Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate review on Nintendo Switch

Earlier this year, Capcom released Monster Hunter World on PS4 and Xbox One—a game that was geared toward a wider audience than traditional Monster Hunter fans. I reviewed the game and loved it. Fast forward several months and, a more traditional game, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate has landed on the Nintendo Switch.

And, while not a brand new game, this 3DS port includes a whopping 93 monsters to face of against—including new G-Rank monsters. Can a port of a two year old 3DS game still offer long-time fans of the series a satisfying experience? Let’s find out!

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate Details

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action role-playing
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Get ready to hunt some monsters down

The game begins in Bherna, a village full of hunters and shop owners who wish to help you in your quest to tackle gigantic beasts. To be honest, there’s not much of a story when it comes to Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. You won’t find an exciting narrative with epic twists and turns, and I am OK with that.

You see, this isn’t what Monster Hunter Ultimate Generations is about, as the gameplay loops need you to focus on overcoming the beasts in the wild.

Traditional Monster Hunter series gameplay

The core of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is about making your own character, battling beasts, and collecting their hides for better gear. While this may irk gamers who prefer a narrative mixed in with their gameplay, this game feels like it is geared towards those gamers who like getting lost in the environments instead of the story.

When compared to Monster Hunter World, this game is difficult and something newcomers to the series may struggle to get into. Once you create your character, you’re thrown into the thick of things. For example, I could approach several quests in the village at my own pace, but the first few hours of gameplay may seem sluggish to some.

New additions to gameplay

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate includes new worthwhile features such as a Palico Mode, new Hunter Styles, new Hunter Arts, and a new rank of monsters to tackle known as G-Rank. Both of the new Hunter Styles and Hunter Arts allow for customization, which give battles an extra layer to master.

Hunter Styles change your hunter moveset and offer several Hunter Arts based on each style. These include Guild, Striker, Aerial, and Adept Style. Arts are basically flashy finishers in combat that can be used in several ways. You can use them to evade enemies or devastate them. It’s important to master these moves as they will allow you to tackle the massive beasts Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate throws at you.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate has dozens of playable hunting areas that feature a range of biomes to explore. Within these biomes you find both big and small beasts alike. To hunt these beasts, you have several different weapon types. These include a standard sword and shield, great sword, a hunting horn, gun lance, and more.

Essentially, each weapon plays differently with their own learning curve. I liked playing around with the variety of weapons and seeing what worked well for me. I enjoyed learning the switch axe, which can shift from an axe to a great sword. Nothing is as satisfying as mastering a class and overcoming enemies with ease after investing time into a weapon and the payoff is worth it, too.

A beautiful transition from 3DS to Switch 

Let’s be honest, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is a port of a two-year-old Nintendo 3DS game. In handheld mode, the visuals look beautiful, though playing in docked mode is another story. Although the game still looks good, some of the visual imperfections are more pronounced.

The new HD textures help balance the transition from 3DS to Switch. The on-screen user interface has been decluttered, giving what’s happening on the screen the spotlight. I spent most of my 60 plus hours with the game in handheld mode and I feel this is the best way to play it.

Addicting co-op multiplayer fun

Playing multiplayer in any Monster Hunter game is a big draw. Finding the right people to tackle gigantic beasts is the best way to get the best Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate experience. Monsters in multiplayer are generally tougher and make things interesting.

If you can gather enough friends to play together locally, you’ll need a separate system for everyone. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t support voice chat. So, you’ll need to use a third-party voice app to communicate.

Of note, is Prowler Mode. The gameplay mode launched with Monster Hunter Generations on 3DS and allowed you to play as a Palico. In this mode, you can still go on hunts and deal less damage than your hunter counterpart. However, your Palico has unlimited stamina, and having to not worry about pickaxes and bug nets is a bonus.

A downside is that a Palico cannot use Hunter Arts and Styles, so consider using them only when your main tasks require you gather resources.  As I mentioned earlier, G-Rank Hunts are the toughest in the game but are the most rewarding. To even consider tackling these mostly new hunts, you’ll need to have spent dozens of hours preparing for them. I also recommend to tackle these with other hunters at the ready, as the odds are better and you’re more likely to succeed as team.

Does Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate offer long-time fans of the series a satisfying experience? 

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate might not be like Monster Hunter World, but it doesn’t need to be. This game is geared towards veterans of the Monster Hunter series who own the Nintendo Switch. While this game lacks the accessibility of Monster Hunter World, the learning curve offers rewarding gameplay.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate offers an immense amount of content, and feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch.

+Portable, on the go Monster Hunter
+The new G-Rank monsters are no joke
+Prowler Mode
+Tremendous amount of content

-No in-game voice chat
-Slog for the first few hours

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF MONSTER HUNTER GENERATIONS ULTIMATE

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 5/5

Overall Rating 4.25/5 (85%)

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