun goes beyond the characters, too. When you’re in need of supplies, it’s your awkward dog that has to pull its weight by heading off on a submarine voyage to barter for the goods while your feline friend waves goodbye from the safety of the shore. The more handy animals you adopt, the more arduous labor you’re able to have them passively complete while you’re out there risking life and limb. Just keep telling yourself they’re happy to do it.

Tower defense makes everything better

Not content with relying solely on the Wirebug to carry the game forward, the new Rampage quest type shakes up the formula even further. It’s not quite the stampede the occasional loading screen art depicts, but it’s well worth getting excited for. Rampage builds upon the Siege missions of past titles, only swapping out monsters of world-shattering size for dozens of the breeds you tackle on your regular quests.

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It’s a glorified tower defense mode in all but name. Waves of beasts charge over the fences and you’re tasked with setting up the cannons, ballistae, and even machine guns needed to fend them off. Your strategy isn’t forced on you through an arbitrary build limit, either. You can set up as much artillery as you want. You’re only limited by how quickly you can fling yourself to one gun or the other to keep the beasties from bashing down the walls and smashing the village.

Monster Hunter has always been about tense altercations, and if what Rise has to offer right now is any indication, things will really heat up over the course of its life. 

Things start off rather tamely, but as Rampage missions often bar you from the next level of quests, it’s here where you’ll endure some of the game’s most gripping moments–especially in co-op. Having a team of four juggle various types of heavy artillery, stoking the fires to repair damaged turrets, or trying to line up an explosive blast as a last resort is as exhilarating as it is mentally exhausting. Monster Hunter has always been about tense altercations, and if what Rise has to offer right now is any indication, things will really heat up over the course of its life.

Which gets us onto some of the more uncertain parts of the title. For series veterans, Monster Hunter World was a case of quality over quantity: A relatively short game with little challenge. Even by the end of its run, its monster roster lagged behind that of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.

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Like it or not, there’s a similar story unfolding here. Monster Hunter Rise lands with around 31 old, new, and returning favorite beasties to hunt. It’s not a small number by any stretch of the imagination, but it suggests history is repeating itself. Even higher difficulty content–often considered the “true” experience–is locked behind pending free updates. There’s still plenty on offer between the single-player campaign, multiplayer quests, and arena battles, but if you were hoping for a complete, it’s time to simmer those expectations. It might not have quite enough content to satisfy franchise veterans banking on the team to right the few wrongs of Monster Hunter World, but there are still dozens of hours of gripping gameplay to sink your sword into.

Our take

A sign of stellar game design, Capcom has yet again managed to inject a new lease on life into the franchise without watering down what made it so special almost 20 years ago. Rampages are a riot and Wirebugs are a triumph, opening the door to heart-stopping combat rolls and first-pumping combos and will have even newcomers feeling like master hunters at the push of a button.

Post-game updates will ultimately decide whether this is a sure-fire classic or simply a solid stepping stone to something greater, but even at launch, Monster Hunter has never felt better. It’s an absolute must-play and another reason to never doubt Nintendo’s little tablet that could.

Is there a better alternative out there?

Yes and no. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is the better value game right now. The Hunter Style system is a precursor to Monster Hunter of today. It’s still a blast to experiment with, but the higher difficulty curve can be off-putting to those just looking for a bit of fun. If you don’t have much experience with the franchise’s past, Rise is the place to be right now.

How long will it last?

You can burn through the core experience here in around 100 hours. Far less if you’re only in it for the story. Free post-launch updates will keep it going for at least a year, but it’s far from the richest game in the series.

Should you buy it

If you’re a fan of intense action RPGs, there’s very little like it on the Nintendo Switch right now. It’s a must-have. Once you get to grips with the combat, squeezing in a hunt in a hurry is a rewarding experience.

Josh Brown
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Josh Brown is a UK-based freelancer with devoted interests in video games, tech, film, and anime/manga. Just don't talk to…
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To simplify the bug, it makes a necessary NPC play hooky. Rather than appearing where they are supposed to, the NPC just...doesn't show up, and without them, you can't progress any further. However, if you've progressed to Chapter 5-3 already, you're in the clear and have nothing to worry about.

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Ask any Monster Hunter Wilds player and they will tell you that the most important tip and trick to know is how vital it is to always upgrade your gear. There are no levels like a normal RPG, so the only way to get stronger is to forge better weapons and armor at the blacksmith. Like almost every game, you can't just make better gear for free. It costs you money and the raw materials to make it. One of the early materials you will need to get is iron. Unlike monster parts, you need to go out of your way to find deposits of iron to mine to get your hands on it. If you're at a loss for where to track down this ore, here's where you can find iron in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Where to find iron

Iron is a very common resource in the starting area of Monster Hunter Wilds, Windward Plains, but it also shows up in Scarlet Forest. You can see it as a big blue geode on the ground and a blue icon on your map. The easiest way to locate them on your map is to open your map and open the Filter Icons menu. Turn everything off except for the Mining Outcrop icons. Then, all you need to do is find an iron one on your map, set a waypoint, and have your Seikret take you there.

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Monster Hunter Wilds weapons guide
A hunter leaps at a Monster in Monster Hunter Wilds.

There are dozens of important tips and tricks you need to master in Monster Hunter Wilds, but they all pale in comparison to learning how to use your weapon effectively. All 14 are available right from the start and each one completely changes the flow of a hunt. Experienced hunters will be familiar with most of them, but there are some new aspects to take into account this time around. If you plan on playing with friends especially then you will want to make sure you're not holding the team back by just spamming attack. Before you put a new weapon on your wishlist, check out this quick weapons guide for Monster Hunter Wilds.
Weapons guide

As mentioned, there are 14 weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds. We will give you a basic idea of each one's strengths, weaknesses, and playstyle but the best thing you can do to decide is take on into the training area and try it out.
Great Sword
If you like a slow weapon that packs a massive punch, the Great Sword is still the king. This is the iconic weapon of the franchise capable of high-damage charge attacks and a block. You need to be brave and account for your slow swing speeds to land a hit, but once you do, it will count.
Long Sword
A sword so long even Sephiroth would be jealous. This weapon allows you to perform perfect dodges and counterattacks more like an action game. It also has nice wide, sweeping attacks for smaller mobs and hitting multiple parts of a monster at once. Landing hits builds a spirit gauge you can spend on a special combo that buffs your attack.
Sword and Shield
If you're new to the series, this is a great weapon to start with. It has fast attacks with the sword and shield, a decent block, dodge, and is the only weapon that lets you use items without having to put your weapon away first.
Dual Blades
For something a bit more fancy, the Dual Blades are just as fast but have more layers to consider. They give you a Demon and Archdemon gauge that buffs your attack power and speed as you build each one up. If you want to be fast and aggressive, give these a whirl.
Hammer
The Hammer is a lot like the Great Sword, only dealing blunt damage that can quickly tire a monster out or stun it if you target the right body parts. You're not as slow with this weapon and have a dodge, but no guard.
Hunting Horn
This weapon is one best saved for veterans or players who are part of a dedicated squad. The horn plays different tunes that buff yourself and other hunters in addition to attacks, meaning you need to pay attention to the entire battlefield and know which buffs to trigger when.
Lance
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Gunlance
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Switch Axe
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Charge Blade
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Insect Glaive
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Light Bowgun
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Heavy Bowgun
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