Review of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak: It's unbeatable
Our Verdict
A beastly expansion that picks up right where MHR left off, Sunbreak builds upon the base game with a plethora of fresh, challenging fights, smashing skills, exciting equipment, and more. So hop back on your palamute and grab a max potion - you’re gonna need it.
I consider myself a bit of a monster-bashing veteran since I have been a major fan of the Monster Hunter series for many generations. It goes without saying, therefore, that ever since Capcom initially announced the Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak DLC, I have been eagerly awaiting it.
Despite the fact that MHR lacks certain elements (and has modified others) that I had become used to in my more than 500 hours of playing Monster Hunter World, it already has a lot going for it, and I'm sure you felt the same way. I was really hoping Sunbreak would give Rise the Iceborne treatment after all I did was love MHW: Iceborne and devour most of the stuff from the original MHR. It doesn't let me down at all, therefore I must have eaten a fortunate dango before this round.
MHR: Sunbreak begins off just where the basic game's narrative left off. After saving Kamura Village from certain death (or after you dodge-rolled and hit enough targets to eliminate Narwa and company), the girl from the Argosy tells you about Eldago, a new location teeming with monsters that you should go hunting for.
Like all previous MH games and expansions, the narrative is your typical, non-consequential affair. The fundamentals are as follows: monsters are arriving, you are a monster hunter, go do your job to rescue the town. I won't reveal too much in case you're a genuine Wyverian who is well-versed in MH mythology. I would admit that the Eldago outpost is bright and energetic, with that distinct but recognisable atmosphere you come to expect from hubs in this series, and the threat of the menacing "Three Lords" is more than enough to keep me interested.
Additionally, we get the new follower tasks in return for the much-despised rampage missions being eliminated. These are unique missions where you go on hunts with certain NPCs that provide you with some useful tidbits of information and an additional helping hand in the field. Thankfully, when they K.O., they don't exhaust a faint! Fortunately, Florayne, the knight who accompanies you on important plot missions, is also a fantastic friend. She acts like a real player even though she is AI-controlled; during a fierce combat, she will even heal you and mount foes.
The two primary attractions of MHR are as follows: Sunbreak that will undoubtedly entice any hunters ravaged by Basarios. The first of them is the return of master rank (yes, friends, we're ditching the training wheels and bypassing G-rank entirely once again). Master rank, the tier above high rank that really ups the ante and forces you to prove your mettle in the field, may be familiar to those of you who have played MH games in the past. Call me masochistic if you will, but I was itching to get back out there and put my beast-bashing skills to the test. Fortunately, master level offers just that kind of challenge.
Naturally, the array of monsters is the second attraction. In my opinion, Capcom did a fantastic job. Many well-known faces are making a return. First, there are the monsters you've previously faced in MHR, which have returned in far more formidable or even altered forms. I usually love seeing these various forms and learning about the changes in their attacks, even though other players may find this a little boring. I also think it's a fantastic method to adjust to the harsher level while maintaining a new gameplay experience. These repeated battles do, however, take up a significant portion of the mission board and continue for a long time.
Then, creatures from earlier games make a reappearance. In my opinion, the concept of reintroducing creatures from previous games in the franchise is fantastic. This approach is beneficial to both parties since it allows seasoned gamers to engage in combat with animals we haven't seen in a long time and introduces new players to the classics. In addition to having new movements and different attack patterns, these returning monsters provide a really new challenge, maybe even more so for players who have faced them before and have developed muscle memory for their previous moves. It might be difficult to break habits.
Apart from this, a few new monsters have joined the ring. Although they are few in number, I am happy to report that they are just as worthy of a spot in the constantly expanding Hunters Notes book as their forebears. The inventive ways in which the MH monster designs use components, attacks, and their surroundings to create a world that is both deadly and captivating never ceases to astound me. The fact that Capcom is still having fun and that each new release is just as amazing and scary as the last makes me very happy.
Of course, I would never describe Monster Hunter Rise as an easy game, and MHR: Sunbreak is no exception. With the exception of MHW, it has many improvements to the quality of life that make it a far more player-friendly experience than the previous games. However, the master rank hunts can still give you a hard time and drain all of your lunch money before you even get a chance to collect that enticing shiny you saw on the floor.
To put it another way, you may as well walk out there butt-naked since much of the stuff you've spent hours working for is now out-of-date, regardless of how well-equipped you are when you get in Eldago. With Monster Hunter Rise, all users now have access to a new set of armour and weapon tree made especially to aid in completing the content and, if desired, catching up to Sunbreak. Until you have a chance to gather the supplies for something better, this gear should be more than enough to get you through the first part of MHR: Sunbreak. which, let's be honest, can need some time.
However, even with that suit of armour, a plethora of well placed decorations, the greatest dango abilities, and a tonne of experience under your belt, you still stand to lose a great deal more often than in the standard game. I can gladly confess that when I first discovered Aurora Somnacanth, I squandered forty minutes attempting to solo one, just to have a disgruntled palico give me the finger. Therefore, better equipment must exist, right?
There are a tonne of new armour sets in the game, and achieving master level usually forces you to make sure your loadout is optimised for the monster you're up against. Unfortunately, a lot of the interesting—or at least the decent stuff—is only accessible after completing a certain level of the DLC, and the sets that are available in the first master rank levels are, for the most part, not very impressive. Not only are most designs the same, but the bad statistics often outnumber the good ones. Furthermore, in many cases, grinding such difficult monsters to not get the one material you need for that little improvement doesn't seem worth it because of the standard MH material drop RNG.
Fortunately, there are many more accent pieces to pick up, including new weapon trees, amazing weapon upgrades, and decorations. Furthermore, weapons may now be outfitted with rampage gems rather than pre-defined rampage talents, giving you a little more customisation options for your equipment. There are some very useful rampage gems, and having so many different options for your loadout allows for some really intriguing benefits and combos. Of course, however, getting both decorations and weaponry still takes some work and a lot of luck from the RNG gods.
MHR: New switch skills are also available in Sunbreak, and players may equip two loadouts of switch abilities at once and swap between them on the field. This has advantages and plays a significant role in the gameplay later on, particularly at master level 4 and beyond. Personally, however, I'm not a huge fan—especially as a rather set in her ways Hammer Main. It seems a little awkward to use, and trying to execute some of the longer animations without invincibility frames often leaves you open to attacks. However, I'm confident that many of you will like the dynamics and more gaming versatility as I become used to it over time.
The maps in MHR: Sunbreak are stunning; they blend well with the surrounding environment while remaining very distinct and fascinating locations to explore. Rich topography, endemic life diversity, and vivid colours combine to create an incredibly engaging world that goes much beyond a basic background. Additionally, exploring is smooth and delightful since there are no load screens between zones and you may navigate with the aid of your palamutes and the excellent wirebugs.
In terms of performance, Sunbreak is a fantastic game on Switch. No matter how hectic a fight became, I never stumbled, and the colours and textures look amazing on the OLED screen as well as in docked mode. On a regular Switch, my companion is also playing it, and he hasn't had any performance problems. The only issues I've had are a few disconnections during battles when I've joined via join request with another player, but these are rare.
All things considered, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is an extension in the truest sense of the word—it advances and broadens the core plot of MHR. This DLC is for you if you like the main game or the whole series and don't mind being hit by a large, repulsive armadillo or a terrifying vampire dragon. It provides a tonne of endgame material, new, difficult battles, exciting new regions to explore, and much more. In addition, considering how much effort I've already put into it, I think the cost is well worth it. Just keep a watch on Khezu, since he's always planning something.