Monster Hunter Generations (2015)

I have completed all the single player content, at least as far as the quests are concerned. There is still plenty of online hunts to do, and perfect kills (I can't remember the name, but the Crowned monsters) to find.

I'm not sure I will go back to this game, but it is great so I might someday. The only content I have left is multiplayer content so I feel comfortable saying I finished the game. I could go on solo hunts to try to get the monster crowns, but those are a lot faster to hunt for online with other people, so I sort of consider those multiplayer related too.

As in the title mentioned above, the best way to describe Monster Hunter Generations wouldn't be an entirely new generation, but a remix of all the old monsters with a dash of new favorites in between. This, especially after the astronomical expectations between generations, leaves a bit lacking after 4 Ultimate. However, Generations still manages to give the same old hunting we know and love with some quality of life improvements.

You can pretty much assume right down to it that the combat is exactly the same as 4 Ultimate (already covered), so no need to do that. Some mechanics have been improved, like mounting no longer requiring an individual effort but can use other people's attacks to speed the mounting process, and rechargeable arts that essentially act as special moves, whether they be weapon specific or non-specific like dodging.

As for what's different, there's one new area, a handful of new creatures (including four flagship monsters), and instead of subspecies there are difficult Deviant monsters, a different kind of subspecies that requires a special permit and yields better equipment. The Deviants themselves are challenging and cool, but the actual hunts lined up are very repetitive (even for Monster Hunter) and a poor substitute for gutting out most of the subspecies. On top of that, instead of Frenzied monsters you have Hyper monsters, which are simply stronger monsters that fill up the Arts gauge. It's not the most interesting but since this is the first iteration of a full series (see: MHXX), the lack of wide variation is forgivable.

Monster Hunter Generations seems like it would be a strong disappointment, but it brings back the same old magic of previous hunts, allowing new players to sample the blades of a Narcacuga, the ice breath of a Blangonga, the shock of a Lagiacrus, and much more. If only we could wait until MHXX...