“Monster Hunter: World” came out for the Xbox One and PS4 on Jan. 26 and will be coming out for PC in fall of 2018. The game has gone through many variations from console to console, and has just been brought to it’s fullest potential. Capcom, the creators of the franchise, have been making this series since 2004 and with the release of “Monster Hunter: World,” have made major improvements that other games were lacking.
When playing the game for the first time, the opening title screen presents the player with its beautiful colors and visuals. The music starts up slow and soothing, fitting with the visual sensation presented. The new story, character customization, controls, gameplay mechanics, visuals, and the Artificial Intelligence have been amped up to a large amount, giving the game its beautiful aesthetic. From the last games that lacked a lot of aspects are improved in this new game such as the new Monster AI, where monsters would initiate a battle with another monster, allowing players the ability to walk while drinking a potion, and having every main area as one big open world area.
Of course, there are some downsides, the biggest one being how long each fight takes. If the player is not prepared enough or lacks the right armor to fight a certain monster, they will die or waste a large amount of time trying and eventually giving up. This becomes very infuriating over countless tries, making the player give up and try again at another time. This game is not easy, which is shown in the first quest the player experiences.
In order to combat against dealing with tough monsters, players can upgrade gear using materials they obtain in the area or from gathering them from slayed monsters. But this is thrown out the window once the monster the player needs to kill either has the materials needed but rarely shows up since certain materials given are random or the monster itself rarely shows up.
Overall, “Monster Hunter: World” is an experience with memorable visuals and new mechanics that improve the gameplay as a whole. The game can be frustrating at times, but it is worth the effort in the end when finally beating the monster and getting the satisfying feeling of succeeding. This game is a prime example that creators of the game they are passionate about put so much time and effort to make not just a game, but an experience.
8/10
Julia Peralta // Graphics Dept.
