TGO Daily | March 24, 2021 | Monster Hunter: Rise Reviews
March 24, 2021
Greetings! Today’s newsletter is less dense than usual, but that’s because I read out the quotes in the audio version which padded it out quite a bit. Today’s three stories are also the only things that really need their own segment anyway :)
Hey, it’s been a while since I’ve garnered feedback about the newsletter. Is there anything obviously missing from these things? I don’t read any newsletters myself so I really don’t have a sense of how it holds up. Anything that can be improved? Appreciate any feedback you might have.
Cheers,
Adrian
Monster Hunter Rise reviews
The latest main entry in the Monster Hunter franchise is releasing in a few days, and the review embargo has now lifted.
Critics are generally positive on the game, with many calling it the best Monster Hunter to date. Polygon was quite high on it, emphasizing the new grappling hook and focus on quick movement:
“The Wirebug opens up the entire map as playable space, instead of the prebuilt alleyways and arenas from previous games…”
“This mobility helps give Rise a more modern feel than its predecessors”
Eurogamer voiced a concern that I’m sure many have had: having the game be a timed exclusive on the Switch might mean that it would be a more modest game compared to World. However, as they said, “I could not have been more wrong. This is as lavish and opulent a thing as Monster Hunter's ever seen.” The writer praised the game’s technical performance and soundtrack. He also said that the game no longer punishes you in the beginning, getting destroyed by every monster you come across. Instead, you’re equipped to take them down from the beginning.
GameInformer liked the game, but were much more average on it. Their final paragraph illustrates their feelings:
“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.”
If you don’t have a Switch, Rise is anticipated for a PC release in early 2022.
Genshin Impact
Note: This story is sourced from the Sensor Tower blog — a mobile analytics company which I work for. I do not anticipate any editorial conflicts of interest.
The mobile version of Genshin Impact has now earned more than $1 billion in player spending, which they accomplished in less than six months. According to Sensor Tower, that’s the fastest title to ever earn that much — beating out games like Pokemon GO and Lineage M which took nine and ten months respectively. It is most popular in China, Japan, and the United States.
“Few mobile titles have been as successful as Genshin Impact has been in such a short timeframe…It’s an impressive feat—one that stems from a truly global audience and that is maintained by a substantial investment in new events, features, and characters on top of a rich world and rewarding gameplay experience.”
Pretty cool to see this. Even though it’s been out of the public discourse for the past few months, it’s wild to see how well a game like that can perform.
Niantic and Nintendo
Pokemon GO developer Niantic has entered a partnership with Nintendo to develop more augmented reality mobile games. The first to be released will be set in the Pikmin franchise, which will release later this year. It will be focused on encouraging you to walk and improving the walking experience — similar language to Pokemon GO.
The press release seems to indicate that there are more apps on the way.
The Grab-Bag
Bloomberg report on new Switch model. Most credible news about it yet, though I’ll be waiting for an official announcement to give it a proper segment
Magic: Legends gets open beta which is apparently Diablo with deckbuilding
Say Hello!
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