By aiming for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the PC, Capcom was able to build a more ambitious game in which individual arenas were no longer divided by loading screens - it would become a single, seamless world. It worked but it always felt like a limitation put in place by the target hardware, which is why the arrival of Monster Hunter World represented a shift in design. You would do battle with Monsters in these areas but they could move around the larger map where you could follow them through short loading screens.
Up until the arrival of Monster Hunter World, each area was broken up into a series of smaller, numbered maps. The series began life on PlayStation 2, though it found the greatest success on PSP, before transitioning to Nintendo platforms such as Wii, Wii U and 3DS and always followed a 'segmented' world design. The compromises are clear, but the results are impressive.
It showcases what is possible with the engine on more limited hardware, combining elements the series was known for in previous handheld incarnations along with big feature improvements delivered by the excellent Monster Hunter World.
It's the first wide-open 3D experience built around Capcom's RE Engine for Nintendo Switch. Monster Hunter has finally arrived on Nintendo Switch with Monster Hunter Rise and some might say it's a landmark title for the series.
