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Monster Hunter gets the Pokemon Go treatment | Pre-launch Review - Monster Hunter Now
3K View2023-08-11
Monster Hunter Now is a free-to-play AR mobile game that blends the fantastical world of the Monster Hunter franchise with augmented reality (AR) technology, creating a unique gameplay experience where players hunt monsters and explore their surroundings in the real world.
đźź©Pros
+Active and Passive Play (even when the app is closed)
+AR integration and uses real world locations
+The simplified interactive combat that still feels like Monster Hunter in some respects
+Progression is still classic Monster Hunter style of gathering mats and upgrading gear
+Plenty of in-game warnings to avoid accidents and public disturbances
🟥Cons
-Horizontal mode only available during hunt, which makes it a bit pointless
-Requires location access, optimally at all times
-Only 13 monsters to hunt for now
đź“ťNotable points: These pros and cons are based on Soft Launch / Pre-launch build and does not fully represent the quality of the finished product
At its core, Monster Hunter Now takes the concept of monster hunting to a new level by integrating AR technology into the gameplay. Players use their smartphones to interact with a virtual overlay of the Monster Hunter universe, superimposed onto their real-world environment. The goal is to locate, track, and engage with a variety of monsters and creatures that appear in your vicinity. This is highly similar to 2016’s Pokemon Go, which is not surprising, considering Monster Hunter Now was made by Niantic, the same developers that made Pokemon Go.
Monster Hunter Now offers a multifaceted gameplay experience that embraces both active and passive engagement. You are provided with a perimeter around your current location within which you can interact with various game elements, including monsters, resources, and locations. Within the confines of that location-perimeter, the game becomes a dynamic hunt for monsters. The game is predominantly played in vertical mode, while a horizontal mode is possible during hunts – which honestly, makes it a bit pointless since you’ll end up going back to vertical anyway.
The game utilizes your device's GPS and cross references it with online geodata to map your real-world surroundings, transforming familiar streets, parks, and landmarks into hunting grounds. Using online geodata, Monster Hunter Now seamlessly integrates the virtual and physical worlds. Players physically move around to explore, track monsters, and gather resources just as they would in the traditional Monster Hunter games. To ensure the prevention of potential accidents and public disturbances that could arise from the gameplay, Monster Hunter Now incorporates a robust array of in-game warnings.
Monster Hunter Now presents a unique narrative twist by intertwining the Monster Hunter universe with our real world. The tailor-made story for the game effortlessly bridges the gap between the two realms, offering a premise that justifies the crossover of monsters and reality. The thrill of discovering iconic monsters in unexpected places bolsters the narrative's impact and immersion.
For now, the initial lineup features a collection of 13 iconic monsters that fans of the franchise will immediately recognize. While it’s not much compared to traditional games, it's reasonable to anticipate that the roster of available monsters will expand as the game releases and receives post-launch content.
As you encounter monsters in range on your AR map, you'll need to use strategic movement and dodging to evade attacks and position yourself for optimal strikes. The combat closely resembles that of the classic iOS game Infinity Blade, featuring a third-person camera perspective. Players must control their character through directional swipes for movement and dodging — with bonuses for perfectly timed dodges — as well as simple taps for executing attacks.
The encounters themselves are brief and fast-paced on purpose, lasting only a few seconds each up to a current maximum limit of 75 seconds. This tactile connection to your character's movements adds an element of interactivity, no matter how simple or brief, it still immerses players just like a traditional game.
Much like in the core Monster Hunter games, Monster Hunter Now offers a range of weapons, each with its own unique playstyle and upgradable using materials gathered from the AR world. Lighter weapons provide swift and agile attacks, allowing you to quickly strike at a monster's weak points. Heavier weapons require careful timing and deliberate strikes for powerful, devastating blows. Armors are also acquired and upgraded as players progress through the game. Players engage in a cycle of gathering resources and materials to enhance their gear and weaponry.
There is an auto-regen of HP that occurs in real-time, and so far I didn't feel the need to purchase potions using premium currency. Additionally, there is a paintball mechanic, akin to a pokeball, which allows you to mark rare monsters that pass by. This marking becomes handy when you wish to hunt them down later. Moreover, there are wander items designed to extend your interaction range with the map. These items prove particularly useful when you are limited in moving around. Speaking of the premium currency, players can purchase gems using real cash, to buy potions, and items to speed up the process. Players can also use these gems to double the resource rewards at the end of each hunt.
As with the AR nature of the game, Monster Hunter Now requires location access in order to work. To fully embrace this augmented reality adventure, you can even turn on location access for the app at all times. This constant connection ensures that your character is always moving along with your location, which forms the passive play element of the game. You have a pet Palico that actively scours the environment and tags monsters via the paintball mechanic, for hunting later. This all happens passively, even when the app is closed.
Monster Hunter Now is scheduled for a worldwide release on September 14th. This highly anticipated game will be available for both iOS and Android platforms, allowing players to finally embark on their monster hunting adventures in the real world. Pre-registers are available, and there are milestones to reach depending on how many players will pre-register. Currently, it is conducting a closed beta test for limited regions only (Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sweden)
Conclusion:
Monster Hunter Now comes out as another potential hit in augmented reality gaming, seamlessly blending the virtual and real to create an immersive and captivating experience. While not as globally popular as the Pokemon series, its use of AR technology, interactive combat, and monster hunting premise might just be enough for it to succeed as the next big AR game. If you’re a Monster Hunter fan and have also happened to enjoy the AR nature of Pokémon Go, then there’s no question that this game is something you should try.
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Comments
Monster Hunter’s Pokemon Go-like game, finally released globally! | Impressions - Monster Hunter Now
In Monster Hunter Now, players explore their surroundings to locate, track, and engage with various monsters and creatures from the Monster Hunter series. The gameplay involves hunting monsters, gathering resources, upgrading your gear, and engaging in fast-paced sub-minute battles. The battles are quick --- not as lengthy and epic as the mainline games --- but I find the bite-sized nature of it fun and just fits the AR-based nature of the game perfectly.
lyndonguitar2K2023-09-15
Hunt Monsters wherever you go, in real world locations | Review - Monster Hunter Now
Monster Hunter Now is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game that integrates the Monster Hunter universe with real-world locations. Developed by Niantic, the same company behind the global AR hit Pokémon Go, this game allows players to use their smartphones to interact with a virtual overlay of the Monster Hunter world superimposed onto their real-world environment.
đź“ŚPros and Cons
In Monster Hunter Now
lyndonguitar2K2023-09-15
An early look before next month’s launch! | First Impressions - Monster Hunter Now
Monster Hunter Now brings the thrill of monster battles to your immediate surroundings. Using your smartphone's camera and GPS, the game superimposes virtual monsters onto your real-world environment, effectively transforming your surroundings into a hunting ground. This unique blend of AR and physical space allows you to engage in battles in your own neighborhood, park, or any location within your designated perimeter range.
lyndonguitar4K2023-08-11
View desktop siteTapTap looks better
on the app 
I'm enjoying it so far, already hunter ranking 35.. just missing one of the baddies and having the most difficulty with Legiana so far... up to 5* difficulty.. i like that their look and battling style changes as their star difficulty increases
2023-08-20
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