Monster Hunter: World
| Monster Hunter: World | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publisher | Capcom |
| Director | Yuya Tokuda |
| Release | Playstation 4, Xbox One January 28 2018 PC August 9, 2018 |
| Platforms | |
| Playstation 4 Xbox One PC | |
| [[{{{Gen}}}]] | |
Monster Hunter: World is an online hunting action game for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gaming platforms which released on January 28th 2018 worldwide, and the fifth mainline game in the Monster Hunter series. A Steam version for PC was released on August 9th 2018.
Premise & Story
The player takes on the role of a hunter traveling to the New World as part of the Research Commission, tasked with exploring the new continent. This uncharted land is home to a phenomenon known as the Elder Crossing, where powerful Elder Dragons migrate to this region for unknown reasons. As the Commission follows the traces of the gargantuan Elder Dragon Zorah Magdaros, the truth behind this new world reveals itself step by step.
Gameplay
Like in previous games, the gameplay of Monster Hunter: World revolves around the player hunting monsters, using their materials to craft new armor and weapons, which then allow for the hunting of new, stronger monsters using a real time action combat system. However, Monster Hunter: World presents various drastic changes to just about every facet of the game outside of that core loop.
Key Features
Faster, more accessible Gameplay
Monster Hunter: World features a quickened pace of action gameplay that allows players to react quicker to monster attacks, chain together combos more freely and move faster in general. Every weapon has its moveset altered in service of this general change, and players are on average less committed to each combat action/animation. This extends to the use of items as well: Many can be used while moving, and the time the player is left vulnerable while using them has been reduced compared to previous games. Consequently, Monsters have been made faster and more aggressive to maintain an adequate degree of challenge.
Open Maps without Loading Screens
One of the most significant changes Monster Hunter: World makes to the series pertains to the design of the Hunting Ground maps. Whereas in previous games, a map consisted of singular zones separated by a loading screen transition, the maps of Hunting Grounds in Monster Hunter: World are fully interconnected and traversible with no interruptions. This has wide-reaching effects on the gameplay, as both players and Monsters can roam these areas freely. The maps also display an increased degree of verticality, with multiple layers of elevation.
Additionally, the player can now unlock additional campsites on each map, allowing them to fast travel when not in combat. These camps provide the ability to restock items and even equip different gear mid-quest. The player can also enter these Hunting Grounds without needing to accept a Quest, through a feature called Expeditions. When on an Expedition, the player can stay in a map for an indefinite amount of time, and will not be punished for fainting. However, hunting Monsters through Expeditions yields fewer rewards than if it is done within a designated Quest. Each Hunting Ground is still separate from all other Hunting Grounds, and they cannot be seamlessly accessed between eachother.
Scoutflies and Monster Research
In order to help the player find the Monsters in the larger, more intricate locales, Monster Hunter: World introduces Scoutflies, a trained colony of glowing bugs that can lead the player to points of interest. As the player traverses a locale, the Scoutflies will highlight monster tracks that can be collected for various rewards. Primarily, collecting monster tracks reveals more information about the Monster in question, such as its position on the map, its current path and even if it is weak enough to be captured. In the long term, collecting tracks levels up that Monsters Research Level, which makes more information about the Monster available in the players Hunter's Notes, as well as reducing the amount of tracks needed to determine the Monsters position next time the player hunts for it in the wild. Collecting tracks also generates Resource Points to be used as a currency in town, and is also a primary method to unlocking a new Quest Type, Investigations. The player can also manually pin a resource node or location on their map and have their Scoutflies guide them there instead.
A more fleshed out Story
Unlike previous titles, Monster Hunter: World puts an emphasis on a traditional and direct story mode. This includes numerous characters, fully voiced cutscenes and a more explicit narrative arc. The story is progressed by completing Assignments, which function as dedicated Story Quests. Every story quest in accompanied by one or two introductory/concluding scenes that provide context and justification for the hunt taking place. Additionally, the story of Monster Hunter: World guides the player through both low and high rank difficulties, whereas previous games generally only provided narrative frameworks for the low rank mode.
New Quest Structure and Seamless Multiplayer
While previous titles separated quests into singleplayer and multiplayer quests - with entirely different modes to access each - Monster Hunter: World allows every single quest to be played solo or as a team of four player hunters. Multiplayer can be done in one of two ways: A player can either open or join another players lobby (which can hold up to 16 players at once) and, once there, can accept to join any Quest the host player selects. Alternatively, a player already engaged in a Quest can fire an SOS Flare to request help from other players online, regardless of lobby connections. Players who are currently looking for SOS Quests will then be pulled into the Quest to provide aid to the host.
Instead of being divided into solo and multiplayer quests, Monster Hunter: World offers various quest types, with distinct advantages to each of them:
- Assignments: Quests that advance the story. Cannot be repeated.
- Optional Quests: Additional Quests that can be repeated. These are naturally unlocked as the player encounters Monsters in the wild or during the story. Some Optional Quests are also given by NPCs as requests, in which case they will be marked in the Quest List with a speech bubble. Capturing a Monster at least once will also add an Arena Quest to this list, where the Monster is fought in a designated battleground. Arena Quests rotate in and out and are not always available.
- Investigations: Special Quests that are generated by collecting Monster Tracks. Each Investigation is created with random objective, quest targets, special conditions, time- and faint limits. The main advantage of this Quest Type is that it offers additional rewards (shown through color-coded reward boxes) upon completion. However, these Quests can only be completed a set number of time, after which the Investigation will vanish.
- Event Quests: Unique Quests distributed by Capcom after the games release. These quests often feature special conditions, such as huge or tiny monsters, usually unseen combinations of quest targets or increased difficulty. They also include rewards exclusive to this category, such as materials to create otherwise unobtainable armor and weapons, as well as some collaboration and crossover rewards. Additionally, many Event Quests allow the player to acquire rare resources with relative ease.
- Special Assignments: Quests associated with Title Update content, as well as major collaborations. Can generally not be repeated.
Monsters
Main article: Monsters in Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter: World featured 16 small monsters and 30 large monsters at launch.
6 additional large Monsters - Deviljho, Lunastra, Leshen, Ancient Leshen, Behemoth and Kulve Taroth - were added via Title Updates after the games' release.
Locales
Main article: Locations in Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter: World features 5 regular Hunting Ground Locations and 6 special Arena/Story Locations.
There are also two peaceful zones: Astera, the main town, and the Third Fleet Research Base, which is much smaller but offers most of the same facilities.
Development
Description of the games development. Source whenever possible.
Here is how you use sources[1].
Here is how to use[2] the same source multiple times[2].
Reception
Description of the critical and commercial reception of the game.
Trivia
Various fun facts about the game.
- Arranged in a bullet list like this.
