The Monster Hunter series is a strange beast. On one hand, its giant monsters, over-the-top weapons, and extensive menus demand screen real-estate and (ideally) dual control sticks. On the other, slaying monsters in person with friends pushes it over the edge into ultra-awesome territory for me.

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New Monsters in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

New Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate Monsters 8 IMAGES

Returning Monsters in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Returning Monsters in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate 14 IMAGES

G-Rank in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

“ You're able to transfer your saved data to Generations Ultimate when it's released.

New Hunting Styles and Hunter Arts

Guild Style is the basic, classic Monster Hunter style.

is the basic, classic Monster Hunter style. Striker Style lets players equip the max three Hunter Arts, which charge by both dealing and receiving damage.

lets players equip the max three Hunter Arts, which charge by both dealing and receiving damage. Aerial Style allows players to take to the air, even with heavy weapons like the Great Sword.

allows players to take to the air, even with heavy weapons like the Great Sword. Adept Style requires players to dodge or block at the very last moment in order to gain an opening for powerful counter attacks.

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Valor Style (known as Brave before the official translation) is an advanced style that grants players a special Valor Stance once the Valor meter is filled.

(known as Brave before the official translation) is an advanced style that grants players a special Valor Stance once the Valor meter is filled. Alchemy Style equips hunters with a barrel that can be shaken to receive a special item or buff. This style also lets players equip three Hunter Arts.

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Monster Hunter Elder Dragons 9 IMAGES

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With this in mind, it makes sense that the Nintendo Switch would make the perfect home for Monster Hunter, and our first taste is with Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate . As the name suggests, it's an "ultimate," expanded version of 2016's Monster Hunter Generations - and an enhanced port to the Nintendo Switch. In our original Monster Hunter Generations review , we scored it as "Great" and said "Monster Hunter Generations hits the core tenets of what makes this series great."Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is essentially Generations but with more content, obviously upgraded graphics, and of course, a different control scheme to accommodate for the missing lower screen. To put it succinctly, Monster Hunter feels great to play with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Of course it does - it's a great controller - but it's such an improvement over the 3DS it has to be mentioned. Even in handheld mode on the Switch, I prefer it.Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate also looks significantly better. The resolution is the clear improvement, and the textures and draw distance seem to have been enhanced as well - but don't expect Monster Hunter World levels of greatness. This is an older game, after all.Compared to Generations, it looks better, and it plays better, but is there enough new content for a Generations veteran? Because Generations has been out in Japan as XX since last August, we know of at least some changes. Check out everything new in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate - when compared to Generations - below.With a whopping 93 large monsters, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate actually has the most large monsters ever. That's 20 more than Generations, 18 more than 4U, and 60 more than World's current but ever-expanding roster.There are only two truly new monsters in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, but there are a handful of never-before-seen deviant monsters as well. Deviant monsters - a concept introduced in Generations - are individual monsters who have previously survived an encounter with a hunter not-quite unscathed. For example, Bloodbath Diablos previously had its horn cut off, only for a new, warped one to grow back and take its place. Check out the two brand new monsters - Valstrax and Ahtal-Ka - and the new deviants in the slide show in this section.There are fourteen returning monsters in Generations Ultimate that did not appear in the first Generations, including classics like Diablos and fan-favorite Barioth. These originally appeared in past Monster Hunter games, from the original up to Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Check out every returning monster new to Generations in the slide show.Traditionally, first iterations of Monster Hunter games have only low rank and high rank difficulty. Around a year later, Capcom releases an expanded version - like with Generations and Generations Ultimate - that include more monsters and an additional tier of difficulty: G-Rank.G-Rank is only available inside the Gathering Hall (the multiplayer hub) and only after completing the Key and Urgent Quests there first. If you've already completed Monster Hunter Generations, you're in luck, as you're able to transfer your saved data to Generations Ultimate when it's released. Hunting Styles and Hunter Arts are gameplay features first introduced in Monster Hunter Generations, and are not considered mainstay mechanics. Basically, different Styles alter the way you use your weapons, and Hunter Arts are special attacks that can be equipped then unleashed when its gauge is full. In Generations, we had four styles:In Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, there areAdditionally,- gains an eighth type: Beast, which lets you enter "Beast Mode" and unleash a special attack.Each weapon also receives ain Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. Sword and Shield for example gets Chaos Oil, which applies every effect of previously available oils at the same time.Style Power-up) is also a new mechanic. SP can be equipped to a Hunter Art, then, when activated, you and your party members nearby will enter into SP mode. This mode effects each player differently depending on which Hunting Style they're using. For example, people using Guild Style will use items faster, and those with the Valor Style will have their Valor meter fill faster. This should make hunters more prepared to take on G-Rank monsters.If you're interested in playing Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, you can actually download the demo. In the demo, you can take on a Great Maccao, a Barioth, and the brand new Elder Dragon, Valstrax. This isn't totally representative of the game, though. In Generations Ultimate, there are four towns to explore, Palicoes to collect and raise, gear to forge and upgrade, and more.If you don't have a Switch but are considering picking one up for Ultimate, you can still test out it's predecessor, Monster Hunter Generations, on the 3DS. Its demo is still available in the eShop. The gameplay is pretty much the same without the additional Hunting Styles, Hunter Arts, and a few items, but as mentioned before, it definitely feels better using a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.Keep in mind Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is actually older than Monster Hunter World, the US is just getting it later. See What Should Monster Hunter World Players Expect ? for more details on changes to look for in Ultimate.Did you pick up Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate today and want some guidance? 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Casey DeFreitas adores Monster Hunter and was surprised by how good it felt to wield her original weapon of choice, the Great Sword, with the old controls. Catch her on Twitter @ShinyCaseyD