Monster Hunter Rise Review: Wall-Running Hunting Adventure, Shining Brightly at the End of the NS's Life Cycle

Hello, hunters! I'm your old friend, a Nintendo Switch gamer and game reviewer with over ten years of experience. Today, we're going to talk about Capcom's heavyweight title, "Monster Hunter Rise." Although this game has been out for a while, it still demonstrates strong vitality at the end of the Nintendo Switch's life cycle, and it also makes us look forward to the future Nintendo Switch 2 even more.

1. First Look at "Monster Hunter Rise": The Perfect Combination of Leaping and Hunting

"Monster Hunter Rise" is Capcom's direct sequel on the Nintendo Switch platform after "Monster Hunter: World." The biggest feature of this game is the introduction of two new elements, "Wirebugs" and "Palamutes," which greatly change the hunter's way of moving and fighting style, making the hunting experience smoother and more three-dimensional. The game has a Japanese-style theme, and the scene design is full of rich Japanese flavor, coupled with beautiful music, creating a captivating hunting atmosphere.

2. "Monster Hunter Rise" Gameplay Review: A Perfect Blend of Innovation and Tradition

"Monster Hunter Rise" has made bold innovations in terms of gameplay while retaining the core essence of the series.

2.1 New Ways to Move: "Wirebugs" and "Wall Running"

"Wirebugs" are the core mechanic of this game, allowing hunters to use them for aerial dashes, wall running, and various special attacks. The addition of Wirebugs completely changes the rhythm of hunting, allowing players to move more flexibly on the map, quickly approach monsters, and even use the terrain for aerial attacks. The "wall running" mechanism also makes exploring the map more interesting. Areas that previously required detours can now be climbed directly, greatly improving efficiency.

2.2 Loyal Companions: "Palamutes"

"Palamutes" are the hunter's new companions, helping players move quickly and participate in combat. Players can ride Palamutes across the map, eliminating the long running times of previous games. Palamutes can also help players attack monsters and even withstand monster attacks, buying hunters valuable output time.

2.3 Weapons and Combat System: Familiar Taste, New Experience

"Monster Hunter Rise" retains the series' classic 14 weapon types, each with unique attack methods and moves. This game has made adjustments and improvements to each weapon, adding new moves and Wirebug skills, making the combat system richer and more diverse. Players can choose the right weapon according to their preferences and master various skills through continuous practice to achieve victory in hunting.

2.4 Quest System and Difficulty: Gradual Progression, Challenge Limits

The quests in the game are divided into Village Quests and Hub Quests. Village Quests are mainly used to familiarize yourself with the game operations and understand the plot, with a relatively low difficulty, suitable for novice players. Hub Quests are more challenging and require teaming up with other players to complete. The game's difficulty curve is reasonably designed, allowing players to gradually improve their strength and eventually challenge higher-difficulty monsters.

3. "Monster Hunter Rise" Graphics and Sound Effects Review: Japanese Aesthetics and Beautiful Melodies

3.1 Graphics Performance: Rich Japanese Aesthetics

"Monster Hunter Rise" is developed using Capcom's own RE engine, and the graphics performance has been significantly improved compared to previous works. The game's scene design is full of rich Japanese elements, such as villages with cherry blossoms in full bloom, simple temples, and mysterious forests. Although on the Nintendo Switch platform, the graphic details and texture mapping are somewhat limited, the overall performance is still satisfactory. Considering the powerful performance of the future Nintendo Switch 2, we have reason to expect Monster Hunter works with higher image quality.

3.2 Sound Effects Performance: Immersive Hunting Experience

The game's sound effects are excellent, with various monster roars, weapon collisions, and environmental sound effects sounding lifelike. The game music is also full of Japanese flavor, whether it is the quiet music of the village or the exciting melody during hunting, it can immerse players in the world of hunting.

4. "Monster Hunter Rise" Story Review: The Heroic Legend of Saving the Village

The plot of "Monster Hunter Rise" revolves around the disaster of "Rampage." Players play a hunter who needs to protect the village from monster attacks. Although the game's plot is simple, it is fast-paced and fascinating. By completing various tasks, players can gradually understand the truth about the Rampage and eventually become heroes who save the village.

5. "Monster Hunter Rise" Control Feel Review: Smooth and Easy to Learn

The control feel of "Monster Hunter Rise" is very smooth, and even novice players can quickly get started. The game has been optimized for the Nintendo Switch platform, making full use of the characteristics of the Joy-Con controller. With the addition of Wirebugs, players can control their characters more flexibly and perform various complex actions.

6. "Monster Hunter Rise" Pros and Cons Analysis: A Hunting Masterpiece with Minor Flaws

6.1 Pros:

• Innovative Game Mechanics: The addition of Wirebugs and Palamutes greatly changes the hunting experience, making the game more fun and diverse.
• Smooth Controls: The game controls are smooth and easy to learn, suitable for novice players.
• Exquisite Graphics and Sound Effects: The game graphics are full of Japanese aesthetics, and the sound effects are excellent, creating an immersive hunting atmosphere.
• Rich Weapons and Equipment: The game provides a variety of weapons and equipment, and players can choose and match according to their preferences.
• Continuously Updated Content: Capcom continues to provide updated content for the game, including new monsters, equipment, and events, ensuring the game's freshness.

6.2 Cons:

• Insufficient Graphic Details: Due to the limitations of the Nintendo Switch platform, the graphic details and texture mapping are insufficient. However, I believe that future Monster Hunter works on the Nintendo Switch 2 will have a qualitative leap.
• Slightly Thin Plot: The game plot is relatively simple and lacks depth.
• High Repetition of Some Tasks: The content of some tasks is highly repetitive, which can easily make players feel tired.

7. "Monster Hunter Rise" Rating and Summary: A Hunting Game Worth Recommending

Overall, "Monster Hunter Rise" is an excellent hunting game. While retaining the core essence of the series, it has added many innovative elements, making the game experience richer and more interesting. Although the game has some shortcomings in terms of graphic details and plot, the flaws do not detract from its merits. It is still a masterpiece worth recommending.

Final Score: 9.0/10

• IGN Score Reference: IGN Monster Hunter Rise Review (Replace with the actual searched IGN score link)
• Metacritic Score Reference: Metacritic Monster Hunter Rise (Replace with the actual searched Metacritic score link)

Reasons for scoring:

• 9.0 points: Highly innovative game mechanics and smooth controls make the hunting experience refreshing, and the exquisite graphics and sound effects create an immersive hunting atmosphere. Although there are some shortcomings in terms of graphic details and plot, the overall experience is excellent.
• Compared with the previous work, "Monster Hunter Rise" pays more attention to movement and exploration, making the hunting process more free and flexible.
• As an exclusive work on the Nintendo Switch platform, "Monster Hunter Rise" fully demonstrates the performance of the host and can provide a smooth gaming experience in handheld mode.

8. "Monster Hunter Rise" Beginner's Guide: From Zero to Hunting Master

For players who are new to the "Monster Hunter" series, they may feel confused about the various mechanisms in the game. Below, I will provide a detailed beginner's guide to help you quickly get started with the game.

8.1 Create a Character and Choose a Weapon

First, players need to create a character, including choosing gender, appearance, voice, etc. Next, players need to choose their first weapon. The game provides 14 different weapons, each with unique attack methods and moves. It is recommended that novice players choose simple weapons to operate, such as the Sword and Shield, Long Sword, or Light Bowgun.

8.2 Familiarize Yourself with Villages and Facilities

The village in the game is the player's base, and players can carry out various activities in the village, including accepting tasks, buying equipment, upgrading weapons, and interacting with other NPCs. Players need to familiarize themselves with the various facilities in the village, such as the Quest Counter, Shop, Blacksmith, and Training Area.

8.3 Complete Quests and Level Up

The quests in the game are the main way for players to level up and obtain resources. Players need to complete various tasks, including hunting monsters, collecting materials, and completing commissions. Completing quests can earn experience points and rewards. Experience points can increase the hunter's level, and rewards can be used to purchase equipment and upgrade weapons.

8.4 Master Combat Skills and Strategies

The game's combat system is very complex and requires players to constantly practice and master various skills. Players need to familiarize themselves with the moves of the weapons they use and learn how to use Wirebugs to move and attack. In addition, players also need to understand the weaknesses and attack patterns of various monsters to achieve victory in hunting.

8.5 Team Up for Hunting and Social Interaction

The game supports multiplayer online hunting, and players can team up with other players to challenge higher-difficulty monsters. Hunting in a team can improve efficiency and increase the fun of the game. In addition, players can also interact with other players socially and share experiences and skills.

9. "Monster Hunter Rise" Advanced Skills and Strategies: The Secret to Becoming a Hunting Master

9.1 Wirebug Skills: Flexible Movement and Powerful Attacks

Mastering the use of Wirebug skills is the key to becoming a hunting master. Players can use Wirebugs for fast movement, aerial dashes, and various special attacks. Different weapons have different Wirebug skills, and players need to choose the appropriate skills according to their weapons and practice them.

9.2 Weapon Advanced Skills: Mastering Core Combos and Output Timing

Each weapon has a unique core combo, and mastering these combos can greatly increase output efficiency. Players need to master the core combos of the weapons they use and learn to choose the appropriate combos according to different situations. In addition, players also need to learn to seize the monster's flaws and perform effective output.

9.3 Equipment Matching Skills: Create the Most Suitable Equipment for You

The game provides rich equipment, and players can match according to their needs. Different equipment has different attributes and skills, and players need to choose the appropriate equipment according to their weapons and hunting style. In addition, players can also create more powerful equipment through alchemy.

9.4 Monster Weakness Analysis: Targeted Strikes and Efficient Hunting

Understanding the weaknesses of various monsters is the key to efficient hunting. Players can find out the weaknesses of monsters by observing their behavior and attack patterns. Targeting the weaknesses of monsters can greatly increase damage and defeat monsters faster.

9.5 Resource Management and Utilization: Rational Allocation and Efficient Acquisition

In the game, resources are very important, and players need to rationally allocate and use various resources. Players can obtain resources through collecting, hunting, and completing tasks. Players need to rationally allocate resources for purchasing equipment, upgrading weapons, and making props.

10. "Monster Hunter Rise" and Nintendo Switch 2: Looking Forward to the Future

Although "Monster Hunter Rise" performs well on the Nintendo Switch, we can still look forward to seeing more amazing Monster Hunter works on the Nintendo Switch 2. With the more powerful performance of the Nintendo Switch 2, future Monster Hunter works can have higher image quality, smoother frame rates, and richer game content.

There is also more and more information about the Nintendo Switch 2, such as: nintendo switch2 price indicates the player's concern about the price of the new console, nintendo switch2 first look implies the player's expectations for the appearance and functions of the new console, and nintendo switch2 compatibility reflects the player's need for the new console to be compatible with old games.

Imagine, what kind of picture effect can the "Monster Hunter" series achieve on the Nintendo Switch 2? We may see more realistic monster modeling, more delicate scene details, and more shocking special effects. In addition, the Nintendo Switch 2 can also support higher resolutions and frame rates, making the hunting experience smoother and more comfortable.

I believe that on the Nintendo Switch 2, Capcom will definitely bring us more exciting Monster Hunter works. Let us wait and see! It shouldn't be long before the Nintendo Switch 2 press conference in April, so let's look forward to it together!

11. "Monster Hunter Rise" Best Equipment and Skill Combinations: Create Your Exclusive Hunter

11.1 Long Sword: The Art of Iai Spirit Slash and Foresight Slash

The Long Sword is a very popular weapon, known for its gorgeous moves and powerful output capabilities. For Long Sword players, Iai Spirit Slash and Foresight Slash are must-learn skills. Foresight Slash can dodge monster attacks and counterattack, and Iai Spirit Slash can cause high damage. Best equipment combination:

• Weapon: Rampage Blade S
• Head: Rathalos Helm
• Body: Rathalos Mail
• Arms: Rathalos Braces
• Waist: Anjanath Coil
• Legs: Rathalos Greaves
• Charm: Critical Eye +2

11.2 Sword and Shield: Versatile and Well-Rounded

The Sword and Shield is a very versatile weapon that can be used for both fast attacks and effective defense. The Sword and Shield has high mobility and can flexibly dodge monster attacks. Best equipment combination:

• Weapon: Pukei Sword
• Head: Pukei Hood
• Body: Pukei Mail
• Arms: Pukei Vambraces
• Waist: Anjanath Coil
• Legs: Pukei Greaves
• Charm: Defense +2

11.3 Great Sword: The Romance of One-Hit Kills

The Great Sword is a very powerful weapon, loved by players for its high damage and domineering shape. The Great Sword's attack speed is slow, but each hit can cause huge damage. Best equipment combination:

• Weapon: Glavenus Blade
• Head: Glavenus Helm
• Body: Glavenus Mail
• Arms: Glavenus Braces
• Waist: Anjanath Coil
• Legs: Glavenus Greaves
• Charm: Attack Boost +2

12. "Monster Hunter Rise" Speedrun Skills and Hidden Elements Guide: Challenge the Limits

12.1 Speedrun Skills: Use Terrain and Monster Weaknesses

Speedrun refers to completing the game in the shortest possible time. To perform a speedrun, players need to make full use of terrain and monster weaknesses. Players can move quickly with Wirebugs and use terrain for aerial attacks. In addition, players also need to understand the weaknesses of various monsters and target their weaknesses to defeat them in the shortest time.

12.2 Hidden Elements: Explore Maps and Collect Materials

There are many hidden elements hidden in the game, such as hidden treasure chests, hidden monsters, and hidden quests. Players need to carefully explore the map and collect various materials to discover these hidden elements. Discovering hidden elements can earn generous rewards and increase the fun of the game.

12.3 Rampage: Strategic Deployment and Team Coordination

Rampage is a special quest in the game that requires players to team up with other players to complete. In Rampage, players need to strategically deploy defense facilities and coordinate with teammates to resist monster invasions.

13. Conclusion: Hunting Never Stops, Looking Forward to the Arrival of Nintendo Switch 2

"Monster Hunter Rise" is an excellent hunting game that has brought us many wonderful memories. Although the game is nearing its end on the Nintendo Switch platform, we can still look forward to seeing more exciting Monster Hunter works on the future Nintendo Switch 2. Let us look forward to the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 and continue our hunting journey!

Thank you all for reading. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a message in the comment area and I will try my best to answer them for you. Happy hunting!