Our author Leya has played the full version of Monster Hunter World and can tell you that this title offers more action than its predecessors. Additionally, Monster Hunter World is designed to be much more accessible than its predecessors, without losing any challenges.
After playing the beta of Monster Hunter World, I was already sure that something good was coming our way. Shortly after, I got the opportunity from Capcom to play the full version of Monster Hunter World for 3 hours. To summarize: This gaming experience further reinforced my positive impression from the beta!
Because a lot was still missing in the demo version of the beta that the full version of Monster Hunter World will offer. If you found the beta too easy and too shallow, I can assure you: The full version of Monster Hunter World has much more to offer.
Character editor allows slim ladies with full beards
At first, I could have spent many hours just creating my hunter. The character editor allows for a wide variety of creations.
- It is possible to create a slim huntress and still give her a full beard. The male hunter can also wear all female hairstyles and makeup.
- The skin color, eyes, or hair can be customized in the smallest detail. This also applies to physique and body shape. There are base colors where you can use a slider to determine the exact shade.
The design of the Palicos is less detailed. I would have thought that creating the cat companion would be as extensive as that of the player avatar. However, here there are only a few predefined body parts available.
For example, there are specific ear or tail shapes that you can give your cat. However, there is a lot of room for play in fur color and patterns. The predefined body parts are also so diverse that there should be something for everyone.
The fast start makes the tutorial run in the background
Unlike in previous parts, you are thrown directly into a fast-paced story at the beginning.
Monster Hunter World takes a slightly different approach than its predecessors. The tutorial is fully integrated into the gameplay and you learn the movement or the use of weapons incidentally. Players receive an interactive introduction to Monster Hunter World, making the start feel dynamic.
An important support is provided by the language. Veterans know that NPCs in Monster Hunter had no real language in older parts, but only babbled in a fantasy language. You had to read every single explanation in the game.
In Monster Hunter World, NPCs are synchronized for the first time and provide hints and instructions. I could look around everywhere and constantly stay in motion while the characters in the game explained everything to me incidentally. The spoken words are also displayed as text on the side.
When I set out on my first hunt, an NPC shouted from the background about the properties of my weapon and what I needed to pay attention to. In the meantime, I was happily hacking away.
You simply don’t notice that the game is guiding you through the tutorial, as it is closely tied to the story and gameplay.
Monster Hunter World offers more than the demo suggests
After the first beta ended, I saw criticism on Mein-MMO.de that the demo was much too easy.
I can guarantee you that this demo only showed a glimpse of what awaits us in the full version. During my test, I managed to hunt and slay the Great Jagras. It was also the first major monster encountered in the beta.
The Great Jagras alone has more mechanics up its sleeve than it shows in the beta. Additionally, the world in the full version is even richer than in the beta. There are many small monsters and creatures that can interfere with your hunt.
The scout flies lead the hunter to the target and even provide hints about which items can be collected and are valuable on the maps. However, this does not make the hunt and the game easier.
There are other mechanics that made me sweat quite a bit. In the past, each area of the map was separated by a loading screen, which is different in Monster Hunter World now.
The transitions between areas are seamless, and you can’t just escape from monsters through a loading screen when the hunter is injured. With my weak beginner equipment, I was sometimes heavily injured and had to desperately look for a safe place to take a health potion.
I can imagine that there are other mechanics waiting in later areas that present a new challenge.
The full version of Monster Hunter World positively surprised me
Much of what you couldn’t see in the demo came as a pleasant surprise to me. The full version of Monster Hunter World still had a lot in store that had not yet been revealed in trailers or interviews. I have only seen a fraction of the beginner area.
I cannot judge how compelling Monster Hunter World will be in the long run. From earlier parts, I know that the franchise tends to become a grind fest in the later stages. You have to enjoy defeating the same monster over and over again to obtain the desired gear.
But for now, I assume that Monster Hunter World is suitable for players who do not enjoy grinding. Even those who only follow the quests of the story campaign and see all the maps and monsters once should find it enjoyable.
The story of Monster Hunter World is said to take 40-50 hours, according to developers. I am quite curious whether my positive judgment from the beta and my playtest will ultimately hold true when I can spend more than just 3 hours with Monster Hunter World.
Monster Hunter World: Start and end of the second beta – What you need to know
