Introduction
Basic information
Developer Name: Capcom
Full Name: Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak
Release Date: March 26, 2021 (Rise) / June 30, 2022 (Sunbreak)
Released on: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
From the moment I saw the Palamutes and wirebugs in action, I was curious. And when I finally picked the game up after all updates dropped, it was a satisfying decision. The movement felt fluid, the gear sets were stylish, and most importantly, the monsters were fun to hunt. I appreciated the return to more traditional map styles while also embracing faster vertical traversal. Though I played solo, the game made it enjoyable thanks to the ability to bring followers along later on. It truly felt like Monster Hunter, just faster, smoother, and more stylish.
Story and setting
Plot overview
As always, the plot serves more as background dressing. You’re protecting a village, investigating strange monster behavior, saving the world, so you can ultimately carve up the latest threat and make a fancy new pair of pants. And that’s perfectly fine. Nobody’s here for the Oscar-winning narrative, we’re here for monster ecology disguised as fashion acquisition.
World building and immersion
The world has strong aesthetics, from the Japanese-inspired Kamura Village to the more Western gothic flair of Elgado. While not overly immersive in a story sense, the environments are alive with detail and personality.
Character development
Characters serve their purpose, charmingly written, occasionally quirky, but mostly there to point you toward your next monster target.
Emotional impact
Aside from some genuinely heartfelt touches in the music and certain quests, the emotion comes from the hunt itself, the thrill of barely surviving or finally crafting that elusive gear.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 7.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
This is where Rise shines. The wirebug system introduces verticality and speed that make older entries feel sluggish by comparison. Add in new silkbind attacks, Palamutes, and switch skills, and you get a fresh yet familiar combat experience. The follower system in Sunbreak is also a great addition for solo players.
Difficulty and balance
The combat is responsive, smooth, and stylish. Every weapon has depth, and the new wirebug mechanics expand combo potential dramatically.
Pacing of the game
This is where things slip. While the base game and most of Sunbreak are well-tuned, the endgame anomaly quests feel poorly balanced. A Khezu hitting harder than a catastrophic elder dragon? That’s where fun turns to frustration.
Innovation and uniqueness
Excellent until anomaly quests. Early and midgame flow beautifully, with a satisfying loop of hunting, crafting, and mastering.
Controls and user interface
Tight, responsive, and clearly built with care. Navigating menus is faster than in older titles.
Microtransactions
Minimal and cosmetic. They exist, but are easily ignored.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 8.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
Rise has its own flair, a mix of sleek modern design with traditional Japanese aesthetics. While it doesn’t have the raw graphical power of Monster Hunter: World, it holds its own, especially on PC and next-gen platforms.
Beautiful art direction more than makes up for technical limitations. Monster designs are consistently creative, especially newcomers like Malzeno and Garangolm.
Technical performances
Smooth for the most part, with stable framerates even in hectic hunts. The RE Engine performs admirably on Switch and shines on PC.
Environment and design uniqueness
Environments feel handcrafted. The Jungle and Citadel are standouts, while others are serviceable but a bit plain. Still, where’s my pickle? Deviljho is sorely missed.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 8.0.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtrack is diverse, sweeping from traditional themes to eerie gothic choirs in Sunbreak. Some of the area and boss tracks are true highlights. Weapon and monster sounds feel weighty and distinct.
Sound effects quality
Punchy and satisfying. Every monster roar and weapon clash adds to the tension.
Voice Acting
Light but well done. The optional voice callouts in combat are fun but can be turned off for purists.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with an 8.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
If anything, Rise and Sunbreak might offer too much content. There’s no shortage of quests, gear to craft, builds to try, or monsters to master. That said, the grind-heavy endgame may wear down some players. Easily over 100 hours if you aim for full completion or all sets.
Extra Content
Tons of event quests, layered armor, title updates, and monsters. Capcom went all-in post-launch.
Replay value
Extremely high, assuming you’re okay with the grind. The very long grind!
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Monster Hunter Rise with an 8.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Scale anomaly monster damage down or offer better solo tuning. Reintroduce classic monsters like Deviljho or Brachydios to further expand the endgame roster.
Comparisons
Compared to Monster Hunter: World, Rise is faster, flashier, and more gameplay driven, while World leans into immersion and realism. Both are excellent, just very different flavors of the same hunt.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
As a mostly solo player, I was thrilled by the addition of followers. Not only do they bring utility and charm, but they make the solo grind feel less lonely and more dynamic. I tested out nearly every weapon, and while I gravitated toward the Switch Axe, the versatility across the board impressed me. I’ll always remember the first time I jumped into a Rathalos’s face mid-roar and flipped it over. Pure satisfaction.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Monster Hunter Rise, I give it a personal rating of 7.0.
Last words
Pros
- Fast, fluid combat
- Wirebug system adds mobility and style
- Great weapon variety
- Creative new monsters
- Stylish armor and gear
- Gorgeous art direction
- Solo-friendly follower system
- Smooth performance across platforms
- Tons of post-launch support
- Satisfying crafting and progression loop
Cons
- Anomaly quest balance is punishing
- Endgame grind can be exhausting
- Rampage missions not universally loved
- No cross-play
- Deviljho is missing
- Some recycled maps feel bland
- Story is predictable
- No true conclusion after final update
Monster Hunter Rise and Sunbreak together offer one of the most refined and exhilarating action-RPG experiences in recent years. While not every experiment lands (looking at you, anomaly quests), the core gameplay is so tight, so satisfying, that it’s easy to overlook the flaws. Whether you’re a veteran or new to the hunt, there’s something exciting to chase, and likely carve, around every corner.
FINAL RATING
7.8
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