Monster Hunter Rise PC review impressions: Looks like I won’t be returning to Switch for Sunbreak

Monster Hunter Rise is one of the best games in the series. We know a lot from Nintendo Switch games coming out in 2021. It may lack some of the depth and breadth of Monster Hunter World, but the more stylized and accessible follow-up that pushed those games into the mainstream is still a great evolution of the series, and definitely worth your time in on the PC.

It’s worth mentioning that I’ve spent over 100 hours in Monster Hunter Rise on Nintendo Switch. Using a Pro controller (naturally) and often docked to my TV, the Switch version of the game is fine…but the PC version is great.

The PC version of the game scratches all the charm of the Switch version – smooth, responsive combat; engaging game loops; some really good set-pieces; Doing it all makes it very difficult to go back to the Switch version (where my fully equipped hunters live with all their lovely trophies).

Of course, the most notable upgrade is visually. If you have a machine capable of running games with graphics options turned all the way up and framerates above 60FPS, the experience is much better day or night than gaming at 30FPS when docked at 756p/540p undocked .

Take part in your first landmark big battle in the game (the one you can fight in the Monster Hunter Rise PC demo), and you’ll go head-to-head with the aggressive, persistent Magnamalo. Rise’s “Cover Monster” explains why this game is so good; it showcases the power of Capcom’s animation suite in the game and requires you to stand your ground and react to tons of cues from the environment and the quarry , to stand out.

Seeing Magnamalo tumble, twist and jump without being limited by frame rate caps, and cast dynamic shadows around the arena…it’s more impressive and impressive than it was on the Switch.

Anime-inspired soft art director Rise did a lot of work for the Switch version of the game; it was a no-brainer for the engineers behind the RE engine to soften the edges and get the shaders to work at lower resolutions. But on PC, this already gorgeous art style buzzes even louder. When the light is just right and you see the shadow of a monster cast on the ground and the light illuminates its angry face as it walks towards you, it’s hard not to just stare at the whole damn thing and risk having your face cut off Risk a burst of claws and teeth.

Does this actually make sense? You are better at gaming. Of course you are! You can see what’s going on more clearly. You can better read the body language of the monster before it sweeps you. You can more easily respond to the tail whip with a twitch and jump with your health and dignity (almost) intact.

Monster Hunter has long been using these superhero-like tricks and tricks to make you feel like a badass and give you a chance to better your potential because your Switch isn’t slowing down or your JoyCon isn’t eating your input just Make the whole experience better. Severing Rathalos’ tail in a few clean blows when the smoke from the lava beneath his feet obscures his view and your companion throws gunfire at him from a vantage point clearly recognizable from a distance? I didn’t realize I missed so much after leaving the Switch version of the game.

I haven’t managed to get past the advanced missions in the Hub, so I don’t want it to be a properly rated review for the PC version of the game. But I’ll say this: I think I’m going to have to play the Sunbreak expansion on PC. As good as having a game in my pocket on the Switch, I can’t face giving up the 4K/60FPS+ version of the game because I’m already interested in games of this quality.

It’s a shame; I’m in love with Monster Hunter Rise on Switch. But the lack of native voice chat support, poor performance, and (I hate to say it) lack of achievement just makes the idea of ​​a whole new extension on poor hardware less appealing.

Monster Hunter Rise is coming to PC on January 12, 2022, so sharpen that axe, sip an energy drink, and prepare to take a storm.