RISE & SHINE
Latest chapter in the long-running Monster Hunter franchise looks great, has some beastly baddies and unlike previous outings is accessible to players of all abilities
Monster Hunter Rise
(PEGI 12) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC
★★★★I
OF ALL the PS2 games I played back in the early 2000s, Monster Hunter was not the one I’d have guessed would go on to become a hugely successful series.
First released by Capcom in 2004, the fantasy-RPG was instantly embraced in Japan – but took a little longer to garner fans in the West, partly down to just how impenetrable the gameplay felt.
A sequel followed two years later, followed by a third title in 2009.
Each successive release received more and more attention, until the series gained cult status among fans.
Monster Hunter Rise is only the sixth mainline instalment in the franchise, which is marching steadily towards its 20th anniversary.
Released for Switch and PC players in 2021, it has finally landed on PlayStation and Xbox consoles – and it looks glorious.
As the name of the series suggests, the game is all about hunting monsters.
Starting out as a novice, you gain skills, weapons and attributes as you slay your way through an increasingly difficult variety of weird and wonderful beasts.
The last mainline game, 2018’s Monster Hunter World is considered by many to be the biggest and most spectacular Monster Hunter game ever made – but I’d humbly suggest that Rise is even better.
Set in the ninja-inspired Kamura Village, half a century after the last great calamity struck – we discover a new calamity is about to rear its ugly head and rile the local beasts into a frenzy.
Rise carries through many of the new conventions introduced to the series by its predecessor.
Like World, the game map is seamless rather than being broken into zones, but as the name suggests, a lot of that new map is vertical.
To help you traverse this new vertical world you have wirebugs, which are super adorable. As well as helping you climb, they come in handy if you’re trying to ride certain monsters, helping you mount and control your unconventional steed.
They also unleash ‘silkbind attacks’, which, when paired with your weapon of choice, can be highly effective in bringing down the game’s leviathans.
There’s also a new animal companion, the canine-like palamute, which you can use as transport to make life easier travelling across the map, or alternatively to ride screaming into battle.
While the story is nothing to write home about, the weapon-based gameplay feels deeper and more involved. You have 14 different weapon types to choose from, each offering their own unique playstyle and skillset – which evolves as you progress through the game.
Select from weapons such as Dual Blades, which allow for swift, fast paced combat; the Long Sword, which charges up a Spirit Gauge when used that increases attack damage and unlocks Spirit Blade attacks; and the Light Bowgun, which unleashes a rapid-fire barrage of ammo, and is great for short and long range attacks.
As for the monsters themselves, there’s more than 70 of the beasts to battle. Boasting around 39 large and 26 small creatures, add to that six ‘Apex’ monsters (the more powerful foes) and there’s no shortage of hunting fun to be had.
Apex creatures are alternate versions of normal monsters which unlock after you’ve faced down and defeated a Rampage boss.
Bringing down an Apex monster is brutal, visceral, nerve-shredding work, and I was unprepared for just how many times I’d meet my end before finally succeeding.
Having not played a Monster Hunter game for a while, I was amazed by how instantly accessible this game felt.
Huge strides have been made to make gamers of all abilities feel able to play this, as its trademark tough gameplay has put some people off in the past.
Running on the new generation consoles it looks beautiful, with rich, deeply textured colours and inviting environments that beg to be explored.
Rise has taken what’s worked from previous games and successfully built on them, and while hardcore players might feel it’s been dumbed down in places, I think that is one of the game’s greatest strengths.
This game finally makes Monster Hunter feel accessible to everyone, and is the perfect place to start your obsession with this amazing series.
Bargain buy: On Xbox, £26.95 at shopto.net/
Buy it: On PlayStation, £32.99 at store.playstation.com/
Bringing down an Apex monster is brutal, visceral, nerve-shredding work, and I was unprepared for just how many times I’d meet my end before finally succeeding