Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, will be fighting it’s way onto the Nintendo Switch August 28th, 2018. I’ve had a number of questions asking about what kind of game it is and how it plays, so I figured I would put together a quick guide to Monster Hunter.
Brief History
The first Monster Hunter was released on PS2 in 2004. Subsequent releases have been on PSP, Wii, 3DS, WiiU, PS4 and Xbox One. A handful of games have been numbered but the last three releases were Monster Hunter Generations, Monster Hunter Double Cross, and Monster Hunter World. Japan saw the release of Monster 4, while North America received Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, which included more content and was the definitive edition. The same is true for Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, it’s the definitive edition of Monster Hunter Double Cross. An interesting feature of Double Cross is that it allowed Switch to play with 3DS owners. Generations Ultimate will be a Switch exclusive but hasn’t left 3DS out completely. If you have a Generations save file on your 3DS you can transfer that save to Generations Ultimate and get a head start on the next installment.
Gameplay
Single player is a competent choice if you’re looking for a little story sprinkled in between your hunts and it works as a tutorial to learn the basics. Where these games shine is multiplayer! Gather three hunters and begin the grind of hunting, harvesting and crafting gear. You play in the third person and choose from ranged and melee weapons as you control your armored clad hunter. Plan on giving this game a little time to get used to feeling and controls because your hunter feels heavy from his armor and the size of the weapon can also affect speed. Once you’ve adapted to the feel of the game it’s time for boss fight after boss fight. Set your gear, eat a meal to boost some stats, and head to base camp. Early on in the game,e you can grab some health potions, a map of the area and few other essentials like heat or cold resist depending on the area. Don’t get too used to map because once you hit a certain rank you’ll be going in blind, make sure to take some mental notes of each location. After leaving base camp it doesn’t take long to get into the action. Split up and scout different areas until your target is located, once the beacon is pressed everyone converges on that area and the battle begins. Your team of four shares three extra lives so you need to play smart. Plan your attack, execute, and get out of harm’s way. Feeling like an overpowered isn’t luxury you will experience in this game until leveled up crafted better gear.
The Hunt
A well-equipped team will be able to use traps and flash bangs to keep the monster vulnerable to attacks, but they only last so long so you’ll need to stay on your toes. After so many attacks your weapon will become dull and need to be sharpened, so make sure to stock up on whetstone’s to keep a fine edge on your blade. When the creature sustains enough damage it will begin to struggle to breathe and attempt to retreat. To slay the beast or capture it? That will depend on materials you’re looking for, trapping will yield different materials compared to vanquishing the beast. Certain pieces of gear may require the tail so make sure to cut it off before you finish the beast off. With the creature disposed of its time to carve for materials and enjoy the spoils of the hunt.
Gathering
Hunting and gathering is the name of the game. You will need tools for catching bugs, mining minerals, and catching fish. Plants and other items can be snagged along the way to your next beast. Some items will be necessary for upgrading gear, while others will be used for making potions. As tempting as it can be to gather during the hunt never leave your teammates hanging.
Conclusion
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate has the potential to be the best iteration yet as far as number of monsters. I’ve heard there will be 93 different monsters, but I’m still looking for confirmation. If you enjoy playing with friends and grinding for gear than this game is for you. If you have any questions about the game let me know in the comments below.
