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Monster Hunter: World Review for PlayStation 4 (PS4)

Monster Hunter: World Review for PlayStation 4 (PS4)

Hunting For Bigger Game

The Monster Hunter series has garnered plenty of success in its native Japan, yet remains a relative stranger to western audiences, apart from a devout minority of fans. The steep learning curve, unwieldy and complex controls, odd narrative, and limited platform selection for many of its entries simply hasn’t appealed to the most populace western demographic of gamers. Monster Hunter: World has the potential to cleanse that stigma and reach global acclaim, with an engaging curriculum for newcomers to adapt to the gameplay, staple features, and improvements to satisfy veterans, all on consoles that can showcase the beautiful backdrops and menacing monsters to their fullest splendor.

After some story exposition and a crash landing on a new continent, you’ll find yourself in Astera, the HQ of the hunting commission where you can prepare for your next Monster Hunter: World assignment or relax after a rough day at work. This hub village may be compact, but it has all the amenities you need to quickly take care of business and get back out into the wild. There are quirky humans and Felynes (anthropomorphic cats) that wander around offering hints and sometimes fetch quests, your own cozy bedroom where you can manage inventory and test out different weapons, a gung-ho armory always ready to upgrade or craft new weapons and armor, a resource center and quest boards to fill up your to-do list, and a gathering hub to mingle with other players and hook up for some co-operative expeditions. Once you’ve buffed up with a bite to eat at the canteen, it’s time to head out and work off some of that food.

At first, everything may feel intimidating and overwhelming. The crafting list looks excessive, the weapons are bulky, firefly-like insects guide you to a wide array of interactable spots, and colossal creatures, both docile and deadly, wander about. Capcom has tried to alleviate some of the initial burden by providing guidance from NPCs and on-screen button displays for combat and other actions. But really, Monster Hunter: World just needs you to take some time to sink your teeth into it. Try the different weapons out in the field, step back and do a little fishing when needed, study the monsters attack patterns, and you’ll be itching for bigger prey in no time.

Monster Hunter: World Screenshot

Since the monsters are massive, you’ll need equally imposing weapons to hack through their tough exteriors. Each of the fourteen weapons has its own specific control scheme, and mastering all of them requires a dedication to practice. From lightweight swords to hulking hammers, as well as various ranged weapons, each is tailored to a particular playstyle. You could stand stalwart with a lance and shield as a beast rears to attack, taking the blow and countering with your own. Or you could study the patterns more acutely to memorize exactly when to dodge with your lightweight dual blades, then fly in with a vicious flurry of strikes. Or you could vault from the ground with the insect glaive, mounting the monster over and over, jabbing at its carapace as it tries to buck you off.

Monster Hunter: World Screenshot

“World” is by far the most fitting noun to ingratiate the title, as it is the world, the environments, and the flora and fauna within that are the true stars of the game. Unlike previous Monster Hunter games, where the action was stunted by loading screens separating slices of the map, here the maps are fluid and bereft of pauses. Most missions incorporate a time limit, so even when your mark retreats, skillfully working your stamina bar and memorizing where key harvesting ingredients are located doesn’t leave you many moments to stop and smell the needleberries. Also, because each map is home to multiple monsters, some of who don’t follow the territorial rules very well, often times an uninvited guest may join in the fray or you may inadvertently (or purposefully) upset the other residents. Striking various toads to trigger status effects or lassoing a flying wyvern to pursue your mark are just a couple of ways to use the environment to your advantage.

Of course, taking down your hulking target is only half the fun. The other half is carving up bits of the beast and taking those materials back to town to turn into more powerful armor pieces and weapons. Not only does your new attire look superficially like its former owners, but the gear pieces also provide affliction and elemental resistances, or imbue those ailments into your weapons. You’ll get to show off your new duds to up to sixteen other players in the gathering hub, and offer them a glimpse into your combat capabilities.

Monster Hunter: World Screenshot

Monster Hunter: World is best played with friends, and you can tackle quests with up to three other people. Against tough targets, having a complimentary cast of weapons lets each member take on a specific combat role, and handily performing your duties will result in quicker kills and more loot for the group. Multiplayer has graced other versions, but the ease of quickly grouping, the extended grace period to join a mission, and the introduction of 50-player clan-like squads makes Monster Hunter: World the ultimate co-op experience. Of course, if you prefer to play solo, your trusty, adorable, and hilarious feline Palico companion is a perfect substitute.

Despite a strong focus on accessibility and numerous quality-of-life improvements over previous titles, Monster Hunter: World still begs you to muscle through your initial struggles and build a comfort level with the gameplay systems and pacing. Should you find yourself slowly embracing the concepts, you may blink and notice hundreds of hours have been invested, with you now proudly calling yourself a fan. With a great multiplayer element, there are few games that are more fun to play with friends, but even going alone with your purring Palico sidekick, the satisfying routine of taking down monsters and using their bits to upgrade your gear to take on tougher monsters never seems to get redundant. This is the Monster Hunter game for the world. There is no better entry point for beginners and no better magnum opus for the series.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.8 Graphics
Current consoles can finally do justice to the beauty and magnitude of a Monster Hunter game. Just don’t expect any boundaries of physics between yourself and nature, and get used to poor lip sync animations. 4.6 Control
With fourteen weapons sporting individual schematics, the controls are intimidating with a variety of weights. But get familiar with everything and movement and combat will be a glorious dance of skill. 4.8 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
With ambience befitting the natural landscapes and subtle sound cues of giant predators in the distance, the zones are massive auditoriums for your ears to embrace. The voice acting is a little melodramatic, but localized well for the English audience. 4.7 Play Value
The gameplay formula isn’t complex – kill monsters, craft from their body parts, and repeat. But the progression of your character and the campaign will have you dumping dozens of hours without a whiff of boredom. 4.7 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • A NEW WORLD – Take on the role of a hunter venturing into a new continent where you track down and slay ferocious beasts in heart-pounding battles. Strategically use the surrounding environment including terrain, vegetation and wildlife to your advantage in battle or become hindered by the hazards they present.
  • COOPERATIVE MULTIPLAYER – Team up with up to three other hunters and cooperate to take down any threat. With flexible new online drop-in functionality, you can start your quests solo and simply hail for assistance from the worldwide group during quests when your targets are too daunting to take on single-handedly.
  • REFINED GAMEPLAY – Monster Hunter: World builds upon a long legacy of incredibly satisfying gameplay systems, ranging from the purposeful combat mechanics of each weapon type to the crafting of gear based on your fallen foes to prepare for even bigger challenges.

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