It hasn’t been too long ago when Monster Hunter Rise finally landed on the consoles and now we have Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak expansion. And not to anyone’s surprise, it was a huge hit especially to those itching for the next Monster Hunter game in the series after console owners felt left out when it originally only came out on the Nintendo Switch that followed a PC release last year. With that said, the much-awaited expansion “Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak” is finally here and with it, comes a slew of new content and future support that would follow in the coming months.
While it still pains me to see that I will probably have to wait a bit longer for the next game to add what Monster Hunter World came up with in its 16 player lobbies, Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak brings a lot to the table that would keep me entertained until then.
The Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak expansion starts right after finishing the main game’s core campaign. Here, you’ll be greeted by a new character right at the bridge leading up to the village of Kamura. Once all the pleasantries are over, you’ll be tasked to hunt what is arguably the only time you will ever feel powerful with your current end-game gear. Your target, the Daimyo Hermitaur is your welcoming committee to the world of Master Rank with new areas to explore, monsters to hunt and a new hub to do all your prep for the next thousands of hours of hunting and exploration.
A brand new world… and a brand-new hub
The difficulty of monsters ramps up considerably here so best be prepared to get some fresh new gear ready if you find yourself struggling to keep up. Similar to how the Iceborne expansion to Monster Hunter World brought a fresh change to the series with its clutch claw mechanic, Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak is no different and you’ll find early on that you will get access to the biggest game changer to how you play the game.
The Switch Skill Swap which is basically a secondary loadout of your Switch Skills that drastically changes the flow of the game. Unlike the clutch claw from Iceborne, it doesn’t just add a new feature to your hunting rotation but it basically gives you access to a secondary playstyle within a flick of a button. The first few times I got access to it and despite having 3000 hours spent on MHW playing every weapon type and an extra 300 hours on the Nintendo Switch version of Rise, it literally made me forget how to play the game or how to use the mechanic efficiently.
But once you get a good grasp on how you can utilize it, the game becomes that much smoother in its execution especially when certain actions are more effective than others against certain types of monsters. So being able to change what your inputs do on the fly, does wonders in providing just that.
New silkbind attacks has also been added which further emphasizes the need for a Switch Skill Swap feature should you need to use those in favor of others but really, the one thing that made me jump for joy here is the addition of NPC companions called followers when you’re playing alone.
While hunting with my palico and palamute is nice, being able to just have human-like companions around that occasionally drops some tiny banters here and there just completes it for me. It also just adds a level of detail knowing you can deepen your bond with characters in the game as you do their follower quests and bring them along on your own hunts later.
It’s also quite nice to see the change in themes from the base game’s Japanese-inspired theme to the more gallant knights and medieval theme its going for with the main characters in the game’s expansion. Meanwhile the game’s new hub area brings in a more compact and easy-to-access layout compared to the base game’s Kamura Village where everything takes a while to get to and the more open area of the outpost is definitely a lot livelier while also providing better ways to lounge around with friends without being cramped in the roofs of Kamura’s own hub.
What is a bit disappointing though is its lack of more areas to explore. The two added areas, the Jungle and Citadel, itself provides large areas to hunt and explore and really fits the bill for the theme they’re going for but having a third one could’ve definitely sealed the deal for me here especially since one of two areas is just a returning area from the franchise than a completely new one that has yet to be seen elsewhere.
And as a Monster Hunter game, the main beef of the title is all about hunting monsters but sadly, it only brings a handful of new monsters to the carving table. Although, variants of previously hunted monsters are a plenty. From the Blood Orange Bishaten you’ll face reach to Master Rank 2 to the wretched Almudron that is now harnessing the power of magma. It is worth noting that while it doesn’t have a lot right now, each and every title update brings in more possible monsters and variants that we’ll be able to hunt or get carted on later.
Thankfully, hunters around the world that owns the Playstation or Xbox version wouldn’t have to start from base Sunbreak as the game launches with up to Title Update 3 right from the get go while other updates will come at a later date.
Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak Gameplay
Another thing worth noting here is that once you’ve actually finished the expansion’s campaign, you’ll get access to the new end-game activity known as anomaly investigations. This is where monsters can get progressively stronger as your investigation level rises. Here, you’ll fight afflicted monsters in a never-ending struggle for survival and shiny loots where you’ll be able to craft end-game gear and weapons as you kill every single one of them or at least, die trying.
I’m probably the worst person to tell you this as a Monster Hunter fanatic and a huge fan of the genre but if you’re a huge fan as I am, I’m not even sure why you’re here, just buy it. If you’re someone still trying to justify the price tag after trying out Monster Hunter Rise and enjoyed it, then buy it. If you haven’t bought Rise and wanted to get into the genre, I wouldn’t have to spell it out to you but buy it. The franchise has never been this fun and easily accessible.
This is honestly one of the better if not the best the genre has to offer and while it still has a bit of a learning curve compared to other video game genres, Monster Hunter Rise and even Monster Hunter World provides such a huge scope of weapon types to learn. From the versatility of bow guns and their ammo types to the satisfying feeling of getting your combo perfectly and reading your enemy’s attacks like a book with a long sword.
Conclusion
The Sunbreak expansion for Monster Hunter Rise is one that brings the best of what the base game has to offer. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of how they usually portray their story but when a theme works, it fits like a glove and Sunbreak achieves just that. The interaction of the Japanese and Western themes provides a nice contrast that it just feels like a breath of fresh air much like how Monster Hunter World diverts to the snowy mountains of Seliana in its own expansion.
But really, the new features and added monsters are really the stars of the show and this is where the expansion really shines to justify its price tag. You’re getting new monsters, new variants, future updates to add more of it and even updated monsters with new attack patterns to really spice up the experience. There are tons of hours to be spent here and something you’ll eventually come back to every once in a while.
Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak Trailer
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