Once victorious, you spend your downtime sprinting around the main hub, upgrading or forging better equipment, nabbing a bunch of pending quests from NPCs, and meticulously preparing for the next hunt. Even with the introduction of new mechanics that help amplify these features, Monster Hunter Rise struggles to establish a creative identity of its own.Įncounters with huge and impressive beasts is the centerpiece of the experience, putting your skills with the myriad weapon types to the test. Battles continue to be an exhilarating dance with death, gear customization is satisfying, and coordinating hunts with friends makes for awesome fun and unexpected outcomes. Monster Hunter Rise’s gameplay often attempts to copy World’s success, which isn’t always a bad thing. The well-paced difficulty ramp made progression enjoyable for newcomers, while countless endgame challenges kept expert hunters coming back for more. Monster Hunter: World was an important paradigm shift for Capcom’s beloved franchise.