The makers of Pokémon GO have released a new game for iOS and Android called Monster Hunter Now, which aims to lure players outdoors. And this time it works surprisingly well, finds MeinMMO author Max Handwerk.
I enjoy playing Pokémon GO and I am actually a fan of the principle of connecting a mobile game with the real world. It is wonderful to walk around and play at the same time!
However, the last attempts by Niantic to apply a similar formula in other games worked rather poorly for me personally. A few examples:
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite died in 2021 after two and a half years and did not become a long-term success like Pokémon GO. I didn’t even get a chance to try it out.
- I installed the game NBA All-World, but the basketball Pokémon GO did not engage me at all. I deleted it shortly after, and this game was recently discontinued by Niantic.
- I found Peridot interesting in concept, but when I started it, my phone heated up significantly and the game lagged. That was off my phone pretty quickly, as true enjoyment just wouldn’t set in.
- Pikmin Bloom, on the other hand, seems to have its fans, but never particularly appealed to me.
- So far, Niantic has not achieved the success of Pokémon GO with any other game.
Therefore, I assumed that it would forever be Pokémon GO for me when it comes to AR games on mobile. I installed Monster Hunter Now just out of curiosity, to see how it was implemented – actually firmly believing that it would also be deleted from my phone quickly.
But: The first steps in the game are surprisingly promising. And those who like Pokémon GO but occasionally find the game a bit boring could find a really exciting alternative here.
I didn’t realize how much I missed speed in Pokémon GO
When you start Monster Hunter Now, you are immediately placed into a little story that explains that monsters are now roaming in our world and you must fight them as hunters. A small Palico companion will introduce you to the first steps of the game. And it gets straight to the point.
What struck me immediately when I clicked on the first monster in front of my house: There’s no wasting time. The game jumps straight into combat quickly and smoothly.
Now you confront the different monsters, which, by the way, look really good. You can take down small monsters quite quickly with a few swift sword strikes, while the larger ones are more resilient. There you need skillful dodging and circling around the opponent to avoid becoming an afternoon snack.
I really liked that. Because when you start trying to catch a monster in Pokémon GO, it takes a while. Spin the ball, throw it, catch animation, bonus screen, and so on – it all takes a bit of time. In Monster Hunter, however, you go from one battle to the next, which fits the action-packed combat that flows smoothly.
It is noticeable that new monsters take their time to appear nearby once you have cleared everything – it feels even longer than it does in Pokémon GO. If you want to complete more fights, you have to head out and find new monsters, which encourages exploration and wandering.
During the first steps in the game, you learn more and more. You can:
- Use monster parts to forge new equipment.
- Upgrade equipment and learn special attacks.
- Craft equipment with elements that in turn match certain monsters.
- Collect items that give you an advantage in battle.
- Complete quests for rewards.
Additionally, it is possible to team up with friends to fight against the monsters if you have fellow players.
A first conclusion: Pokémon GO is the king of walking mobile games and will probably remain so for the long term. But Monster Hunter Now shows a lot of potential – honestly, much more than I initially expected.
With its fluid, action-packed battles, it sets itself apart from Pokémon GO and could fill gaps exactly when you feel like there’s nothing new to find in Pokémon GO. I often have that problem when there are no fresh Pokémon around, and you get the feeling of always seeing the same thing.
Monster Hunter Now offers a welcome change. The developers say on their website that more monsters and weapons will be added in the future. The launch is definitely convincing. For my part, I am very curious about what will become of the game.
