Monster Hunter World is the latest entry in Capcom[1]’s long-running action role-playing game franchise. The previous game, Monster Hunter XX for the Nintendo Switch helped Nintendo gain $2.2 billion in market value[2] on the Tokyo stock market after being announced for the console in 2017.
While the Monster Hunter franchise has always been popular in Japan, it hasn’t had the same success in the West. Most entries have graced handheld consoles that didn’t have the flexibility in controls that the likes of the PS4 and Xbox One do, along with a steep learning curve, and dense presentation (each weapon would have multiple screens packed with information). These made it a tough sell for many - until now. Gadgets 360 spent some quality time with Monster Hunter World, and this is what you need to know ahead of the full release on January 26.
The game begins with you customising your character as well as a palico- a cat assistant who aids you in battle. From different face types and hairstyles, to the kind of tail your palico has, Monster Hunter World offers more than enough by way of customisation options for the discerning gamer.
After a brief action-packed opening you find yourself on Astera - an island rife with exotic beasts - and are tasked with strengthening humanity’s foothold in the region by thinning down the population of its monstrous inhabitants; it is called Monster Hunter World after all. From the docile, dinosaur-like Aptonoth, to the Anjanath, a predatory dead-ringer for a T-rex, there are plenty of monsters. Each has its own behaviour and attack patterns that make each encounter a varied affair.
In addition to this, there are an assortment of weapons at your...