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It's almost hard to believe, but we're just a few short days away from being able to play Monster Hunter Rise on PC! Sure, the game's already out on Nintendo's retrofitted gaming tablet, but for many of us, PC is where it's at.
To that end, we've decided that the time was right for us to seriously start discussing what MH: Rise is, and what it isn't. Earlier this month, for example, we talked about the game's Switch reviews, and what they all mean for PC gamers in the long run.
Today, however, MH: Rise is put under the spotlight yet once more. If you're looking for an excuse as to why you, too, ought to play MH: Rise on PC, this is the article to read.
Play Monster Hunter Rise on Launch-Day: Here's Why!
Rise upgrades the MH: World model in so many ways
For the Monster Hunter franchise, World was an inevitability. It was just a matter of time before the series made its way to non-portable gaming platforms, and World proved that Capcom had the will and the capability to pull things off the right way. Now, with Rise, they've combined the best parts of World with old core features the series had stuck with.
So, we've got a streamlined, yet open-ended gameplay loop. Highly-advanced mobility features that have only gotten better since World (Wirebug, Palamutes, etc.). Crucial quality-of-life upgrades, such as unlimited whetstones and an improved central hub for social interaction and hunt preparations. All-new, never before seen Rampage mode. Substantially improved onboarding experience for new players...
You get the point, though - the list goes on.
It's key to mention that Rise isn't necessarily a direct upgrade to World in every way. Visually, for example, World still holds its own. When it comes to gameplay focus and core improvements, however, Rise manages to eke out a niche all of its own.
There are important new features, such as Palamutes and Rampage Mode
What would a new Monster Hunter game be without exciting new gameplay features, to boot? In Rise, these constitute mainly of vastly improved tutorial and early-game sequences, an exciting tower defense mode, and of Palamutes.
These are the headliners, of course, but the game is packed to the brim with other goodies as well. Wyvern riding and Hunting Helper creatures, for example, are already considered crucial in the existing playerbase. The ability to send the cutesy feline Palicos away on tasks and resource gathering, on the other hand, underlines the game's background meta-progression systems in the best way possible.
More than anything else, there's an air of novelty and experimentation around MH: Rise. Even though it's less experimental than World was, back in the day, Rise is a lovingly-crafted celebration of everything related to Monster Hunter. Everything new about it serves a specific purpose, and makes things better for the end-user. A clear sign of good game design, we think!
Rampage Mode is awesome
Speaking of Rampage Mode specifically, it's easy to understate just how exhilarating this new type of mission has ended up being.
Naturally, tower defense missions and game modes are nothing new in gaming. We had never seen them in Monster Hunter up until now, though. The game's powerful critters - already a sight to behold on their own - become even more frightening when several of them come charging at the game's hub town all at once.
There's a stellar sense of ebb and flow present in Rampage Mode, too. Monsters come and go in waves, yes, but in-between defenses and trap-setting, hunters may also get rare opportunities when monsters are vulnerable to a substantial extent. It is in these lulls between clashes that players may need to break rank and mount a counter-attack, instead.
The end result is just the thing Monster Hunter needed between tried-and-true free-form hunting sessions. Resource gathering notwithstanding!
Rise is the ideal combination of old and new for MH
We've slowly been driving this point home for quite some time now, but Rise really does feel like the next step in Monster Hunter's evolution. Not just because it makes good use of the series' handheld roots, but also because Capcom has learned numerous lessons from their work on World.
The relatively limited-use Clutch Claw has, for one, evolved into the infinitely more useful Wirebug gadget. Similarly, the wide overworld map has now been streamlined and optimized for hunt gameplay. The crucial thing to keep in mind is that, though Rise is technically smaller than World was back during its heyday, you can't actually feel this in moment-to-moment gameplay. This philosophy extends to most of the game's systems and features.
In fact, Capcom has seemingly delivered more by focusing on less. To play Monster Hunter Rise is to play what may well be the essence of MH as a franchise.
We know for a fact that it is a good game
Finally, it's always worth reiterating the fact that Monster Hunter Rise is not an unknown element. Having launched last year on the Nintendo Switch, Rise is a tried-and-true, battle-tested game. Sure, it's new to PC gamers, but it's far from being an experiment that we don't know anything about.
This alone makes MH: Rise a must-play for gamers that value quality over anything else. Setting aside the notion that it is an incredible game on its own, Rise also stands out as a game that cannot disappoint. Whether you're a Monster Hunter veteran or a newbie to the franchise, it offers plenty of goodies to get lost in.
With bonus content and a massive post-launch expansion coming to PC down the line, there's the promise of long-term support as well. And! Let's not forget the fact that it's also bound to run way better than its predecessor ever did.
Excited yet?
The final argument really makes itself in this case, doesn't it? What we're looking at with Monster Hunter: Rise is the perfect storm for PC gamers. We know for a fact, for starters, that the game is incredible. That's the upside of it having launched on another platform beforehand! On top of that, it's the evolution of a long-lasting and beloved franchise that is being nurtured to greatness, over and over again.
A slam dunk, wouldn't you say?
Over the past few years, Capcom - the publisher of MH: Rise - has been on a hell of a roll on PC. Featuring phenomenal games that receive both critical acclaim and fan adoration is no small feat. With Rise soon to be out-and-about on PC, we can't wait to see what else the publisher and its specialist dev-teams have got in store for us.
While we wait for further announcements, there's really not much else to do, other than to play Monster Hunter Rise to its endgame and beyond!
Get in the Game ! 
