When Niantic and Capcom introduced their beforehand introduced actual world looking motion RPG Monster Hunter Now (Free) for iOS and Android, I used to be in two minds concerning the challenge. I didn’t care a lot for Pokemon GO and heard plenty of current complaints about how that was dealt with from my buddies who used to play it frequently. However, I like Monster Hunter, and have put in 1000’s of hours into Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise whereas additionally loving Monster Hunter Tales and its sequel. I knew I’d strive Monster Hunter Now, however simply wasn’t positive it might stick for me. Having performed it every day since launch kind of as a lot as attainable, I’ve plenty of good issues to say about Monster Hunter Now, but in addition some methods I hope it improves.
In the event you’ve not adopted it, Monster Hunter Now is a free to play sport akin to Pokemon GO utilizing Niantic’s AR know-how, but it surely brings the world of Monster Hunter to the true world. Having now performed it, Monster Hunter Now seems like it’s attempting to attraction to Monster Hunter World gamers greater than traditional Monster Hunter sport followers with its monster choice, weapons, and extra. If Capcom and Niantic’s intention with Monster Hunter Now is to deliver the essence of Monster Hunter or the model to extra gamers, it’ll probably succeed, however how is Monster Hunter Now for an enormous fan of the sequence and somebody who performs the video games every day? That’s what I’m going to handle on this launch week assessment.
Monster Hunter Now begins with a reasonably first rate story by franchise requirements. I used to be taken with Qualily’s (new character) dialogue and in addition studying the ropes of how Monster Hunter Now flows by means of the Palico who helps you out. You start solely with entry to the Sword and Protect weapon, and finally unlock extra just like the Nice Sword (my favourite weapon in Monster Hunter) at Hunter Rank 14. You then unlock extra of the weapon varieties on the subsequent Hunter Rank. That’s mainly the principle development alongside monsters turning into harder and the improve system.
So how does Monster Hunter Now translate the core gameplay loop of the console video games to cellular with Niantic’s AR know-how? In Monster Hunter Now, your location decides what is offered to you. It encourages you to maneuver round as you’d count on from a sport like this, and does issues fairly properly early on. You possibly can faucet round to gather assets like ore or bones, and have entry to small monsters and enormous monsters. The opening chapters and tutorials drive you right into a pretty-fixed path to maneuver forward, and whereas plenty of this was boring for me, it’ll assist newcomers study the fundamentals of fight, weapons, objects, and extra. There are every day quests that unlock early on known as Particular Quests to earn extra Hunter Rank factors as properly. You additionally find yourself having to face “Pressing” monsters which can be more durable than those you’ve confronted to date, similar to within the console video games.
Fight initially is simply you tapping the display screen to assault a monster and swiping to dodge when it glows purple indicating it’s planning an assault. I by no means cared for the Sword and Protect, so I attempted getting by means of these bits rapidly. Every weapon additionally has a separate ability that you should utilize by tapping and holding the display screen. You quickly unlock a particular capacity which prices up as you’re taking down extra monsters, and in addition unlock armor abilities and weapon abilities. As you hunt extra monsters, you should forge and improve armor with the sport conveniently notifying you when your geared up gear may be upgraded. This improve system is much like the principle console video games, however fairly a bit less complicated early on. Elemental harm and affinities appear to play a bigger half right here proper from the beginning. You may also allow movement controls for aiming and focusing on by tapping the image on the highest proper throughout battles.
Visually, Monster Hunter Now seems actually good. The interface is sweet, and the animations all really feel trustworthy to Monster Hunter. Weapon designs, a superb decision even on older iPhone fashions just like the 11, and a 60fps looking possibility all add as much as make for a pleasing and polished technical expertise in Monster Hunter Now.
On the audio aspect, I’ve been impressed with the brand new preparations of traditional Monster Hunter tunes, and the remaining sounds from the video games which were completely carried out into Monster Hunter Now. This really feels just like the crew understood make a sport really feel and sound like Monster Hunter, regardless of the simplistic nature. Niantic additionally added haptic suggestions which is a pleasant contact in a sport like this. I preferred the HD Rumble whereas taking part in Monster Hunter Rise on Swap so much, and it’s good to see a few of that make its manner right here whilst easy haptics.
What does Monster Hunter Now embody at launch?
Monster Hunter Now solely consists of six weapon varieties at launch. You start with Sword and Protect, then unlock Nice Sword, and shortly after unlock the opposite 4 together with Gentle Bowgun, Bow, Hammer, and Longsword. When it comes to monsters, Monster Hunter Now additionally has plenty of the Monster Hunter World monsters, however not all of them. I think about main updates will begin including monsters from that sport and hopefully from Monster Hunter Rise as properly.
Multiplayer is offered, and it additionally helps the journey sync possibility for monitoring location when the app is closed for paintballs and gathering by your Palico. I can’t even bear in mind how Pokemon GO launched, however Monster Hunter Now feels prefer it has the potential to do nice assuming Niantic helps it correctly. Because the builders clearly used so much from Monster Hunter World, I hope the help it will get put up launch can be nearly as good as that and Iceborne moderately than Rise.
In the event you strive taking part in Monster Hunter Now whereas in a automotive, it offers you a warning to click on to substantiate that you just aren’t the driving force, after which nonetheless doesn’t allow you to play should you transfer too quick. You must wait a couple of seconds in place earlier than it enables you to work together with factors of curiosity or hunt once more.
When it comes to monetization, I didn’t really feel the necessity to spend to date, however we’re nonetheless a few week into launch solely. The in app purchases vary from a one time starter pack with consumables and gems to a launch celebration move that offers you gems every day for a month. There are additionally direct purchases for an merchandise field growth and some gem pack choices. The massive level of rivalry is in how well being potions and first help meds are dealt with right here. You get the latter every day, however you have to to attend until you’ve gotten sufficient well being earlier than you’ll be able to hunt so that you may assume paying will get over the time barrier for that to replenish. The best way I take a look at this sport, if I ran out of well being, I’d simply wait until the subsequent day and are available again. I wouldn’t think about paying for well being potions. This might change with updates or once I run into later monsters, however as of right now, nothing has felt important from the in app purchases.
When it comes to what I’d prefer to see are available updates, I don’t actually have a body of reference to different Niantic video games proper now, however I need Niantic so as to add extra of what makes you really study monster patterns, discover, and hopefully usher in large-scale raids earlier than later. Fight is ok for newcomers, however it may be repetitive for veteran gamers. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see the tempo of recent content material and options for Monster Hunter Now.
I undoubtedly suggest trying out Monster Hunter Now should you’ve loved the current entries within the sequence or are a newcomer seeking to see what Monster Hunter is all about with the bottom barrier of entry. In its present state, it isn’t as deep as correct console and PC Monster Hunter video games, but it surely does its job at providing you with bite-sized looking motion on the go whenever you’re out and about with plenty of love put in for Monster Hunter. I hope the fight will get extra depth by means of updates, however I’m happy with the launch state of Monster Hunter Now and will probably be taking part in it frequently and trying out updates at any time when new content material is added.