Is Monster Hunter Rise Worth It? 5 Pros & 5 Cons Of The Game

Capcom released Monster Hunter Rise on March 26, 2021, and the gaming world immediately embraced it. The sequel to 2018’s Monster Hunter World, Rise includes several new features meant to greatly enhance the gaming experience.

The game, which follows a similar plot to previous entries, introduces nine new monsters and brings back some of the franchise’s classic creatures. Not everything is perfect, as the game does have certain aspects that could be potentially problematic for certain gamers, particularly long-term fans of the franchise. In the end, though, Monster Hunter Rise is a faithful entry in the popular saga, but whether it can truly excel in the competitive gaming landscape remains to be seen.

10 Pro: That High Metacritic Score

Critics’ opinions shouldn’t be gospel, that much is true. However, it’s undeniable that many people look to sites like Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic to see the reception a certain game received. A glowing review will always look good, while a negative one can bring down a game’s prospects.

Fortunately, Monster Hunter Rise received acclaim from critics. It currently has a score of 87 in Metacritic, making it one of the best-reviewed recently-released RPGs. On top of that, its audience score is also excellent, with a 9.3, indicating “universal acclaim.”

9 Con: Safe & Familiar

The Monster Hunter franchise isn’t particularly complex or thought-provoking. Its plot is often little more than an excuse for players to fight and slay giant creatures, and truly not much else is necessary.

However, the game’s lack of exploration outside its main lane can be a sign of future problems for the franchise, if not in this entry, then in the next one. After all, players can only get so much entertainment from doing the same thing over and over again, and despite its gameplay features, Rise feels oddly familiar.

8 Pro: Palamutes!

One of the most useful new features in Rise is the introduction of Palamutes, dog companions that make the gaming experience more practical than ever.

Palamutes can be super useful in battle. Players can also customize and equip them with gear, and they can even ride their canine friends, which makes traversing and exploring the map far easier and more effective. Every hero needs a sidekick, after all, and Palamutes are excellent hunting companions.

7 Con: Only For Nintendo Switch

As of now, Monster Hunter Rise is only available for Nintendo Switch, with a Microsoft Windows version currently in development and planned for an early 2022 release.

The Switch is one of the best consoles out there, with a diverse and worthy catalog of games, but not everyone has it. The fact that Rise is only available in one console severely limits its market and potentially denies it from achieving its true potential. Newer fans of the franchise will not buy a Switch just to play Monster Hunter Rise.

6 Pro: New And Great Monsters

Rise introduces nine new monsters that range from decent to truly memorable. None of these new creations are underwhelming, though. And while some are much simpler to defeat than others, all are unique and exciting in their own way.

Particularly noteworthy are Almudron, a creature that uses mud as an ally during battle; Magnamalo, which shoots fire out of nearly every part of its body; and the dreaded Goss Harag, an abominable snowman-type monster capable of turning its hands into ice blades.

5 Con: Not Enough Content (Yet)

Like any other recently released game, Monster Hunter Rise has an unsurprising lack of additional content available. Some gamers are staunchly opposed to DLCs and refuse to buy them, especially if after some turn out to be truly awful.

However, others are more open to the possibility and appreciate the post-game content they provide. So far, only a few expansions have been announced for Rise, and they are still months away. Some fans might prefer to wait until the end of the year when more content is available to download.

4 Pro: Wirebugs

Possibly the greatest new feature introduced in Rise, Wirebugs allow players to access higher locations or swing across gaps. Wirebugs can also be equipped to other tools, improving their performance and even allowing new sets of combos.

On top of that, Wirebugs allow players to actually ride certain monsters, gaining control of them, albeit in a limited capacity. This new feature is truly spectacular, as it can even be employed to engage in battle with other monsters.

3 Con: Oversimplified Gameplay

In more ways than one, Monster Hunter Rise feels like an invitation to new players. It’s very user-friendly, which means that beginners will be able to grasp the gameplay and lore quickly and effortlessly. Furthermore, the features and accessibility allow for a smoother, leaner experience, ideal for new hunters.

This might come at the expense of the game’s difficulty and complexity. There’s a lot of hand-holding, which can get tiresome. Veterans to the franchise will find nothing new, and might even be left dissatisfied at a seemingly incomplete game.

2 Pro: Rampage Missions

Monster Hunter Rise does a good job in introducing Rampage missions into the already established universe. Taking elements from tower defense games, hunters must defend a gate before a horde of monsters arrive and, as the name suggests, rampage the entire scene.

Players have a limited time to defend their post, adding an extra element of anxiousness. Rampage missions introduce a newer, war-like element to the franchise and some much-needed variety to an otherwise straightforward narrative.

1 Con: Some Features Aren’t Well Explained

Despite a surprising amount of hand-holding throughout the narrative, some aspects aren’t well-explained. The game does a surprisingly poor job at explaining the aforementioned Rampage missions.

It doesn’t take a lot of time for the player to understand them, but considering they’re such a big part of the game, more effort should’ve been put into them. This shows somewhat of a lack of understanding from the game’s developers into what’s important. The end result is still the best Monster Hunter game so far, so these flaws aren’t really deal-breakers.

About The Author

David Caballero
(798 Articles Published)

David is a twenty-eight-year-old Mexican writer and reader. Having studied Marketing in school, he spent three years working a nine-to-five desk job before deciding to pursue a writing career. He now works as a Senior Writer in ScreenRant and does some more freelancing job, talking about the entertainment business he so loves. Currently, he’s also writing his second novel while actively working to get his first one published.

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