A monstrous standard to meet
Interestingly, Rise’s development began long before the release of World under a completely different team. Director Yasunori Ichinose tells IGN in an exclusive interview that the team originally planned areas separated by loading screens, as standard for Monster Hunter games in front of the world. ‘On the Nintendo Switch we thought it would be difficult to get the visual quality and detail in sandbox environment. However, as development progressed, we began to realize that open environments became more and more the norm for instant names, and the success of World inspired us to take on the challenge, ”Ichinose recalls.
Shrine Ruins, the area launched on the Nintendo eShop in January, is a testament to the efforts of Ichinose and his team. Not only did they manage to fully realize a seamless hunting experience on a scale similar to the world (but with slightly less detailed environments), the game looks beautiful on the Switch.
Check out the latest exclusive game material from Monster Hunter Rise above.
Open environments are not the only idea that Rise borrows from the world. With a more user-friendly design, World has successfully introduced the series to a new audience. Improving quality of life such as wish lists that make it easy to locate the materials needed for weapon upgrades and armor, the ability to return to camp from wherever you are on the map, so players can change equipment without going to the hub, weapon trees that provide information you would previously have to look up in passages – the list goes on. “In this regard, there are definitely a lot of changes that we have adapted from World,” says Ichinose.
A more action-oriented animal
But Rise is not a title that depends on the success of the world to play things safe. It uses the foundations of the world to deliver a new vision for what a Monster Hunter title can be. The moment you jump into a mission, it becomes clear that Rise is literally a much more action-oriented animal. With Palamutes (a new canine-like Buddy) you can pick up and Wirebugs you can use to swing through the air and chase up walls, the help of these creatures makes a breeze. While World has shown you its detailed environments by having your footprints and other clues explored that would slowly lead you to your target, in Rise you will swing to the monsters in no time.
The Scoutflies that led you to the next track in World are also gone, and instead the monsters’ monsters are shown on the map from the start. Although you do not know the identity of the monster before encountering it, and the details of each area until you actually explore it, it remains clear that Rise is aiming for a faster stream of exploration. For players who have been turned down by the time-consuming quest for monsters in previous entries, Rise significantly lowers the bar by allowing players to enjoy exploring it and fighting more like a pure action game.
While preparing for the hunt so far has been a big part of Monster Hunter’s identity, Rise allows players to prepare completely on the go. Several types of Endemic Life are scattered across Rise’s territories, and by collecting these creatures, you will increase stats until the end of the quest. The endemic life you encounter depends on which route you take, and if you go in a straight line to your target, the hunt will become significantly more challenging.While it’s still possible to eat meals before embarking on a quest, Endemic Life alone offers plenty of players to get started straight away without regretting later. Similar to World, items like Whetstones, fishing rods, and fishing nets are solid objects, and while it’s still a weapon sharpness with Whetsones, you can do so while riding your Palamute on your way to the monster where you are, so you ‘ I do not have to stop – as with Iceborne’s Raider Ride. Furthermore, while in previous entries you would be in trouble if you forgot to prepare a hot drink when you go to a cold area like Frost Islands, Ichinose has announced that this item is not going to make a comeback. For players who enjoy Monster Hunter’s action but are overwhelmed by its low preparation, Rise seems to be a much more forgiving experience.
More accessible, still challenging
This does not mean that the action itself has become a piece of cake. As the Demo’s Intermediate Quest indicates, the slaughter of a monster can still be as exhausting and nerve-wracking as ever, and it even presents a great challenge for the more experienced player. But here, too, Capcom has found a way to make it more accessible. By eating meals before going on the quest and capturing as many Endemic Life creatures as possible to maximize their stats before embarking on the battlefield, players can tackle the challenge with more benefits than ever before. The beauty lies in the fact that Capcom still chooses not to apply the difficulty settings, but that you can balance the difficulty for each individual quest by choosing how much stat boost you get along the way. If you want a hard time experience, you should completely ignore both meals and Endemic Life.
“I think the more experienced hunter does not have to take a detour before you go into battle, but if you want a balanced challenge, you probably want to at least take up the Endemic Life you encounter,” Gee Ichinosis advice.
The nature of Monster Hunter’s challenging and ultimately rewarding battles remains intact. If you are not in the series yet, you can expect to be kicked a few times on the more difficult tasks, even if your stats are maximum. To make the learning curve a little more accessible, Ichinose advises players to start with the Village Quests. In previous Monster Hunter games, Village Quests is the only story quest for singles.
“We’ve scaled down the hassle for Village Quests, so it should be a good entry point for new players,” Ichinose said.
Stronger Together
As in previous entries, Buddies will be there to help you on your quest. Palicoes, the beloved feline animal of the series, can support the player in various ways, ranging from offensive Palicoes that will load monsters with the hunter, to Palicoes that will heal you when you need them most. But the above Palamute dogs create a whole new layer of support and comfort. Not only do they explore faster, but you can also execute synchronized attacks together, making it possible to quickly go into a close battle for a surprise attack.
You can choose up to two friends. The most basic and balanced combination, of course, is to take one Palico and Palamute together. But if you are a shooter, for example, it can also be an effective strategy to choose two Palicoes, ‘explains Ichinose.
If the hunt is too intense, even with your friends, there is always the option to switch to multiplayer. Ichinose tells us that the connection with other players is also streamlined. While your friends around the world only appear in the Gathering Hub on the fourth floor of the town, the whole of Kamura Village in Rise can be explored with other players, making the event much less confusing.
‘
You can even go to the practice area together to test your teamwork without any threat before going on to actual tasks. And while there are separate tutorials for mastering the wire-jumping action, wire bugs can also be used in town. You can always travel quickly to any facility in town, but if you turn around, it can function as a way to get used to the new mobility of the game in a safe environment. Ichinose proudly says that he himself is able to swing around and land exactly in front of the town’s facilities and NPCs.
The practice area has also evolved as players can adjust the attack patterns and position of the head of the giant mechanized Tetranadon in the center of the area. This allows players to practice for different situations with their weapon of choice.
Weapons are still hard to master, easier to upgrade
Speaking of weapons, Ichinose hopes players will switch weapons more often than before. Although he understands the fun of becoming an expert in one particular weapon, with 14 very different weapons available, such players will experience only one fraction of Monster Hunter’s diversity.
“One reason for players to stick to the same weapon has always been the fact that it takes so much time to upgrade weapons, which is why we decided to significantly reduce the amount of material needed to upgrade weapons for Rise , “says Ichinose.
As the grinding of materials in previous titles can easily take hours, this adjustment sounds like another big step forward to welcome more comfortable players.
‘
Mastering weapons themselves is just as challenging as ever, and tutorials still only scratch the surface of the many combinations that each weapon has. Ichinose tells us that the team considered teaching the player more combinations, but in the end they came to the conclusion that it would be more confusing and overwhelming for most players.
When asked about the best weapon to start with, Ichinose says that the Sword & Shield used to be his standard answer, but that the weapon evolved so much that it became difficult to recommend as an appetizer.
“I think the Longsword may have become the best weapon for beginners, because you can easily deliver a good stream of attacks by simply pushing the buttons without mastering how to block,” says Ichinose.With sword pulling techniques based on katana swords, the Long Sword should also be a great match to Rise’s Japan-inspired environment!
Monster Hunter Rise will be released on March 26 on Nintendo Switch.
Ezra Krabbe is an editor at IGN JAPAN. If he is not looking for hunting, you can usually find him TwitterIGN sits down with Monster Hunter director Yasunori Ichinose to hear what the team has done to make the series more accessible than ever before.