Ray Willmott reviews Monster Hunter World…
As I write this review I’m coming back to camp to lick my wounds. This is the second time I’ve failed to defeat my target so it’s safe to say I’ve found a nemesis.
The first time was unfortunate. The T-Rex looking Anjanath was hobbling away from me, yelping and whining into the wind. Her tail had been sliced in half and she was covered in scar tissue. I knew it was a matter of time before I claimed my kill. After tracking her slimy mucus and deep footprints, I swung across a few ravines on some treacherous vines and cornered her into a nest high above the ancient forest. This was going to be her final resting place, I thought. There’s no escaping this time.
What I hadn’t factored into my plans is the giant pterodactyl-like Rathalos swooping down to join the party. The airborne creature could also smell the blood of the vulnerable walking wounded and assumed that it was entitled to take the credit for all my hard work.
At first, I sat in awe watching these two behemoths ravage one another. Each roar and swipe packed a harder punch than I could ever deal and it was more than a little bit mesmerizing. But when the Rathalos picked this hulking and intimidating entity I’d been battling tooth and nail up with its talons and unceremoniously dumped it on its head outside of the nest, my jaw hit the floor.
Two things dawned on me. First, I realized that whenever I got done beating this scary, fire-breathing T-Rex that had a tendency to keep kicking my ass, this ferocious flying beast would be next. That’s something Monster Hunter: World does amazingly well; it carefully develops a sense of scale. You think you’re fighting the biggest, baddest monster in all the land and nothing could be tougher, then something else comes along and considerably ups the stakes.
As I sat there gawping and pondering, the creature pounced. Needless to say, it made short work of my character who was absolutely fatigued and unprepared. That’s the other thing I realised when it was all too late, I wasn’t in the Anjanth’s lair, it was the Rathalos and I’d picked the wrong place to start a turf war. Whether intentionally or inadvertently, my target had lured me here and completely derailed my strategy. Meanwhile, the Anjanath was able to get away, living to fight another day.
And that second day came soon after as it fried me to a crisp with one blast after another. Back to the drawing board, I guess.
Monster Hunter: World will get your blood boiling as much as pumping. At times, your enemies will pummel you unrelentingly and you’ll barely be able to put a foot right to stop them. Other times, when you get that all-too satisfying kill, you won’t be able to wipe the smile off your face. Because you’ll realise where you’ve been going wrong and how many mistakes you’ve been making. For instance, the failures I had against the Anjanath weren’t a total loss as I gained valuable research points which then helped me learn more about the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the creature, as well as which weapons and elements are best used to beat it.
Monster Hunter: World encourages experimentation. That’s immediately apparent from the 14 different weapon types available to you. Everything from dual blades, to hammers, lances, and bows, you can adapt your strategies for every occasion. And that’s important because each monster is different. You won’t want to fight a flying beast with a two-handed sword, nor would you want to be fighting slowly against an athletic, inspired beast.
Then there’s other things to consider, like laying traps to snare or stun them, as well as upgrading your armour to make you more resistant to certain types of damage, like fire or water. You’ll also need to pay close attention to the items you craft. There’s obviously standard potions to restore health, but there’s liquid which can increase your maximum health, thicken your skin, immunize you from certain ailments, demon drugs to boost your attack power, and tranquilisers to stun your prey. In the case of the Anjanath for instance, heavy swords are the most effective weapon to use.
While you don’t see a direct health bar over the head of the monsters, you can see the pain that they are in. You can see the impact of each shot and how much of an effect it has on the creature. Their temperament changes, their patterns evolve, they become more defensive – retreating from danger – whether that means ascending to higher ground or burrowing deeper into the ground. Monster Hunter: World does a magnificent job of making you feel initially outmatched, but equally creatures are unafraid to show their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Sometimes that even plays into their strategy, as they hope you’ll lunge in then get caught off-guard.
The jump to the big screen from the 3DS also massively suits the franchise as everything from the environments, to the character models and even the eating sequences, have had a big budget overhaul. It brings the world to life and makes the hunts all the more tense and satisfying. All this is further complemented by a more involved, natural, and seamless online experience which easily matches you to players of a similar level, skill, and quest type. The nature of it is so easy that you can create and join multiple squads to band up with, send up SOS flares in the hopes a random stranger will take pity on you, or even opt to help someone if they are in a jam.
There are a few frustrations, though, such as monsters getting cheap, one-shots on you that are brought about by a sharp up-turn in difficulty. As a result, once you get past a certain point in Monster Hunter: World, the difficulty will lose some players completely, whereas others will thrive on the challenge.
Also, sometimes when drinking a health potion – if you are in combat – it appears to heal you, but if the animation is unable to finish then not only do you lose the potion, but you also don’t get the benefits of the healing. An odd glitch that’s sure to be ironed out sooner rather than later. There are also some minor graphical glitches, such as creatures getting stuck in the scenery, as well as your character.
The good news, though, is that Capcom have kicked 2018 off with a bang. Almost everything about Monster Hunter: World feels tight, refreshing, and well designed. It’s like a whole new beginning for this long-standing franchise and there’s so much content to sink your teeth into. Whether you’re a newblood or a series veteran, everyone will love getting to grips with the different fighting styles, as well as adapting to each and every scenario.
Monster Hunter: World is not only set to become the global smash it deserves to be, it’s going to change the way online games are played forever.
Pros:
+ Elegant open world
+ Varied weapons and customization
+ So much content!
+ Online component excellently implemented
+ Epic battles
Cons:
– Cheap shots lead to plenty of frustration
– Odd occasional glitches
– Rough difficulty curve means it won’t be for everyone.
Rating: 9/10
Platform reviewed on PlayStation 4
Ray Willmott@RayWillmott
Originally published January 27, 2018. Updated January 26, 2018.
