Release Date: January 26, 2018
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PS4, XB1 (PC Autumn 2018)
Price: $59.99
Overview
Battle gigantic monsters in epic locales.
As a hunter, you'll take on quests to hunt monsters in a variety of habitats.
Take down these monsters and receive materials that you can use to create stronger weapons and armor in order to hunt even more dangerous monsters.
In Monster Hunter: World, the latest installment in the series, you can enjoy the ultimate hunting experience, using everything at your disposal to hunt monsters in a new world teeming with surprises and excitement.
Setting
Once every decade, elder dragons trek across the sea to travel to the land known as the New World in a migration referred to as the Elder Crossing.
To get to the bottom of this mysterious phenomenon, the Guild has formed the Research Commission, dispatching them in large fleets to the New World.
As the Commission sends its Fifth Fleet in pursuit of the colossal elder dragon known as Zorah Magdaros, one hunter is about to embark on a journey grander than anything they could have ever imagined.
Trailers
Metacritic: 91 | OpenCritic: 91
Telegraph: 5/5
Any issues melt away as you leap whooping from your seat, punching the air after you slay a giant beast while on your last sliver of health. In Monster Hunter: World, those heart-pounding epiphanies happen with thrilling regularity.
USGamer: 5/5
Monster Hunter has been in need of a big change for years, and this reboot-of-sorts could have easily gone wrong. Instead, Capcom took a careful look at Monster Hunter's design and cut all the fat while leaving the series trademark dense gameplay completely intact. All the changes, from the broad, sweeping ones to the granular alterations, only serve to improve an already winning formula. The next generation of Monster Hunter has finally begun, and, with Monster Hunter World, it's off to an incredibly good start.
IGN: 9.5/10
Whether or not it's the best, this is certainly the most audacious Monster Hunter game. World takes a dramatic leap into a look, feel, and size that feels truly new, simultaneously staying true to the series' ideals by maintaining the addictive loop of combat, intimidating monsters and meaningful upgrades that fans love. The sheer depth and commitment required is still intense, but it clearly isn't Capcom's aim to court a casual crowd. This is as all-consuming and incredible a ride as ever.
Game Informer: 9.5/10
Intense battles, rewarding progression loops, and excellent multiplayer experiences make this the best Monster Hunter game to date.
EGM: 9/10
Monster Hunter: World has found a way to lower its barrier of entry for newcomers while still delivering an immersive experience that long-time fans of the series crave. The combat has a bit of a learning curve, and multiplayer could use a few tweaks, but no matter your experience level with the series, this will be time well spent for all hunters ready to pick up a sword, bowgun, or gunlance.
Destructoid: 9/10
If you've been skipping out on Monster Hunter games for a while because they seem to blend together, jumping into World is your chance to get in. Just know that Capcom hasn't really shaken up the formula enough to piss off veterans or appeal to people who don't welcome grinding with open arms.
GamePro: 89/100
The series has never been so beautiful and accessible. Nevertheless, Monster Hunter World remains a challenging action game for grind-happy hunters.
GameSpot: 8/10
Monster Hunter World successfully proves that it's both about size and how you use it.
A vast forest that supports a complex ecosystem.
A network of trees stretch high into the sky, creating the ancient tree that looms tall over the rest of the forest.
A massive strip of parched land conjoined with a swampland that takes in water from the Ancient Forest.
Ant colonies have built massive spires within the desert, while varied vegetation has sprung up along many watering holes.
This locale is now home to creatures that take advantage of the two unique, coexisting ecosystems.
A mysterious ecological highland that mimics the ebb and flow of the ocean itself.
Eggs from the corals ride upon the rising currents and spread to the rest of the New World, where they become a part of the natural food chain.
A deep valley that rests beneath the Coral Highlands.
Monster corpses fall to the Vale from above, creating a layer of decomposing remains that seems to serve an important ecological role.
Also unique to the Vale is the bacteria known as the effluvium, which devours organic matter.
The Research Commission's base of operations, where hunters, researchers, and technicians have all gathered.
The Smithy
A workshop designed to answer all equipment-related needs, the Smithy may be the most vital of facilities for any hunter.
At the Smithy, hunters can not only forge new weapons and armor, but make upgrades and even revert certain upgrades.
Armor obtained here also provides crucial bonus skills which come in two types, "equipment skills" and "set bonus skills."
Each skill has different requirements for activation.
The Canteen
The Canteen provides hunters with the nourishment they need before departing on a hunt.
Eating a meal at the Canteen can bestow any number of useful powerups.
You can also order an Oven Roast from the Handler.
Items used for an Oven Roast will be made into food, though depending on the item there may also be a few unexpected results!
The Gathering Hub
The Gathering Hub is a tavern that also serves as an online gathering place for up to 16 hunters at a time.
You can go on quests, have a meal, or even enjoy a friendly round of arm-wrestling.
Scout Flies
Monster tracks, such as footprints and gashes, dot each locale.
Your Scoutflies will remember the scent of a monster and guide you to other nearby tracks.
And as you gather more tracks, the Scoutflies will give you even more information.
Slinger
The Slinger is an indispensable tool for a hunter, allowing you to arm yourself with stones and nuts that can be gathered from each locale.
From diversion tactics to creating shortcuts, the Slinger has a variety of uses, and allows you to hunt in new and interesting ways.
Specialized Tools
Specialized tools activate powerful effects for a limited amount of time, and up to two can be equipped at a time.
Simple to use, they can be selected and activated just like any other item you take out on a hunt.
Palicoes
Palicoes are hunters' reliable comrades out in the field, specialized in a variety of offensive, defensive, and restorative support abilities.
The hunter's Palico joins the Fifth Fleet with pride, as much a bona fide member of the Commission as any other hunter.
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Game Manual
Official Website
Official Twitter
Official YouTube
Kiranico MHDB
GaijinHunter YouTube
Arekkz Gaming YouTube
Monster Hunter World: The Beginners' Hangout
Q: What's up with the 20 minute time limit?
A: That was for the beta only - the full game has 50 minute time limits and an expedition mode where you can explore without a time limit.
Q: Does this game really use codes for multiplayer?
A: Once again, that was for the beta only - you can easily join your friends via the usual methods in the full game.
Just wanted to offer a few quick setup tips for the Options menu that may improve your overall enjoyment for this and when the full came is upon us in one week, 2 hours and 38 minutes! This is all IMO of course, but definitely stuff to consider.
Important
Controls tab -> Radial Menu Settings -> Change to Type 2
Item Control Settings -> Change to Type 2
This was a huge one for me; you use the radial menu by holding L1 and pointing the right stick to select items MUCH faster than in previous games, but the default setting has you select by letting go of the stick, which feels weird and made me choose items accidentally a bunch. Type 2 means clicking R3 to select when the item you want is highlighted. Then, the default to switch between your four radial menus was the D-pad while holding L1 which was similarly awkward. Type 2 makes it L1 + face buttons to switch, which again is just nicer on the hands and becomes very natural over time.
Once you are familiar with the radial menu and the items you get access to in the beta, you can also pick Customize Radial Menu from Game Settings tab to tailor what you have quick access to.
Less Important
Camera tab -> Camera Style -> Target Camera
Target Settings -> Large Monsters only
The default setting has tapping L1 lock on and automatically follow any monster in your crosshairs which doesn't feel particularly natural to me. This setup will reorient your camera to center on boss monsters only when tapping it, without locking on. In all honesty however, I essentially never use this at all. 95% of the time I manually control the camera with the stick.
Camera tab -> Second page -> Camera distance -> Far
This just moves the camera back a bit from your character, improving your FoV, which can at times save your life.
Personal Preference Type Stuff
Game Settings tab -> Head Armor display and Damage Indicators (popup numbers) can be toggled off if you like
Controls tab -> Dash Settings -> R1 Only
Controls tab -> Sheathe Settings -> Manual Sheathe
Removing sprint on L3 can prevent accidental sheaths while moving. And by default, the game will automatically sheath your weapon after a while if you haven't attacked rather than only doing so when you manually sheath with R1. I don't like this so I switch it to Manual.
Camera tab -> Camera speed can be tweaked to 5 levels, if you tend to mess with sensitivity settings you may want to check this out.
Display tab -> Screen vibration can be toggled off, I know some people loathe this.
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