Part 2: Loot and Monsters
At it’s core, Monster Hunter is an action game. You don’t gain experience or levels and there isn’t any concrete storyline to move along the plot. There isn’t any special abilities you learn, everything is given to you from the beginning. The moment you equip any of the different weapon types, you have access to all the skills that accompany it.
The real semblance to a RPG is the loot system. You collect raw materials from collecting herbs, bugs, ores, and monster parts. With these raw materials you are able to create potions, food, tools, and most importantly, equipment.
Crafted weapons and armor crafted take on the properties and look of each individual monster. So if you create a weapon out of a Khezu, for example, you’ll get a weapon with the thunder element while looking like it was made out of slimy Khezu parts. In many ways this isn’t any different from Capcom’s other popular and enduring franchise, Megaman, where you take on the property of your fallen foes.
There’s over 30 monsters in the game, which doesn’t even account for variations and their higher ranked versions. Couple that with weapon variations spanning great swords, long swords, sword and shields, dual swords, hammers, horns, lances, gunlances, bows, bowguns, heavy bowguns, all with branching upgrade paths, armor and socket-able gems, you have a ridiculous amount of equipment you can create and equip.
Each monster you battle also have fairly unique characteristics and behaviors as well. Every new encounter feels fresh and daunting, as you won’t know how the monster will act. Soon you’ll learn each monsters habits and movements and learn to exploit them. It’s very similar to Demon’s Souls in that respect, careful inspection and well thought out attacks are the key here. Of course what it does better than Demon’s Souls is that the monsters don’t feel like set pieces or a puzzle, they feel like living breathing creatures.
There’s a strong sense of awe and respect towards the monsters you are hunting. First off, they are enormous compared to the size of the hunter. And secondly, they’ll deal the damage you’ll expect from such large creatures against a tiny human. Every hit you take is significant and deadly.
As such, you’ll spend a lot of time circling a monster and looking for an opening rather than blindly charging in. You’ll learn to react to the subtle motions as they twist and turn to prepare for an attack. Learning the moment a monster is open to your own attacks, and when you should back off is a key to your success.
It’s the battle of the wits between a impossibly dangerous and enormous animal, and a seemingly helpless and small hunter. You’ll learn to hate the annoying Plesioth, respect the agile Narga Kuga and be overwhelmed by the aggressive Diablos. Every battle is hard fought and every victory is a celebration.
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Go to Part 3: Environments and Music
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