Early this morning, Monster Hunter, as part of a update to their new game Monster Hunter Rise, had a twenty-minute live stream that showed off new gameplay, monsters, locales, and more.
The newest trailer shows off new a new locale for the game, the Frost Islands, which is said to be “a nest of huge dragons a long time ago, and it is said many heroes came here to slay them to no avail.” An area packed with snow, large towering mountains, and a wide, cavernous underground. Shown is also endemic life, which the trailer shows can be used on your hunts against monsters.
Next, the monsters were discussed. Goss Harag, a fanged beast that creates blades from its icy breath. If you want an idea of what it looks like, think of Sandslash from the Pokemon series. This is Goss Harag’s premiere game. Next, we have the flying wyvern, Barioth, who players of Monster Hunter World’s expansion, Iceborne, will recognize. Barioth was in Monster Hunter 3 and Monster Hunter Generations before World. Next is Khezu, also a flying wyvern, who dwells in the caves, and uses electricity attacks. This monster has a long “twisty” neck, what looks like no eyes, and is a pale white. Khezu was in Monster Hunter Generations and Monster Hunter 4.
The next monster is Great Baggi, which is blue and white in color and has a large, horn-like crest on the head. Think of a velociraptor, Great Baggi first appeared in Monster Hunter 3. Lagombi is next. Originally premiering in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, a wombat-like physiology, Lagombi can slide around on it’s belly quickly to move around hunters fast. Our next monster up is Tigrex, whose previous game was Monster Hunter World, who looks like a smaller tyrannosaur rex with long-armed wings.
The two final monsters that were detailed come from other locales in the game. The first is Mizutsune, which how the reaction from the live-chat went, seemed to be a fan favorite. A small dragon-like creature, Mizutsune uses movement hindering bubbles that are created from a secretion that is then rubbed against its hair to create the bubbles. Mizutsune also originally appeared in Monster Hunter Generations. And finally, we have the game’s flagship monster, Magnamalo. Magnamalo has a hard outer shell and has a purple fire-like gas on its tail.
Another feature we saw with the first trailer, the Wirebug, was also detailed more in the live stream. With the ability to grapple onto monsters, you can also wrap the monster in “iron silk” to ride monsters, but also make them attack other monsters.
We also got details on characters that will make their debut in Monster Hunter Rise. First is Fugen, who is the village elder and also a longsword user. Next, Hinoa and Minoto, Wyverian twins, who sing for the village and Minoto also picked up painting recently. Yomogi, an upbeat cheerful girl who runs the local tea shop. Guild Master Hojo will be who you will seek out for anything quest-related. Master Utsushi is a ninja looking hunter and the hunters leader. Iori, a young boy, will be the “Buddy Handler,” (think the palicos and palamutes). Felyn Chief Kogarashi, also a ninja looking character, is in charge of sending out the Meowcenaries. Lastly we have Rondine, the Trader.
Also detailed is the training area in the village, where hunters can practice their skills, and can also change to different training objects. Finally, the direct details the “Rampage,” which was simply name-dropped, but looks like it is possibly a large fight with several monsters.
Monster Hunter Rise has a standard edition, as well as a deluxe edition, which contains a layered armor set, multiple layered armor pieces for your palamute and palico, gestures, a pose set, face paint, and an exclusive hairstyle. Preordering the game also gets you layered armor for the palamute and palico, and also a talisman to help out early in the game. Supplies for these may be limited, however. Available for preorder as well, and launching on the same day, are three Amiibos that unlock special layered armor, a palamute, palico, and Magnamalo.
Announced previously, a demo was shown and detailed today to be available between January 7th and February 1st, 2021. All 14 weapon types will be available to play, as well as 2 hunts and 2 training quests.
The newest game in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Rise, will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and debuts on March 26th, 2021. Check out the demo on the Nintendo eShop later today. Let us know in the comments what you think!
