Video game fans have been inundated with showcases from publishers and media outlets over the last week. There have been general events like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest, as well as the more specific Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase. Today, a Capcom Showcase dove deeper into previously announced titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak.
With the Sunbreak expansion set to come out June 30, this may have been its final pre-launch showcase. Capcom seems to have pulled out all the stops with that in mind, revealing new monsters and maps alongside a free demo (available starting June 14), and confirming Sunbreak will receive Free Title Updates akin to Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. There's a lot to unpack, but one addition that stands out is Gore Magala, whose mere presence implies additional related content could be on the way.
Monster Hunter Rise: What is Gore Magala?
Gore Magala was the "flagship monster" for Monster Hunter 4; the equivalent of Legendaries that adorn the box art of Pokemon games. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate changed its flagship monster to Seregios, which is also arriving in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, but Gore Magala remained integral to its narrative. This mysterious creature was responsible for the Frenzy Virus, which caused other monsters to become dangerous Apex variants. When hunters are infected, it acts as a new status condition with detriments like increased vulnerability if untreated. However, doing enough damage while the infection spreads will turn the disease into an Affinity (critical hit chance) bonus.
Much of the plot in Monster Hunter 4 revolves around players discovering more about Gore Magala. Unlike Brute Wyverns, Carapaceons, or other monsters that a hunter can come across, Gore Magala starts with the "???" classification. Not only does the monster boast a unique Frenzy Virus spread by the scales of its wings, it's also blind and guided by feelers that unfold when frenzied.
However, players learn that Gore Magala is just the immature stage of a much deadlier monster: the Elder Dragon Shagaru Magala. Only found in the Sanctuary arena at Heaven's Mount, Shagaru Magala sheds its black coat to become a marvel of golden scales - befitting its star-like appearance with wings spread wide. The creature is almost always enraged during combat and is believed to be responsible for ancient calamities. Fighting the Magalas became something of a tradition during the fourth-gen games, and Gore Magala even featured in the 2020 Monster Hunter film.
What Gore Magala Could Bring to Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Gore Magala's unique look, status condition, and story presence made it a fan-favorite monster, so its return makes sense. The Capcom Showcase's "A New Frontier" trailer shows Gore Magala fighting Goss Harag in a snowy region, and later taking on players in what may be an elevated part of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak's Citadel map. Given it skipped Monster Hunter World, this will be a great opportunity for fans to see Gore Magala engage in turf wars and succumb to the new Wyvern Ride mechanic.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about this veteran monster is that it seems inevitable for Shagaru Magala to appear as well. Capcom's latest trailer reveals the Jungle map will return from Monster Hunter 2, updated with the current era's open-world design. Heaven's Mount could make a comeback too, and this seems more likely given Sunbreak's first Title Update promises to add Lucent Nargacuga and the Forlorn Arena map. If fans are lucky, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate's Chaotic Gore Magala subspecies - stuck halfway through molting its black shell - could also appear.
That's not to mention the Armor and powerful Dragon-element Weapons based on Gore Magala that Rise players can build, as well as gear potentially based on Chaotic Gore Magala and Shagaru Magala. Between returning hunts like Monster Hunter Frontier's Espinas, as well as new subspecies like Pyre Rakna-Kadaki, the coming Sunbreak expansion sounds more exciting every day. Luckily, fans don't have to wait long to see everything Capcom has in store.
Monster Hunter Rise is available now for PC and Switch. Its Sunbreak expansion launches on June 30, 2022.