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Hello dear readers, today we’ll be looking at Monster Hunter Now, the new AR (augmented reality) mobile game in the beloved Monster Hunter game series. The game began development in 2019 and it has finally been released globally on September 14, 2023.
Developers and Collaboration
Monster Hunter Now is developed by Niantic and Capcom. Niantic is well known as the AR company that created Pokémon GO, while Capcom is the legendary game development company responsible for producing iconic series such as Devil May Cry, Street Fighter, Resident Evil, and of course, Monster Hunter. Both companies collaborated for the first time to bring Monster Hunter into the mobile game space.
Things We Liked About the Game Design
One of the most notable aspects of Monster Hunter Now is its low loading times. This makes the game ideal for short play sessions, as players can quickly jump in and start hunting monsters without having to wait for long load times.
Another positive aspect of the game is its inclusion of a paintball feature. This allows players to mark monsters during walks and engage in battles later when they are more focused. This is a great feature for players who are on the go or who do not have a lot of time to play the game in one sitting.
Monster Hunter Now also features a variety of weapons, armor sets, and a straightforward upgrade system. Players can gather resources from monsters to enhance their equipment, which allows them to progress through the game and take on more challenging monsters.
At first glance, Monster Hunter Now definitely feels familiar to Pokémon GO. The map looks the same because both games are using a gameplay map based on real-life location data. However, Monster Hunter Now adds an element of rotating terrains, where areas of the map can change between a forest, desert, or swamp several times a day. These landscapes determine the kind of monsters you will encounter.
Exploration and Items
Like Pokémon GO, your access to everything on the map is limited to a small radius. However, Monster Hunter Now introduces items that allow you to increase the radius, albeit as premium items. The game provides some for free initially, but you'll need to spend money to buy them later on.
Monster Hunting Mechanics
In Monster Hunter Now, you don't catch monsters; you fight them. There are two main categories of monsters: small and large. Small monsters provide common materials and help build up your special attack gauge. Large monsters are the main focus, requiring strategic combat and knowledge of their weaknesses.
Quests
Monster Hunter Now introduces two types of quests—mainline story quests and optional daily quests. The story questline consists of 13 chapters, unlocking your ability to fight higher-level monsters. This design ensures a gradual progression and prevents boredom for higher-level players.
The Shop
The game introduces a precious in-game currency known as Zenny, obtained through daily quests and killing large monsters. Potions and paintballs are consumable items used for healing and saving large monsters for future hunting.
Group Hunting and Events
Group hunting is a significant aspect of the game, allowing up to four players to team up and take down monsters. Regular events feature certain monsters more often, providing opportunities for unique encounters.
Is Monster Hunter Now the second coming of Pokémon GO?
It is too early to say whether Monster Hunter Now will achieve the same level of popularity as Pokémon GO. However, the game has a number of factors in its favor, such as its strong brand recognition, robust gameplay mechanics, and support for multiplayer cooperation.
It is also worth noting that Monster Hunter Now is a relatively new game, and Niantic has a track record of supporting its games with regular updates and new content. If Niantic continues to invest in Monster Hunter Now, it is possible that the game could become a major success.
Thoughts on the Game
From our experience, Monster Hunter Now is well-designed and offers a true Monster Hunter experience on mobile. However, the game's emphasis on grinding and the restrictive nature of healing items might not appeal to everyone. While the game encourages skill improvement, the limitations on healing items could make the process harder than necessary.
Nevertheless, Monster Hunter Now is a well-designed AR game that offers a satisfying Monster Hunter experience on mobile devices. Its optimized performance (we were really impressed with the non-existent loading time), convenient gameplay, and satisfying crafting system make it a great choice for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.
Monster Hunter Now is a promising new AR game that offers a unique and satisfying Monster Hunter experience on mobile devices. Its optimized performance, convenient gameplay, and satisfying crafting system make it a great choice for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. While it is too early to say whether Monster Hunter Now will achieve the same level of popularity as Pokémon GO, the game has a number of factors in its favor and could become a major success if Niantic continues to support it.