First time? This has literally been the model for the series since the beginning. The only times it hasn't played out this way were times that the West didn't receive a base game (Dos, MH4, etc.) and only got the MR expansion version (FU, 4U, etc.). Or the reverse in the case of MH G back in Gen 1.
Sure, that's true. But whether I agree depends on what exactly you're talking about. Do you have a problem with the base games being too easy, or with the base game -> expansion release model itself? If it's the former, sure, I think building a bit more difficulty into the HR endgame would probably be a good thing. But if you don't like the base game -> expansion model itself, I can't agree with that. That system works really well for a series like Monster Hunter.
I think a game should provide some level of pushback on launch. You shouldn't be able to steamroll the entire experience with absolutely zero challenge on day one. I'm not asking for super hard monsters or anything, I'm asking for them to be a threat, AT ALL. Even in World, when I started my new save file to replay it a few months ago, there are still a few monsters in the base game that that still threaten me, if I'm lazy.
if what multiple reviewers are saying is true, and they were at no point threatened with being carded at any point in the game, that is a massive, massive flaw. monster Hunter isn't supposed to hold your hand from game start to credits. I don't want to play a version of this series where I can turn my brain off for the entire experience and still come out on top.
I mean I 100% agree that if you aren't even at threat of being carted at any time, that's a big problem. I just can't believe that's actually the case. I played the beta, both Arkveld and Rey Dau were absolutely capable of carting me if I played lazy (and in the case of Arkveld, even if I didn't).
Even if beta Arkveld is harder than anything in the game at launch (entirely possible), I just can't see a world where you can just turn your brain off and faceroll a solo tempered Rey Dau (or insert whichever apex-level monster here) without carting once. That doesn't sound realistic to me.
So I personally am not super worried, especially given the very positive reviews from people I trust like Peppo, SDShephard, etc. People who have been playing the series a long time and are really good at it. I also trust the Monster Hunter team, they've earned that trust over the last 20 years. If it's a disaster, then I'll reevaluate, but right now all the concern just sounds like an echo-chamber amplification effect to me.
I mean I 100% agree that if you aren't even at threat of being carted at any time, that's a big problem. I just can't believe that's actually the case. I played the beta, both Arkveld and Rey Dau were absolutely capable of carting me if I played lazy (and in the case of Arkveld, even if I didn't).
The problem Im having rn is that these reviews dont match the experience we got from the beta
The only reason the beta monsters were a threat was 1. They have been confirmed to have been beefed up from their base game stats for the beta and 2. You were stuck with absolutely terrible equipment that is likely far worse than what you'll have access to in the full game. If you go against Black Diablos in World with Jagras weapons and no armor spheres spent you'll struggle too. Not really an indicator of anything.
Now, I should be clear, I'm not that worried that you'll be able to completely steamroll the game, but if there aren't multiple monsters that are fully capable of causing me to fail a quest on the first couple tries with completely up to par armor, I will consider that a fundamental failure of game design, and that sounds like it is the case. We'll have to wait and see to be sure, but I'm not confident.
fully capable of causing me to fail a quest on the first couple tries with completely up to par armor
All things considered, if you're struggling against monsters when you have gear that's meant to be able to be used against them, you've probably got more of a skill issue than a "monster difficulty" issue.
I dunno, there just doesn't seem to be compelling supporting evidence for that. But it's also really subjective, what's acceptable difficulty for me may not be the case for you. We'll know in a few days anyways!
See the 74+ reviews many mentioning it the easy difficulty, many being first timers even. There is quite literally a plethora of evidence the game is easy.
Of course it's easy, there's a big difference between "most of the content is easy" and "literally nothing in the game can cart you and you are never threatened ever" which is what the other guy is claiming to be worried about.
Every LR/HR game in the last 10 years of the series has had most of the content be easy, that's not a problem for me. If you're a series vet, LR/HR games are essentially glorified demos for the MR expansion. That is not a new phenomenon.
if what multiple reviewers are saying is true, and they were at no point threatened with being carded at any point in the game, that is a massive, massive flaw. monster Hunter isn't supposed to hold your hand from game start to credits. I don't want to play a version of this series where I can turn my brain off for the entire experience and still come out on top.
A lot of people seem to be mistaking that your average player is far worse than what the average poster in this forum appears to be from a skill perspective, they will be carting multiple times or outright hitting walls against what many people consider basic easy monsters. Even reviewers themselves are going to generally be better equipped than the average player and many saying they felt no pressure doesn't really immediately scream red flag to me.
I guarantee you there will be multiple people with negative reviews on steam within the first few hours that the game is too difficult and needs to be far easier.
A lot of people seem to be mistaking that your average player is far worse than what the average poster in this forum appears to be from a skill perspective
Tbh idk where anyone gets that these games are easy. Personally I still get in trouble a lot and even cart once or twice sometimes on quests. This is base World and Rise I'm speaking of and at this point idk if it's because people play these games too much or I don't play them enough anymore.
If you want it to be harder, play challenge runs, like no-upgrade base weapons. 🤷♂️ MH doesn't have a scaling level system, it can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be.
Entirely ruins the entire point of Monster Hunter. The POINT of Monster Hunter is building sets that compliment your weapon to help you overcome hurdles of tougher monsters. That's... LITERALLY the entire purpose of the series since the very first game. Building a good set and using it to increase my chances against a hard monster has been the DRIVING factor for Monster Hunter, always. Challenge runs take away all the fun out of that loop. Not a good suggestion at all
What are you categorizing as "Too easy" though... If the point is to have a set that makes a hunt easier, you aren't allowed to complain that having that set makes the hunt "Too Easy".
"too easy" means "I was never particularly worried about carting even a single time". Even in world, my semi-optimized sets still felt like i COULD cart in high rank against some of the more aggressive, high damage monsters.
Okay? So what's your evidence that Wilds, a game that isn't even out yet, doesn't also have specific aggressive, high damage monsters that fill that role? (Also, out of curiosity, which monsters are you referring to? Were they release, or Post-Release monsters?)
If the point is to have a set that makes a hunt easier, you aren't allowed to complain that having that set makes the hunt "Too Easy".
Part of the appeal of the Monster Hunter loop is the sense of progression--where the reward of getting better gear from hunts results in the feeling of your hunter getting stronger. There is an ideal balance point with the difficulty where gear upgrades feel like they have a tangible effect on the difficulty of hunts, such that the new weapon or armor you got from beating a difficult hunt means that hunt isn't so difficult the next time.
If the game is too easy at baseline, that diminishes the sense of progression you get from improving weapons and armor--because in general, it is much more noticeable to players when upgrades make a hard fight easier than it is if the fight was already easy and becomes even easier. If you have to handicap yourself to not use better weapons and armor to get a challenge, that also removes that progression. Not everyone wants the games to be difficult, but being difficult enough for progressive gear upgrades feel impactful is fundamental to the core gameplay loop that underpins the series. Fights have to be difficult enough for upgrades to feel like they matter.
That's a fair premise to operate within, however I feel like there's not enough context around what is making the game "Too Easy". Like, a few reviews I read mentioned the NPC's being overpowered, or the Focus Moves trivializing fights, but both of those systems can theoretically be ignored to increase the impact of equipment loadouts if that's the experience you're aiming for.
We also don't have much information or hands-on experience about or with post-game/release and expansion monsters, which are typically where the difficulty spikes for veteran players. (Even in Worlds, Xeno'Jiva wasn't really considered a difficult fight compared to what came later.)
Too easy, is like the defender armor/weapons in base world. Using any other armor you would have access to, makes the game slightly easier depending on your build. Defender, makes everything way too easy and is meant to catapult you to iceborn content. So far, wilds feels like your default setup is defender Armour and weapons, and no way to remove them. It's bad
I want to tackle the really fun tough end game content with friends, it’s hard to keep them around when 4 manning base high rank is a snooze fest. It happened in worlds, it happened in rise, my friends all play and then 6-12 months later I’m SOSing into pug lobbies with insta-cart jp players and my option is to push through this hell (which I do) or solo end game
Do you want the game to get delayed by a year and have an even higher price tag with all the new content they had to add? I'm confused on what exactly yall want. Do you want the base game( which reviewers said was like 40 hours with all the side missions) and the 40 hour DLC like IB to just be one 80 hour experience for the low price of $70?
Do you want the game to get delayed by a year and have an even higher price tag with all the new content they had to add? I'm confused on what exactly yall want. Do you want the base game( which reviewers said was like 40 hours with all the side missions) and the 40 hour DLC like IB to just be one 80 hour experience for the low price of $70?
No, I never said that. You made that up.
They can just develop the game with a proper learning curve and scaling challenges in it, like every other developer does. You could do that with the same monsters the game will already come out with.
I dunno, it isn't the perfect system but it's better than running a series into the ground chasing the largest demographic possible. It also lets the game have a really really wide skill level appeal.
Character vouchers are crazy to me. The ability to change a character exists in the game already, yet you are supposed to pay for it. It's reminds me of the CEO that wanted gamers to pay for ammo in shooters. Granted that is an even worse decision than character vouchers, but I get similar vibes.
You guys say as if just having a harder quests or more tuned monsters as an option after you end the main quest is going to alienate most people, that isnt even possible
The only reason you're playing MH right now is because Tri made the series easier to appeal to a wider audience. If Tri failed Capcom was gonna scrap MH.
You can go on old Tri forums and type in the word "easy" into the search bar and you'll find a bunch of whine posts talking about how it took skill out of the game to appeal to a larger demographic
1.2k
u/AttackBacon Feb 24 '25
First time? This has literally been the model for the series since the beginning. The only times it hasn't played out this way were times that the West didn't receive a base game (Dos, MH4, etc.) and only got the MR expansion version (FU, 4U, etc.). Or the reverse in the case of MH G back in Gen 1.