Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (2017)

Welp, just like with MH4U, 55+ hours and I'm ready to move on. I know that's a hilariously low number of hours for games in this series, but it just started to feel a little stale.

I've also been going ham collecting PSP games, playing Ys Seven, GTA: Vice City Stories, and Exit (to name a few) and having a blast doing so. I think I'll actually be taking a break from my Switch for a few months after having it be my primary console in 2019. I tend to cycle like this every year with my older handhelds (I have a lot of them!). I had no idea just how many great PSP games where were out there and it's been really nice switching it up.

Pictured, my ideal way I've been spending my mornings:

Over 400 hours later, I come to the realization that Generations Ultimate is an incredible bang for someone's buck. Taking the ok presentation of Generations and injecting as much as possible creates a Frankenstein's monster that comes off as the most polished thing that Capcom has produced in Monster Hunter.

Taking off with the whole traveling to different villages from previous games and hunting monsters for the sake of hunting monsters from the original Generations, Ultimate bursts with new potential. The two new styles (Valor and Alchemy) provide both a genuinely interesting support role and a dramatic change to how playing the game works, prepping players for some of the most intense challenges in Monster Hunter. EX Deviants, Fatalis, Lao Shan Lung, a persnickety Barioth - nearly every monster that was missing is now present in this game. Even the nasty Diablos has gotten both another appearance and another form through the attempt to use Deviants to replace Subspecies.

The game's armor variety is staggering. Many will find themselves attracted to the best of the best weapons, but there's enough nuance between many different sets that playing for fashion or playing for a very specific strategy will be rewarded no matter what. As for the quest line, featuring over 1200+ quests (!!!) - this game can and will last you an incredibly long time. With friends, the game is a little breezier (save for the EX Deviants and DLC content at the end) but still is a blast to come together and support each other to reach their common goals.

Generations Ultimate can be addicting with its length and sheer amount of challenges/monsters to hunt. The monsters are as well animated as always with unique new moves in G-Rank that make difficulty more than just a bump in attack and health (save for the EX Deviants) and there's enough to keep you going for months.