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It hasn\u2019t been too long ago when Monster Hunter Rise<\/strong> finally landed on the consoles and now we have Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak<\/strong> expansion. And not to anyone\u2019s surprise, it was a huge hit especially to those itching for the next Monster Hunter game in the series after console owners felt left out when it originally only came out on the Nintendo Switch that followed a PC release last year. With that said, the much-awaited expansion \u201cMonster Hunter Rise Sunbreak<\/strong>\u201d is finally here and with it, comes a slew of new content and future support that would follow in the coming months.<\/p>\n

While it still pains me to see that I will probably have to wait a bit longer for the next game to add what Monster Hunter World came up with in its 16 player lobbies, Monster Hunter Rise<\/strong> Sunbreak<\/strong> brings a lot to the table that would keep me entertained until then.<\/p>\n

The Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak<\/strong> expansion starts right after finishing the main game\u2019s core campaign. Here, you\u2019ll be greeted by a new character right at the bridge leading up to the village of Kamura. Once all the pleasantries are over, you\u2019ll be tasked to hunt what is arguably the only time you will ever feel powerful with your current end-game gear. Your target, the Daimyo Hermitaur is your welcoming committee to the world of Master Rank with new areas to explore, monsters to hunt and a new hub to do all your prep for the next thousands of hours of hunting and exploration.<\/p>\n

A brand new world\u2026 and a brand-new hub<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The difficulty of monsters ramps up considerably here so best be prepared to get some fresh new gear ready if you find yourself struggling to keep up. Similar to how the Iceborne expansion to Monster Hunter World brought a fresh change to the series with its clutch claw mechanic, Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak<\/strong> is no different and you\u2019ll find early on that you will get access to the biggest game changer to how you play the game.<\/p>\n

The Switch Skill Swap which is basically a secondary loadout of your Switch Skills that drastically changes the flow of the game. Unlike the clutch claw from Iceborne, it doesn\u2019t just add a new feature to your hunting rotation but it basically gives you access to a secondary playstyle within a flick of a button. The first few times I got access to it and despite having 3000 hours spent on MHW playing every weapon type and an extra 300 hours on the Nintendo Switch version of Rise, it literally made me forget how to play the game or how to use the mechanic efficiently.<\/p>\n

But once you get a good grasp on how you can utilize it, the game becomes that much smoother in its execution especially when certain actions are more effective than others against certain types of monsters. So being able to change what your inputs do on the fly, does wonders in providing just that.<\/p>\n

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New silkbind attacks has also been added which further emphasizes the need for a Switch Skill Swap feature should you need to use those in favor of others but really, the one thing that made me jump for joy here is the addition of NPC companions called followers <\/strong>when you\u2019re playing alone.<\/p>\n

While hunting with my palico and palamute is nice, being able to just have human-like companions around that occasionally drops some tiny banters here and there just completes it for me. It also just adds a level of detail knowing you can deepen your bond with characters in the game as you do their follower quests and bring them along on your own hunts later.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also quite nice to see the change in themes from the base game\u2019s Japanese-inspired theme to the more gallant knights and medieval theme its going for with the main characters in the game\u2019s expansion. Meanwhile the game\u2019s new hub area brings in a more compact and easy-to-access layout compared to the base game\u2019s Kamura Village where everything takes a while to get to and the more open area of the outpost is definitely a lot livelier while also providing better ways to lounge around with friends without being cramped in the roofs of Kamura\u2019s own hub.<\/p>\n

What is a bit disappointing though is its lack of more areas to explore. The two added areas, the Jungle and Citadel, itself provides large areas to hunt and explore and really fits the bill for the theme they\u2019re going for but having a third one could\u2019ve definitely sealed the deal for me here especially since one of two areas is just a returning area from the franchise than a completely new one that has yet to be seen elsewhere.<\/p>\n

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And as a Monster Hunter game, the main beef of the title is all about hunting monsters but sadly, it only brings a handful of new monsters to the carving table. Although, variants of previously hunted monsters are a plenty. From the Blood Orange Bishaten you\u2019ll face reach to Master Rank 2 to the wretched Almudron that is now harnessing the power of magma. It is worth noting that while it doesn\u2019t have a lot right now, each and every title update brings in more possible monsters and variants that we\u2019ll be able to hunt or get carted on later.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, hunters around the world that owns the Playstation or Xbox version wouldn\u2019t have to start from base Sunbreak as the game launches with up to Title Update 3 right from the get go while other updates will come at a later date.<\/p>\n

Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak Gameplay<\/h2>\n