Monster Hunter World is the first in the series that I have played, and it was only the extremely positive reviews of the game that nudged me over into buying it, as well as the fact that there's nothing much coming out until March time. So I needed something to play and I decided to dive in.
I have played about twenty five hours, and although I have not completed it I have a fair grasp of what I like and what I really don't like.
The Good
Character Customisation
At the beginning of the game you get to create your own character as well as your palico (cat creature that assists you throughout), and it is surprisingly magnificent. The toolbox of options you have is astoundingly detailed, and it puts games like Destiny 2 to shame. Your character will look slightly different in-game but not to the point where they are unrecognisable.
Weapon Variety:
Right from the get go you have a choice of 12 weapon types to choose from, ranging from a sword and shield, a Bow, and to a Katana, amongst others. They all feel different to one another, and every gamer will have one that suits the way they want to play. The weapons are easy to learn but bloody hard to master, and you can switch weapons at any time during the game (not while on a quest of course).
Craftsmanship:
As a loot and grind game, the rewards are fair and worthwhile. With these rewards you can then craft items that are useful for your hunts and exploring, most importantly, you can craft your own armour and weapons from the workshop in the main hub of the game. And believe me there is a vast array of ways you can create your character in the specific way that you want to play, and how you want to approach a particular hunt that you are embarking on.
The equipment you craft also makes for some splendid cosmetics, you can really suit up your character in different ways.
Visuals and Monsters
The game is utterly gorgeous, the colours really ooze off of the screen. The five worlds you explore are all different to one another, with varying eco- systems. While they are all taken from your usual tropes of forest and desert landscapes, etc, they are all distinctive enough to look like places you have never seen before.
The monsters are incredible, most of them are tweaked designs of dinosaurs and real wildlife, but they have their own nuances that give them a little depth. In combat, each of them have their own attack patterns that you have to learn, and be prepared to have plenty of challenge when you are hunting them.
A heap of content:
I have not reached the end game yet, but from what I have played so far and from what I have read, there is a lot to do in the game. There is the main story quests, as well as what you might call the side quests that are linked with the main hub area. Many of these are repeat missions or fetch quests, but if you love grinding there is plenty here for you.
I have to mention the online multiplayer, which can be confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, there are plenty of ways you can party up with other people. And playing with your friends does give the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop an extra dynamism and strategic depth. Overall, the game is more enjoyable playing it this way.
The bad:
Monotonousness combat
While you can upgrade your weapons a lot, the actual combat when you're fighting the monsters becomes tedious and lethargic (certain weapons can mitigate this better than others). It really is bare-bones stuff, it does the job and nothing more. This would be less noticeable if the monsters weren't hit sponges.
Uninteresting story:
The main plot is nothing more than a McGuffin for the characters to hunt monsters, and the story progression does nothing much else. This is perhaps what one expects from this type of game, but with such a beautiful world, it's just a shame that it is nothing more than serviceable.
Animation locks and cheap gameplay mechanics
This issue is linked with the combat, because I had a lot of problems playing with a bow weapon, for instance you can't run while drinking a potion, and when you do run you have to put away your weapon. This can be a nightmare when you're fighting a monster with an extremely big hit box, this is also an issue with the environment as well, as some monsters with large hit boxes are hard to escape in certain environments that are contained.. This is a minor gripe, but it is one that will become a frustration at some point with certain monsters you have to hunt.
So is the game worth buying?
Despite my negatives, Monster Hunter World is still a good game, but one I can only enjoy in small doses, after two hours of solid gameplay the enjoyment begins to sap away and I just feel like I need to play something that's little more cathartic. In my humblest opinion this game has not deserved the near flawless praise it has had, for me it's a solid seven out of ten, and I could just about understand why someone would give it an eight.
If you enjoy looting and grinding for rewards, and doing so with your friends, then Monster Hunter World is probably for you. But be warned, this game requires a lot of your attention, and not all of it is going to be enjoyable.
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