The Monster Hunter franchise returns to the Nintendo 3DS with Monster Hunter Generations, the next installment that brings new monsters, new ways to fight and the return of online multiplayer.
Now, just as a disclosure, this is the first time I've played a Monster Hunter game so I’ll be thinking about Monster Hunter Generations as a standalone game and not part of a series.
But playing Generations made me wish I picked up the games sooner.
Its unique art style and customization really grabbed me, and the online play is by far the number one selling point for me.
But don’t let me get too far ahead of myself. Let's dive into what makes Generations an enjoyable experience for this first-timer, and what turned me off.
BEGINNING
First, whenever I play a longstanding franchise for the first time, I look to see if the game is kind enough to show you the ropes. Generations does a good job explaining everything you need to know, albeit with a lot of text which can make your head spin, but that also shows how deep the gameplay is.
There are also tutorial quests you can do to try out different weapon types and Hunter arts, with plenty of variety and combinations to choose from.
This brings me to another aspect of Generations, the combat system.
COMBAT
I've mentioned the weapon types and Hunter arts that dictate how your hunter fights. And with so many varieties and combinations it may seem a bit daunting at first, but Generations allows players to switch between weapons and skills easily.
You can start with a broadsword and aerial style, then switch to a bow and adept style in between quests and hunts.
It's a great way to relieve any pressure, especially to this newbie, to not have to choose and be forced to stick with any one combination. Because what's worse than choosing a weapon and having to play with it for an entire campaign? It’s also a great way to vary up your individual playthroughs, so the game won't get stale.
There aren’t any skill trees or anything like that, so you won't have to worry about losing progress when switching.
However, I can't help but feel cheap when I switch up weapons and arts between quests. I'm a player who likes to find a weapon or class and want to master that. But that's just my personal opinion.
But it's a great option to have when going up against different monsters.
If you're going up against a flying monster, a long-range weapon will be best, so that's a benefit for this type of gameplay.
Hunter arts I understand area new feature in the Monster Hunter franchise, so I'm sure seasoned players will appreciate the added layer of depth to fighting.
HUNTING/QUESTS
Hunting in Generations is definitely a unique experience. While a lot of games have you go out and retrieve specific items (and this game has plenty of those but I'll get to that later), the main draw is to hunt and sometimes capture these huge beasts.
The control scheme is very similar to Dynasty Warriors in how you can just spam your slashes, but there isn't an endless army of killable enemies. And your interactions with the environment affect your progress.
Your weapons have only a certain amount of sharpness. For example, the more you're slashing away at monsters, the duller they become and your strikes won't be as effective. You'll have to carry a whetstone to sharpen them or risk having some really drawn out battles.
Health and stamina are also factors you need to account for. You can carry potions to recover those but you may have to use the meat obtained from monsters to heal. It feels like a survival game as well as a hunting game, which is something I haven't experienced before and find really fun.
However, as I mentioned before, there are quite a few fetch quests, especially in the early stages. They get new players acclimated to the environment, teaching what you should and should not do, but they do get old really fast.
I just want to hunt monsters.
ONLINE
The number one selling point for Generations is the online mode.
Online play was introduced in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and brought the series to another level; Generations continues that upward climb.
To be honest, I was slogging my way through fetch quests while I learned the ropes and had a hard time keeping my attention on the game (thanks Pokémon Go).
However, a few online hunting missions totally changed the way I saw the game.
The other members of my online party had these lavish weapons and armor upgrades. I was stuck with some beginner gear and it showed the difference in power and skill.
They were kind enough to do most of the heavy lifting and teach me some of the more advanced aspects of the game, including crafting. But the team aspect of hunting and capturing a monster was so fun.
People giving out orders and letting everyone know what they want to do and what their role is was really fun and intense. It was definitely an experience that triggered my competitive side. I wanted to get to their level and after my online sessions were done and I had a better understanding of what to do, I turned a corner and really put in the time and effort.
Overall, Monster Hunter Generations is a great online multiplayer for those who want to go out and kill some monsters with friends or other players. The crafting and weapons system makes gameplay very deep and there are so many combinations that you’ll be hard pressed to find another player with the same build as you.
While the fetch quests and main gaming of Generations can get a bit dull, the fact that you can grind material and experience to make your online experience better is a huge selling point for this newbie.
New features in Generations like the Hunter Arts and new monsters and types of monsters will satisfy longtime players.
