I know I may be kind of late the party but after spending a good amount of time on the latest Monster Hunter I wanted to give my thoughts on it. So, if you don't know about the money-making franchise that is Monster Hunter--here's the gist. Capcom's Monster Hunter basically created or at least popularised the "hunting" genre where the basic loop consists of taking a quest, hunting a big bad monster, collecting your reward, then forging new equipment. With the latest instalment, Capcom has taken a page off one of their existing franchises, Devil May Cry,with the addition Hunter styles which subtly changes the playstyle for each weapon. Guild style keeps the traditional moveset of previous Monster Hunters which gives a focus on the absolute core mechanics of the game, Striker style gives the player a more aggressive moveset aiming to build up meter for another new addition to the franchise--Hunter Arts which serves as a sort of super move that ranges from a flurry of sword slashes to character-action like parries. Aerial style focuses on mounting and toppling enemies to leave them vulnerable for your party of hunters to start whaling on them, and Adept focuses on dodging and blocking giving a boost to your attack power once you perform a perfect evade or guard. And, at long last, in the new Prowler mode, Capcom has given the option to play as a Palico--the Monster Hunter equivalent of cats. While Capcom has attempted and in at least some ways succeeded in varying up the usual Monster Hunter formula, I still feel they've misfired a tad bit with this iteration.

Monster Hunter Generations feels less like a sequel and more of a compilation of previous Monster Hunter games rolled into one. Much akin to the Super Smash Bros. franchise; In fact, there are some aspects that run parallel with specifically Super Smash Bros. for 3DS. If you're familiar with the Smash Bros. franchise, you'd know that the 3DS version is relatively barebones compared to not only it's console counterpart but even previous entries. Lacking several modes including Special Smash and a proper story mode. In Monster Huner Generations, the developers have completely stripped the title of G-rank, the "hard" mode of this franchise, for all intents and purposes cutting 1/3 of the game off. Only one or two new areas and no new weapons have been added; despite the slight diversity in gameplay with Hunter Styles, consisting of only old weapons greatly dampens the excitement old players might find with this game. Also if you're a New 3DS owner, don't expect a better performing or better looking game compared to regular 3DS users. Unlike Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, there has been no effort to include enhancements in visuals or performance for the New 3DS. Monster Hunter Generations is supposed to be a celebration of all that is Monster Hunter and while it succeeds in some points, it still feels like a cluttered mishmash of previous, better Monster Hunters games.

Summary

The newest iteration of the franchise Capcom attempts to make the Smash Bros. of Monster Hunter and tries to cram all that is great with Monster Hunter into one game. And while the new Hunter Styles, Hunter Arts and Prowler mode shake up the familiar formula these games tend to possess, the lack of G-rank, recycled areas and weapons, and apathy towards New 3DS owners gives the impression that Capcom just rushed this one out the gate.

3/5