MONSTER HUNTER RISE is fantastic.
Note: This review is intended primarily for players new to the franchise.

MONSTER HUNTER RISE originally launched on the Nintendo Switch. This can be seen in the game's general aesthetic, and less-than-ambitious design compared to its predecessor, Monster Hunter: World & its expansion Iceborne. However, this does not mean it is a small game. On the contrary, as of writing this review, I have clocked in over 100 hours, and I still have plenty left to do. If you only want to know whether it is worth your purchase, know that it absolutely is. If you wish to know more, continue reading.

The general gameplay loop is as follows: go on a hunt → slay/capture the monster(s) → earn monster materials as rewards → craft new gear from rewards. This cycle repeats with new monsters and higher tiers, leading you through a cycle of increasing damage, resistances & new active/passive skills and abilities to augment your hunts. To any Monster Hunter veteran, this will be second nature. To new players, it may at first appear to be daunting, but it is highly rewarding, satisfying & addicting.

Hunts are doled out through quests. In this specific iteration, quests are handled in two ways: either through Kamura Village (single player) or through the Gathering Hub (single player, multiplayer). For the former, quests will remain in the Low Rank variant, the initial, easier difficulty in the game. You'll progress through the game's narrative via Urgent Quests in both Kamura Village as well as the Gathering Hub. Urgent Quests can be unlocked periodically after completing specified quests in either location. The quests in Kamura Village are easier and can only be completed alone. In the Gathering Hub, quests can be completed either by yourself, or with a party of up to three other people. Do note that the HP of the monsters will scale with additional players.

Character customization is a strong aspect, with a full character editor available. Change your eyes, your ears, your nose, your lips, your haircut, your eyebrows & more. The game uses a slider system to range values between X and Y, to allow for even more dynamic character design. There are also dozens of hairstyles to choose from, with more available as DLC. There are 10 male and 10 female voices to choose from for character call-outs, grunts and other voice lines. In combination with armor & weapons, the game offers nearly limitless possibilities for characters.

The only downside for character customization is that Capcom is only offering one (1) free Character Edit Voucher per Steam account. These are used to do large-scale edits to your character, like voice & body type. I cannot condone this practice, though it must be noted.

There are 14 weapon types to choose from, each with their own distinct playstyles. From Long Swords to Bows, and even Light & Heavy Bowguns. Every type of player will be able to find their niche, whether they desire slow, hard-hitting gameplay, or fast & fluid combos with high mobility, and everything in-between. Each weapon has its own set of moves and combos, making every weapon feel unique. A Training Area exists within Kamura Village to practice each of these weapons, complete with on-screen instructions for all weapons, as well as basic combos to get you started. Every weapon type has dozens upon dozens of upgrades, sprawling across a massive tree with plenty of forks for different elements and ailments, whose designs are based off of the monsters from which they are carved. Hunt a monster capable of paralyzing you? Its weapon tree will likely contain paralysis as its ailment.

Armor, much like weapons, has its own entire system at play in the Monster Hunter franchise. Pieces will have skills to augment combat, offering both active & passive bonuses, as well as resistances to certain elements. Every monster in the game has its own unique set of armor, with its design inspired by the monster from which it was forged. You can mix & match pieces to combine skills and resistances to best maximize your gameplay. Plus, if you dislike how your character looks, there is an entire Layered Armor system in the game, offering cosmetic-only customization.

The game has five primary maps in which hunts take place. These maps are modest in size, offering a range of verticality which augments the combat experience. From sandy plains to flooded forests, locales are diverse not only in the types of monsters that inhabit them, but also in their layouts and aesthetics. After queuing for a quest and departing, you will arrive at your Main Camp, where you will then seek out the target monster(s) for your given hunt. Monsters are clearly displayed on your minimap, so there's no worry of spending too much time looking for your target.

Multiplayer is arguably the core component, and functions excellently. After opening the game, you have the option to create a lobby that up to three other players can join. This can be done either through lobby codes, or through your Steam Friends List. It is also possible to leave your lobby open to anybody, allowing for public lobbies. There exists both in-game text chat, as well as in-game voice chat. These can be toggled off if necessary. When a player(s) joins your lobby, you will be able to see them and their gear anywhere in the game, including all areas of the hub town. This is a welcome change from the system its predecessor used, where players were only visible in the Gathering Hub or on quests.

Quests inside of the Gathering Hub can be completed by up to four players at once. However, any player can post a quest and play it, allowing for multiple quests at once; you do not need to join a quest someone else has posted if you would rather do your own. Regardless of who posted the quest, upon completion, a red check mark will be added to it to indicate that you have completed it. Unlike in its predecessor, there are no instances where a player(s) needs to start a quest by themselves first to watch a cutscene. All quests are available in multiplayer immediately.

Admittedly, the narrative is its weakest link, offering little in the way of a compelling narrative. If you intend to play through this game for its story, I suggest looking elsewhere. A light plot thread strings through several hunts, explaining & justifying the appearance of certain monsters. Beyond that, there is little in the way of proper story or a narrative direction.

Performance is arguably its best & biggest selling point. Running on the RE Engine, the game runs incredibly well on even modest hardware, with graphics cards like the GTX 1060 seeing 100+ FPS at max settings at 2560x1440. There are a handful of settings to change, though the breadth of customization leaves a bit to be desired. However, tweaking settings to gain FPS will likely be unnecessary for most. The game itself is also very stable, seeing very few crashes. One friend of mine has played for over 100 hours without a single crash. The game can be played at an unlocked framerate for incredibly smooth gameplay.

MONSTER HUNTER RISE is a fantastic game, with plenty of depth and something for everyone. It runs incredibly well with beautiful visuals and sound; monsters are all unique and have completely different fights, there are tons of armor & weapons, quests are an absolute blast either by yourself or with others, and the game's deeper mechanics go far beyond surface level. It is a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone.

[i][b]MONSTER HUNTER RISE[/b][/i] is fantastic. [b]Note:[/b] This review is intended primarily for players new to the franchise. [i][b]MONSTER HUNTER RISE[/b][/i] originally launched on the Nintendo Switch. This can be seen in the game's general aesthetic, and less-than-ambitious design compared to its predecessor, [i][b]Monster Hunter: World[/b][/i] & its expansion [i][b]Iceborne[/b][/i]. However, this does not mean it is a small game. On the contrary, as of writing this review, I have clocked in over 100 hours, and I still have plenty left to do. If you only want to know whether it is worth your purchase, know that it absolutely is. If you wish to know more, continue reading. [h1][b]Gameplay[/b][/h1] The general gameplay loop is as follows: go on a hunt → slay/capture the monster(s) → earn monster materials as rewards → craft new gear from rewards. This cycle repeats with new monsters and higher tiers, leading you through a cycle of increasing damage, resistances & new active/passive skills and abilities to augment your hunts. To any Monster Hunter veteran, this will be second nature. To new players, it may at first appear to be daunting, but it is highly rewarding, satisfying & addicting. [h1]Quests[/h1] Hunts are doled out through quests. In this specific iteration, quests are handled in two ways: either through Kamura Village (single player) or through the Gathering Hub (single player, multiplayer). For the former, quests will remain in the Low Rank variant, the initial, easier difficulty in the game. You'll progress through the game's narrative via Urgent Quests in both Kamura Village as well as the Gathering Hub. Urgent Quests can be unlocked periodically after completing specified quests in either location. The quests in Kamura Village are easier and can only be completed alone. In the Gathering Hub, quests can be completed either by yourself, or with a party of up to three other people. Do note that the HP of the monsters will scale with additional players. [h1]Character Customization[/h1] Character customization is a strong aspect, with a full character editor available. Change your eyes, your ears, your nose, your lips, your haircut, your eyebrows & more. The game uses a slider system to range values between X and Y, to allow for even more dynamic character design. There are also dozens of hairstyles to choose from, with more available as DLC. There are 10 male and 10 female voices to choose from for character call-outs, grunts and other voice lines. In combination with armor & weapons, the game offers nearly limitless possibilities for characters. The only downside for character customization is that Capcom is only offering one (1) free Character Edit Voucher per Steam account. These are used to do large-scale edits to your character, like voice & body type. I cannot condone this practice, though it must be noted. [h1]Weapons[/h1] There are 14 weapon types to choose from, each with their own distinct playstyles. From Long Swords to Bows, and even Light & Heavy Bowguns. Every type of player will be able to find their niche, whether they desire slow, hard-hitting gameplay, or fast & fluid combos with high mobility, and everything in-between. Each weapon has its own set of moves and combos, making every weapon feel unique. A Training Area exists within Kamura Village to practice each of these weapons, complete with on-screen instructions for all weapons, as well as basic combos to get you started. Every weapon type has dozens upon dozens of upgrades, sprawling across a massive tree with plenty of forks for different elements and ailments, whose designs are based off of the monsters from which they are carved. Hunt a monster capable of paralyzing you? Its weapon tree will likely contain paralysis as its ailment. [h1]Armor[/h1] Armor, much like weapons, has its own entire system at play in the [i]Monster Hunter[/i] franchise. Pieces will have skills to augment combat, offering both active & passive bonuses, as well as resistances to certain elements. Every monster in the game has its own unique set of armor, with its design inspired by the monster from which it was forged. You can mix & match pieces to combine skills and resistances to best maximize your gameplay. Plus, if you dislike how your character looks, there is an entire Layered Armor system in the game, offering cosmetic-only customization. [h1]Maps[/h1] The game has five primary maps in which hunts take place. These maps are modest in size, offering a range of verticality which augments the combat experience. From sandy plains to flooded forests, locales are diverse not only in the types of monsters that inhabit them, but also in their layouts and aesthetics. After queuing for a quest and departing, you will arrive at your Main Camp, where you will then seek out the target monster(s) for your given hunt. Monsters are clearly displayed on your minimap, so there's no worry of spending too much time looking for your target. [h1]Multiplayer[/h1] Multiplayer is arguably the core component, and functions excellently. After opening the game, you have the option to create a lobby that up to three other players can join. This can be done either through lobby codes, or through your Steam Friends List. It is also possible to leave your lobby open to anybody, allowing for public lobbies. There exists both in-game text chat, as well as in-game voice chat. These can be toggled off if necessary. When a player(s) joins your lobby, you will be able to see them and their gear anywhere in the game, including all areas of the hub town. This is a welcome change from the system its predecessor used, where players were only visible in the Gathering Hub or on quests. Quests inside of the Gathering Hub can be completed by up to four players at once. However, any player can post a quest and play it, allowing for multiple quests at once; you do not need to join a quest someone else has posted if you would rather do your own. Regardless of who posted the quest, upon completion, a red check mark will be added to it to indicate that you have completed it. Unlike in its predecessor, there are no instances where a player(s) needs to start a quest by themselves first to watch a cutscene. All quests are available in multiplayer immediately. [h1][b]Story[/b][/h1] Admittedly, the narrative is its weakest link, offering little in the way of a compelling narrative. If you intend to play through this game for its story, I suggest looking elsewhere. A light plot thread strings through several hunts, explaining & justifying the appearance of certain monsters. Beyond that, there is little in the way of proper story or a narrative direction. [h1][b]Performance[/b][/h1] Performance is arguably its best & biggest selling point. Running on the RE Engine, the game runs incredibly well on even modest hardware, with graphics cards like the GTX 1060 seeing 100+ FPS at max settings at 2560x1440. There are a handful of settings to change, though the breadth of customization leaves a bit to be desired. However, tweaking settings to gain FPS will likely be unnecessary for most. The game itself is also very stable, seeing very few crashes. One friend of mine has played for over 100 hours without a single crash. The game can be played at an unlocked framerate for incredibly smooth gameplay. [h1][b]Conclusion[/b][/h1] [i][b]MONSTER HUNTER RISE[/b][/i] is a fantastic game, with plenty of depth and something for everyone. It runs incredibly well with beautiful visuals and sound; monsters are all unique and have completely different fights, there are tons of armor & weapons, quests are an absolute blast either by yourself or with others, and the game's deeper mechanics go far beyond surface level. It is a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone.