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GSY REVIEW | PC, PS4, Xbox One Thursday, January 25, 2018 | 9:00 AM

We reviewed Monster Hunter: World

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We reviewed Monster Hunter: World

As far as we're concerned, we've been hoping for a new Monster Hunter for 8 years. After completing the Tri episode on the Nintendo Wii, we waited for the European release of Frontier Online on Xbox 360 but to no avail. With the arrival of a new generations of consoles in 2013, we kept our fingers crossed but we had to wait until E3 2017 to finally see the announcement of a new episode on PS4, Xbox One and PC. For console players, the wait is finally over, and believe us, it was worth it. Monster Hunter: World is fantastic, as proven by our verdict inside.


Note: Most of the full review (in French) is based on our experience on the PS4 Pro version of the game, but Driftwood (who is a newcomer to the franchise) captured some (unpatched) Xbox One X footage during the 15 hours he has been able to play the game so far. The footage which is not available in 4K was recorded with the mode that prioritizes graphics. Aprt from the side by side footage, only one video was captured with the Framerate mode on (the analysis one). Screenshots are from the PS4 Pro version.



Verdict


The year has just begun and we already have found a potential GOTY for 2018. No need to beat about the bush, we just love Monster Hunter: World. Back when it was announced at E3 2017, we were thrilled, but then we started to worry about what Capcom would do with this episode to appeal to a wider audience. In our worst nightmares, we imagined it would become a Free 2 Play or that it would at least become a lot more casual. Thankfully, we were wrong. Gameplay is just as excellent and demanding as in the past, with a pretty impressive number of different mechanics, more open environments and mindblowing content. Monster Hunter has managed to evolve without forgetting what it originally was, the best monster hunt title ever released.


On the plus side


+ Monster Hunter at its best
+ Addictive and exciting gameplay
+ Epic fights, alone or with friends
+ Great learning curve
+ Top-notch OST, again
+ Fantastic game world, lively and and entertaining
+ Looks pretty good for the genre
+ Choice of voices and subtitles
+ So much content you won't see all of it before long
+ No more loading screens during hunts or expeditions
+ 5 beautiful open maps
+ Traversal is smooth and fast outside of combat
+ Many improvements over previous episodes & some new features
+ Online is well-integrated to the single-player mode
+ Monsters fighting each other, always impressive
+ No microtransactions and free content to come


On the downside


- Never totally smooth, neither on PS4 or XB1X
- A few technical issues
- Camera angles aren't always good
- No pause, just like in Dark Souls (but some will love it)
- The Scout flies can be a tad capricious at times
- PC players have to wait until Fall 2018

Homemade screenshots (PS4 Pro)
Hunt Part 1 (XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Hunt Part 2 (XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Hunt Part 3 (XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Visiting the base (XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Performance mode analysis (XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
3 graphics modes (XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Coral Highlands (4K/XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Highlands hunt (XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Landscapes #1 (4K/XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD
Landscapes #2 (4K/XB1X)
High quality stream
Download: MP4 HD

All comments

Sdarts
Sdarts
Commented on 2018-01-25 11:11:50
Thanks a lot for the great review, videos and images.

Just read EuroGamer's review as well, MH:W got an "Essential". Seems like it's an excellent game. Now to wait for the PC release, though from everything Capcom has said about it, it will probably be a very well optimized version.

I prefer to wait months for an actual proper PC version than to get the game now, but in a very bad state like many PC ports of many games we got throughout the last decade, which sours and may even ruin the game for a lot of people who would have loved the game otherwise. Plus by then Capcom will have made many changes, fixes and polished the game even further, as well as adding many of the upcoming free content.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm older now, but waiting for things has become very easy for me. I work, get home, enjoy my free time with loved ones, sleep, hence and repeat. Weeks pass fast, so does months, etc. Then one day what you were waiting for is out.

I also need to go through my backlog, there's a lot of other excellent games to play while I wait. I still need to play: Hollow Knight's The Grimm Troupe DLC, SteamWorld Dig 2, Gorogoa, Lost Sphear, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, Battle Chef Brigade, Doki Doki Literature Club, Danganronpa v3, Injustice 2, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, The Silver Case, etc. I doubt I will even be able to finish all of these before MH:W's PC version comes out, not that I won't try.

To all console players: Happy hunting!
Seth
Seth
Commented on 2018-01-25 11:58:33 In reply to Sdarts
- PC players have to wait until next Fall

Yeah that kinda sucks, but i'll wait for it. Without doubts it'll run/looks better than what i would get on my ps4.
Posted by Sdarts
I'm not sure if it's because I'm older now, but waiting for things has become very easy for me. I work, get home, enjoy my free time with loved ones, sleep, hence and repeat. Weeks pass fast, so does months, etc. Then one day what you were waiting for is out
Same here. years ago i was like, omg i need to get xx game asap and got hyped much easier. Now is different as you have mentioned above. :)
Loneck
Loneck
Commented on 2018-01-25 12:18:00
- PC players have to wait until next Fall

You mean Fall 2019 by next fall?
guts_o - Chauffeur de salle
guts_o
Commented on 2018-01-25 12:56:34 In reply to Loneck
No, this Fall. (it's already long enough)
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2018-01-25 13:14:09 In reply to Sdarts
Posted by Sdarts
I'm not sure if it's because I'm older now, but waiting for things has become very easy for me. I work, get home, enjoy my free time with loved ones, sleep, hence and repeat. Weeks pass fast, so does months, etc. Then one day what you were waiting for is out.
and once it is out i don't end up buying it anyway because i have other games i have that need completing. so hype and excitement all becomes quite meaningless really.

there are a few exceptions of course. i WILL buy spiderman, god of war and last of us 2 day 1...i don't care what i'm playing at the time.

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