Monster Hunter Rise is the latest entry in Capcom's long-running series and it's exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, at least for now until it eventually releases on PC next year. While the game takes many elements from the title that came before it, Monster Hunter: World, the game still manages to stick to its own path, adding in the Wirebug mechanic that allows players to traverse around the multiple locales in a way that's never been done before.
There are also new interchangeable Silkwire attacks for every single weapon, Palamutes to ride around on (which are basically just dogs), and a bunch of brand-new monsters for players to face off against. Fans of the series, as well as newcomers, are more than likely going to be interested in how the game compares to World and if it's worth picking up on day one. Thankfully, the review embargo for Monster Hunter Rise has been lifted and several gaming outlets have published their reviews for everyone to dig into. So far, most of the reviews are very positive, with the game currently sitting at an overall Metacritic score of 86 with 50 critic reviews. For comparison, Monster Hunter: World's PS4 and Xbox One release has a 90 on Metacritic.
Here's a roundup of some of the reviews that have been published so far.
TheGamer (Sergio Solorzano)
"If you're a fan who already pre-ordered and want to know if it's good, rest assured. You might actually like Rise better than World, as it brings back some of the strategic variety while building on more recent quality-of-life updates. It's a shame that the Switch holds the game back in small ways, but this is a contender for best in the series. If post-launch support is as good as it was for World, this game could easily rise above the rest."
Unscored
IGN (Tom Marks)
"Monster Hunter Rise mixes classic Monster Hunter ideas with some of World’s best improvements and a whole bunch of clever new mechanics of its own. Not all of them are slam dunks, but they are all fun – and the introduction of Wirebugs and the mobility they bring to every fight is so great I never want to give them up. The post-launch updates Capcom is already teasing can’t come soon enough, but Monster Hunter Rise is still a thrilling step forward in the series’ evolution toward the new normal World so boldly introduced."
Score: 8/10
GameSpot - Review in Progress (Richard Wakeling)
"Going toe-to-toe with these intimidating beasts is the unmistakable core of the Monster Hunter experience, and Rise still feels like a distinctly Monster Hunter game, even if it's more of a fully-fledged action title than any other entry in the series. This renewed focus doesn't diminish its layered RPG mechanics, nor does it dumb down on any single aspect of the hunt. Certain changes make Rise a more approachable game for newcomers, but you also have the freedom to tailor the experience to your liking. The moment-to-moment combat is as impeccable as it's ever been and puts Rise on a pedestal as one of the feathers in the Nintendo Switch's cap."
Score: 9/10
GameInformer (Jason Guisao)
"Beyond mounting monsters and using the wirebug to wall-run in spectacular fashion, not much else distinguishes Monster Hunter Rise from the installments that came before. It has enough endgame content to keep you occupied long after the credits roll (if you don’t mind copious amounts of grinding) and multiplayer is still the optimal way to play, but the excitement of my early hunts waned before long. Monster Hunter Rise is far from being the next definitive chapter in the series. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a polished-but-conventional adventure with a few small-scale nuances, then you’ll be right at home in Kamura Village."
Score: 7.75/10
VG247 (James Billcliffe)
"Ultimately, Monster Hunter Rise is a solid, standalone entry to the series which pulls back on the scope of recent games on more powerful platforms, but doesn’t skimp on the fundamentals that made the Monster Hunter name. While it does feel like a smaller package in terms of grand story presentation, the new additions and quality-of-life fixes make it less grindy to play, with greater flexibility in exploration, navigation, and resource collection adding to the portable possibilities. With just five locales to house the vast roster of creatures though, it will be interesting to see whether Rise can have the same long-lasting appeal as its predecessors."
Unscored
It seems that most critics are happy with the package that Capcom has put together for this entry. While there's not as much content as World and Iceborne, there's still lots to do and explore, and thanks to the overall quality of life improvements, it's never been easier to be a newcomer. Before, Monster Hunter was difficult for newbies to get into, but since Rise is less grindy than other mainline titles and it throws players right into the combat, it'll be interesting to see if it attracts a new casual crowd.
Monster Hunter Rise will launch for the Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2021. A PC port is expected to release sometime in early 2022.