Monster Hunter has made its arrival on Xbox One X with its latest installment, Monster Hunter: World. Following success on both Sony and Nintendo platforms, the game marks the series debut on Xbox One, with a variety of changes to take advantage of the new hardware.
As a franchise renowned for its steep learning curve, Monster Hunter: World isn't easy to get started with. Although efforts have been made to create an entry-point for newcomers, there are still things to keep in mind. Here are five beginner's tips you should know before getting started with the game.
Prepare to grind
Before jumping into Monster Hunter: World, prepare yourself to grind away at the same content. This latest entry is one of the most ambitious games in the franchise, but its legacy of requiring heavy investment is still there. While replayability factors into its mission and world design, the core mechanics mean you still carry out repetitive tasks in the long term.
Many of Monster Hunter: World's channels for progression demand certain materials and require players to hunt for them. Prerequisites for crafting weapons, armor, and items need to be earned, and this plays a major role in the Monster Hunter gameplay loop.
Experiment with play styles
After completing Monster Hunter: World's opening sequences, players will be given the choice of more than a dozen weapons to pick. This is the first of many decisions you'll make about your play style, however, it doesn't necessarily dictate your approach.
While the main objective of Monster Hunter is relatively universal, how these tasks are approached can hugely vary. With gameplay that accommodates a range of player types, there are countless ways to complete missions. It might be worth sticking to a similar loadout during early hours, but don't be hesitant to explore as you get more comfortable.
While experimenting with different weapons, make sure to take full advantage of any integrated tutorials and prompts that may appear. The "Training Ground" introduced in the game's early hours also helps by providing a space to test your weapons and combos.
Don't ignore 'Scoutflies'
"Scoutflies" are one of the new additions in Monster Hunter: World, introduced to help usher in a new generation of players. Unlike previous games, where players were given much less guidance, Scoutflies help outline objectives and items nearby.
Due to their discreet nature, it's easy to miss these glowing creatures. Nevertheless, paying attention to Scoutflies helps hugely in locating monsters and outlining where you need to go. When searching for any activity, such as tracks, scratches, and mucus, pay attention to the Scoutflies' trail for a better understanding of where to look next.
Stay prepared for battle
Monster Hunter: World's battles establish its most rewarding gameplay, especially when paired with a team using cooperative play. But to get the most out of these quests, you'll want to be prepared.
Pick weapons and armor that suit the type of combat you'll be entering. Slower, larger monsters are best fought with heavy-damage weapons, while quick, agile foes are best countered with fast or ranged attacks.
Before entering combat, make sure to prepare additional items to aid in combat too. Always pick up a meal beforehand, providing a temporary stat boost to health, attack damage and other listed traits. And provided you have the materials, crafting also plays an important role in obtaining potions, antidotes and other buffing items.
More friends, more fun
Cooperative play is one of Monster Hunter: World's flagship new features, providing a different take on the existing formula. With a mission structure built to accommodate this, up to four friends to band together to complete quests and expeditions. Best of all, the game offers seamless drop-in, meaning friends can join and leave the game whenever they choose.
Monster Hunter World's cooperative mode commends strong teamwork, where a strong synergy of differing roles helps in battle. Assembling a team of varied roles ensures a balanced set of abilities and allows your attacks to adapt around a monster.
Keep in mind that when playing co-op, monster difficulty scales according to the number of players. This means monsters will be harder with more players, and executing a well-planned strategy puts your team at an advantage. But be aware that once players leave, difficulty seemingly doesn't scale down, meaning battles can be much harder if teammates leave mid-battle.
Your tips for Monster Hunter: World
Have you been playing Monster Hunter: World on Xbox One? Make sure to drop into the comments with your tips for new players.
