Freaking Boeing B-52 ruined the capture mission by bombing the monster.

I guess epic hunting simulation ain't my cup of tea.
Consider this a neutral review, with a red mark counter-balancing the positive ratings.
I had this one gather dust in the library until my close circle of friends decided to tackle this, so... It finally came down to see what made this game (and the franchise) stand on its own in the video game community.

The game trumps on the David & Goliat-esque concept, the selling point being to hunt large monsters and craft new equipments out of loots as a means to level your character up stats-wise. Battles outcome depends primarily on the sum of your weapon choice (and it's respective moveset), the enemy's behavior and how well you adapt. There’s a Souls-like rhythm to combat that rewards patience and mastery—fight, slay, loot, craft, repeat for a higher tier. I get that the MH community are hooked on it enough to praise the franchise's concept.

But for me? The payoff felt underwhelming. Combat is dynamic and engaging, but the constant grind wore thin. The story is barely there, and the characters failed to make an impact. That said, the game world looks fantastic, and there’s depth for those willing to climb the steep mechanical learning curve. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was just going through the motions.

If, like me, you're unsure whether the hype matches your taste, sample the gameplay before committing. It might just click—or not.

Better than wilds...