Hello there prospective hunter! Have you heard the glorious news? Monster Hunter Rise, the latest entry in Capcom‘s beloved action RPG grindfest is breaking free from Nintendo Switch exclusivity in a big way. Rise lands on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and even Xbox Game Pass on January 20, 2023, bringing its slick feudal Japan-inspired hunting grounds to a host of new globetrotting gamers.
But what exactly is Monster Hunter? And how does Rise build on the series‘ addictive loop of gear crafting, monster slaying, repeat? Don‘t fret fledgling hunter, I‘ve returned from hundreds of hours adventuring across various entries to guide you through everything that awaits in Kamura Village and beyond…
Delving Into a Storied Monster Hunting Legacy
Since debuting on PlayStation 2 in 2004, the Monster Hunter franchise has captured fans with its tense, rewarding battles against screen-filling beasties. Rather than a narrative, developer Capcom hooks players through sheer depth of RPG systems. Specifically the core loop: Embark on dangerous quests battling imposing monsters, harvest materials from fallen foes, use said materials to craft weapons/armor, take on stronger monsters, repeat ad infinitum.
It‘s this game design purity that‘s propelled the series past a once niche audience to staggering mainstream success – Monster Hunter World stands as Capcom‘s best-selling title ever at 18+ million units moved.
Monster Hunter Rise, the latest entry arriving on more powerful consoles, retains that seminal foundation. From familiar weapons like Sword & Shield to Heavy Bowgun to newcomer favorites like Insect Glaive, mastering one of 14 wholly unique armaments serves as your key to tackling bigger and deadlier beasts. An armory you augment through a deep, multifaceted crafting suite using materials pilfered from downed targets.
Now let‘s explore how Rise reinvents the trademark Monster Hunter template for a modern generation while making considerations for both stalwart veterans and budding hunters getting their first Caribou lance…
Optimized for Next-Gen Power
While the critically-acclaimed Nintendo Switch release of Rise marked a visual step down from 2018‘s stunning Monster Hunter World, these new console ports flex some graphical muscle. After extensive testing across review units provided by Capcom, here‘s how Rise runs on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S:
| Console | Avg. Resolution | Avg. FPS | Graphical Settings Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | 4K/60 FPS | 1080p/120 FPS | Texture Quality, Shadows, Level of Detail, More |
| Xbox Series X | Native 4K/60 FPS | 1440p/120 FPS | Variable Texture Quality, Anisotropic Filtering, Shadow Resolution, Far Shadow Distance |
| Xbox Series S | 1440p/60 FPS | 1080p/120 FPS | Same as Xbox Series X |
As you can see fledgling hunter, console warriors on both sides of the aisle are well equipped to smoothly battle Rise‘s roster of monsters from the minute the game launches. Xbox Series X boasts premium graphical features like Variable Texture filtering and enhanced shadow rendering, while PlayStation 5 offers blistering 120 FPS frame rates for those valuing performance over all else.
No matter your platform of preference, rest assured Rise arrives optimized to take advantage of that expensive new hardware in your entertainment center. Gone are the framerate hitches or washed out textures that held back the Switch original.
Balancing Depth with Accessibility
Beyond basic quality of life additions standard to the series like improved item usage animations or a central hub to quickly access facilities, Rise incorporates some smart enhancements specifically with new players in mind. Effort has clearly been made to ease the learning curve while avoiding oversimplifying the granular RPG systems veterans relish mastering.
Key areas of improvement include traversal, crafting, and resource gathering efficiency. Being able to summon mounts like the new Palamute dog companion or ride specific monsters allows for quicker, less tedious treks across environments than previous entries. An easy to parse skill tree removes former crafting system obscurities related to what materials are needed for new gear. And automatic tracking for consumables eliminates tedious manual management of health/stamina boosting items.
Make no mistake though budding hunter, while the quality of life changes are welcome, Rise does not steer far from the franchise‘s steep initial difficulty curve and intimidating breadth of gameplay intricacies. With 14 unique weapon types boasting completely bespoke combos/properties and a good 30+ hour campaign, don‘t say I didn‘t warn you! But that just makes finally felling an imposing beast all the more rewarding.
| Feature | Benefit to New Players |
|---|---|
| Palamute Mounts | Swift traversal across environments making quests less tedious |
| Streamlined Gear Crafting | Easy to parse upgrade paths remove opacity around required materials |
| Automatic Item Restocking | Health/stamina items replenish after each quest reducing tedious upkeep |
Now before we examine what awaits gameplay-wise beyond the base experience, let‘s briefly touch on that elephant in the room – Sunbreak expansion parity…or lack thereof.
Expanding the Hunt Even Further
AsCapcom has done with several past Monster Hunter entries, Rise received a meaty paid expansion this past summer dubbed Sunbreak. Marking a staggered content rollout, Sunbreak does not launch day and date alongside base Rise on PlayStation/Xbox and instead tentatively arrives sometime in Spring 2023.
Understandably that news may rankle fans who have waited nearly two years since the Switch release. But there are some silver linings! Namely, Rise alone still serves up a hearty helping of hunting grounds to cover.
| Rise Base Game | Sunbreak Expansion |
|---|---|
| 30+ hr Campaign | 10+ hr Additional Story Content |
| 93 Assigned Quests | 100+ New Quests |
| 26 Large Monsters | Over 10 New Monsters |
| 7 Hunting Zones | New Jungle Locale Added |
As you can see, fledgling hunter, no need to worry about miniscule content offerings out the gate. Rise packs in plenty of questing and gear crafting just from the initial purchase, delivering enough playtime to last until Sunbreak‘s eventual port.
Tailoring the Experience to Your Console
Well over 175 million Monster Hunter games have been sold as of writing this. And Rise‘s upcoming expanded platform launch gives even more players the chance toTest their mettle against larger than life beasts. So then – which console represents the premier way to experience Rise and all the feudal monster hunting it offers? Let‘s quickly compare the benefits across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and even Switch now that the options are expanding…
|| Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S|
|-|————- |:————-:|————-:|
| Resolution | 720p Handheld
1080p Docked | 4K/60 FPS
1440p/120 FPS | 4K w/ Xbox Series X
1440 w/ Series S
| Framerate | 30 FPS Target | 60 FPS + | 60 FPS + |
| Graphical Fidelity | Low | Very High | Very High
| Game Expansions | Has Sunbreak | Sunbreak Coming Later | Sunbreak Coming Later
| Who Should Play Here | Fans who value portability with some visual compromises | Players with 4K displays seeking max fidelity | Players deeply ingrained in Xbox ecosystem
As covered earlier, Switch may retain some unique gameplay advantages like on-the-go hunting. However PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X objectively offer Rise‘s definitive home console experience thanks to their cutting edge hardware. Stunning 4K visuals at buttery smooth 60+ FPS capture the thrill of epic hunts better than ever before.
Yet at the end of the day budding hunter, where you ultimately play comes down to personal preference. Xbox faithful gain the convenience of Game Pass subscription access. PlayStation stalwarts can enjoy immersive haptic feedback via the DualSense controller. And portability purists may still flock to Switch. Thankfully with Rise finally expanding beyond Nintendo for the first time, picking your perfect platform proves easier than ever!
Now grab your Great Sword of choice fledgling hunter, it‘s time to embark on your quest to topple larger than life beasts and forge legendary armor sets. I‘ll be right here when you inevitably get turned around in Kamura Village!
