Monster Hunter: World launches on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in a few weeks on January 26, 2018. A PC version is scheduled for Fall 2018. The Monster Hunter franchise started off on the PlayStation 2 in 2004 but then surprisingly became a Nintendo exclusive for many years. Games like Monster Hunter Tri, Monster Hunter 4, and Monster Hunter Generations were only available on systems like the Nintendo Wii or 3DS.
Luckily, that's changing this year because this is the first time the legendary franchise is making its way to an Xbox console. What's even more surprising is that Monster Hunter: World features Xbox One X support so the visuals should look better than ever. The exact nature of the upgrade is unclear at this point.
The thrilling trailer introduces several new and returning Elder Dragons. Elder Dragons are a class of monsters which were originally introduced in the first generation. This class is made up of rare, elusive monsters that have lived eternally since ancient times, and are able to bring about the destruction of whole ecosystems if they wish. Suffice to say that the Elder Dragons represent a significant threat in the game and fighting them requires not only great gear, but also a lot of skill and patience.
There are a lot of Elder Dragons introduced in the trailer but some of the most prominent ones are listed below. Players must learn their moves and discover their weaknesses to succeed.
- According to Capcom, the steel dragon known as Kushala Daora is a beast with a body covered in metal plates and has the power to keep hunters at bay by generating wind storms around itself. The wind storms offer the Elder Dragon a lot of protection and can be disorientating to players.
- The flame king dragon Teostra is a brutal foe that spits blazing fire. Any hunter who faces this fierce and deadly monster is in danger of being engulfed in its inferno. Fire and hunters don't get along well so be sure you aren't barbecued when taking on this beast.
- Another monster introduced in the trailer is the Dodogama. This creature is a rock-eating wyvern — a winged two-legged dragon with a barbed tail — that possesses unique saliva which causes rocks to become explosive. If you're close to some large boulders and the Dodogama spits its hazardous mix on them, you may end up getting blown up even though its supposed to be a way to ward off attackers.
These are just some of the challenges players will face in Monster Hunter: World towards the end of this month. Unlike Xbox One owners, PlayStation 4 players get access to a final beta which takes place roughly a week before the game launches.
Aside from the trailer and details about the Elder Dragons, Capcom confirmed that there are plans for post-launch Monster Hunter: World support with regular content updates, as well as free major title updates. The first major title update is coming in Spring 2018 and includes the addition of the deadly Deviljho. The Deviljho is a massive creature which must constantly feed and will devour anything in its path. Due to its sheer size it can eat even the largest of monsters with its massive jaws. Only the most experienced players should take on this creature.
Monster Hunter is regarded as a legendary franchise so here's hoping that Monster Hunter: World lives up to expectations. Be sure to keep an eye out for our review towards the end of this month.
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