Capcom’s dinosaur-destroying smash hit Monster Hunter World belatedly arrives on Steam today nearly six months after its launch for consoles. Monster Hunter World has defied expectations to become one of the most successful games in the developer’s history. It’s already sold well over 8 million copies, and the PC version could push that number up much higher. But was it worth the wait?
The PC version of Monster Hunter World is solid and, in many ways, better than the console experience, provided you have the rig to support it. It’s hard, however, to see where the extra half-year of development has been spent. Most of the configuration options you’d expect are present, but there are key PC-specific features missing, like ultrawide support. The game also doesn’t feel very well-optimized for all but the highest-end of hardware.
On my PC, which is based around an i5-6600K with a GTX 1080 and 16GB of RAM, I could generally sustain 60 frames per second at 1440p, but I’d sometimes run into stuttering and strange bugs. The situation appears to have been alleviated somewhat in the run-up to release through a combination of patches and Nvidia driver updates. I’d just be cautious about running this game on lower-end systems.
On console, I mostly played Monster Hunter World on a PS4 Pro in its 1080p performance-priority mode, which still doesn’t manage to hit 60 fps. The PC version does give me a strong boost in performance, then, but it doesn’t look much better beyond the bump in resolution — assets and effects are almost identical to my eye. It’s a very different situation to the last delayed console-to-PC port I found myself waiting for, Destiny 2, which looked, ran, and played so much better than the PS4 version. It was practically a whole new game. (Granted, the comparison is particularly stark because you should really be playing Monster Hunter with a controller, even on PC.)
If you’ve already invested hundreds of hours into Monster Hunter World on console, you probably don’t need to start from scratch on PC. But if you mostly or only play games on PC, you should absolutely check out Monster Hunter World because it’s one of 2018’s very best games so far.
I’ll point you to my review if you’re unfamiliar with the game or series. I only managed to put in around 40 hours before deadline time, though, and I’ve tripled that since, so allow me to expand a little on where Monster Hunter World took me from there. It’s true that, with 30 main monsters, the base content is a little slighter than other Monster Hunter games, and the end game isn’t altogether as satisfying. You can still play this game forever; it’ll just get repetitive slightly sooner. But Capcom has done a pretty good job of keeping players coming back by pumping out free downloadable content updates with new monsters roughly every month. The latest update is probably the biggest yet, an ambitious Final Fantasy crossover in which you take on the iconic Behemoth.
This content won’t be available for PC players at launch, unfortunately, but that’s understandable. Almost no one will have leveled up enough to handle it for a while, and these types of high-rank events tend to rely on having a large base of players that are able to check it out at the same time. The real question will be whether the inevitable “G-rank” version of Monster Hunter World, with substantially more quests and content, will come in the form of a paid update or an entirely new full-price version of the game, as has traditionally been the case.
For now, though, what matters is that a mainline Monster Hunter game is finally available on PC for the first time, and it’s the perfect entry point for players who are new to the series. The joys of jumping off a cliff to bash a dragon’s head with a hammer have never been so accessible or available to so many.
About This Game
INTRODUCTION
Overview
ECOSYSTEM
HUNTING
Welcome to a new world! Take on the role of a hunter and slay ferocious monsters in a living, breathing ecosystem where you can use the landscape and its diverse inhabitants to get the upper hand. Hunt alone or in co-op with up to three other players, and use materials collected from fallen foes to craft new gear and take on even bigger, badder beasts!As a hunter, you'll take on quests to hunt monsters in a variety of habitats.Take down these monsters and receive materials that you can use to create stronger weapons and armor in order to hunt even more dangerous monsters.In Monster Hunter: World, the latest installment in the series, you can enjoy the ultimate hunting experience, using everything at your disposal to hunt monsters in a new world teeming with surprises and excitement.Once every decade, elder dragons trek across the sea to travel to the land known as the New World in a migration referred to as the Elder Crossing.To get to the bottom of this mysterious phenomenon, the Guild has formed the Research Commission, dispatching them in large fleets to the New World.As the Commission sends its Fifth Fleet in pursuit of the colossal elder dragon, Zorah Magdaros, one hunter is about to embark on a journey grander than anything they could have ever imagined.There are various locations teeming with wildlife. Expeditions into these locales are bound to turn up interesting discoveries.Your equipment will give you the power to need to carve out a place for yourself in the New World.There are fourteen different weapons at the hunter's disposal, each with its own unique characteristics and attacks. Many hunters acquire proficiency in multiple types, while others prefer to attain mastery of one.Monster tracks, such as footprints and gashes, dot each locale. Your Scoutflies will remember the scent of a monster and guide you to other nearby tracks. And as you gather more tracks, the Scoutflies will give you even more information.The Slinger is an indispensable tool for a hunter, allowing you to arm yourself with stones and nuts that can be gathered from each locale.From diversion tactics to creating shortcuts, the Slinger has a variety of uses, and allows you to hunt in new and interesting ways.Specialized tools activate powerful effects for a limited amount of time, and up to two can be equipped at a time. Simple to use, they can be selected and activated just like any other item you take out on a hunt.Palicoes are hunters' reliable comrades out in the field, specialized in a variety of offensive, defensive, and restorative support abilities.The hunter's Palico joins the Fifth Fleet with pride, as much a bona fide member of the Commission as any other hunter.
Whether it's huge predators on hunts or small creatures in the wild, here's how to capture in Monster Hunter World.
Learning how to capture monsters in Monster Hunter World allows you to complete quests without needing to slice and dice up your prey. With the right timing and use of items, you can choose to take monsters alive to earn additional materials and resources you wouldn't get from just taking them down the old fashioned way. It also unlocks that monster to fight against in the game's Arena. Capturing is an optional way to complete any regular hunt quests, but is a requirement for certain types of optional hunts, so learning how to do will become key if you want to tick every quest off the list. There's also the option to capture smaller creatures too, which is useful for items and completing other types of optional quests. Elsewhere, our Monster Hunter World tips can help you decide when to farm, what to forage and what to do between hunts, and our Monster Hunter World walkthrough and guide can help with main quest and story progress.
Monster Hunter World mounts is one of the game's more advanced combat manoeuvres. It can be extremely useful during tougher fights, so it's well worth taking the time to learn.
As well as this article, we also have Monster Hunter World tips which can help you decide when to farm, what to forage and what to do between hunts, and our Monster Hunter World walkthrough and guide can help with main quest and story progress.
How to mount a monster in Monster Hunter World Mounting is essentially the art of getting onto a monster's back and doing enough damage to knock it over. Generally speaking, a mounted rider's individual attacks won't do much - if any - damage, but a successful mount will end with the chance to perform a charged attack. Not only will this do significant damage to the area currently being ridden (extremely handy if you're trying to break a specific body part to collect a particular material), it will stun the monster, giving the entire hunting party the chance to pile on additional strikes unhindered. How to mount a monster To mount a creature, you need to strike it with your weapon while you're in the air. This is a two-step process: first, you need to physically get above the monster, and secondly, you need to successfully time your attack to connect with its body as you leap toward it. To break this down, you must: Find a way to launch yourself into the air (by running off a high ledge, for instance)
Attack the monster's body, head, or tail while airborne (weapon dependent, but Circle / B, Triangle / Y or the right trigger)
If successful, you will initiate a mount Bear in mind that different monsters have different resistances to mounted attacks, so don't be discouraged if your first attempt doesn't immediately succeed - even if your launch and timing seem impeccable. It's worth persevering though: there's a hidden gauge tied to each monster that gradually fills whenever your airborne strike connects. Once full (which could take one or multiple attempts, depending on the monster - and will take longer while using the Insect Glaive), you're guaranteed a successful mount. Also be aware of diminishing returns: a monster's resistance to mounting increases every time you perform a successful mount during a hunt or expedition - so spamming a mounted attack on the same creature isn't a valid tactic for long. After even as few as two successful mounts, you might find it extremely difficult to initiate another. Similarly, weapons such as the Insect Glaive, which are capable of dealing damage to a creature during a mount, will do significantly less damage on subsequent mounts. How to find higher ground and begin a mount To get above a creature in order to attempt a mount, you've two options. Most hunters will need to use the environment to reach a higher vantage point. However, some weapons - namely Insect Glaives and Bows - feature attacks capable of launching you into the air from the ground. See below for more on using these weapons for mounting. While in the air, strike a monster as usual to initiate a mount. Those hunters relying on the environment to get airborne before attacking can: Hang onto a wall face and spring off
Run up certain walls and leap away to attack
Use the grappling hook to hoist up toward grapple-able overhangs
Slide down a hill and hurl themselves at a target
Swing on a tree vine and leap toward the monster at the optimum moment
Find higher ground - a ledge or elevation - and run off Depending on the monster, it mightn't require much height to initiate a mount at all. You may need to lure a creature toward your higher vantage point before initiating a mount. If you're in a team, it's a good idea to divvy up the duties here; one player should act as the lure, guiding the monster to an agreed point on the map, as the others continue to pile on the damage. The mounter, meanwhile, should get into position, ready to pounce.
What to do once you've mounted a monster Once you've successfully initiated a mount, and are on top of a monster, there are two parts to the rodeo sequence: attack and defence. To attack the creature, simply spam Triangle / Y as shown on-screen. You can shift your position using the movement stick to focus your attacks on a specific area of a monster's body - handy if you're trying to break a certain part, such as the head or tail, to collect a specific reward for use at the smithy. Watch out though: at regular intervals, the monster will attempt to buck you off - you can tell it's about to start bucking when the mini-map turns red. Here, you'll need to hold the right bumper to brace and stop yourself from being thrown off. You might also need to shift to a different part of a creature's body if it starts trying to smash you into the scenery. Once the bucking subsides, it's safe to resume your strike. If you mistime a brace and get thrown off, you've a small window in which to hit Triangle / Y to fire your grappling hook. If you're quick enough, you'll hoist yourself back on, ready to continue the rodeo. If you mess up completely, or run out of stamina, you'll dismount. If all goes well, and sufficient damage is dealt during the attack stage, you'll get the opportunity to launch a final, powerful charged attack. Follow the prompt successfully and two things will happen: you'll deal significant damage to the area, and the creature will collapse on the ground, giving you and your teammates time to attack unhindered.
Looking for more Monster Hunter World tips? Our Monster Hunter World walkthrough and guide explains how Assigned missions, Expeditions and Investigations work, which will see you hunt Anjanath, Zorah Magdaros, Diablos, Odogaron as well as Elder Dragons Kushala Daora, Teostra, Vaal Hazah, Xeno'Jiiva and Kirin. If you are starting out, we recommend first using our weapon types list to decide the best weapon for you, learning how to join friends and Squads in multiplayer, plus how to capture monsters and mount monsters. There's plenty of optional stuff, too - such as Grimalkynes and Doodles, helping unlock Plunderblade and Gajalaka quests.
