It may seem hard to believe, butPokemon GOcame out all the way back in July 2016, almost seven years ago now.Pokemon GO, much like the very first entries in the franchise, is one of the few times a game can be truly considered a phenomenon. For a few months, most of the world was collectively leaving their homes, pulling up their mobile phones, catching some Pokemon, and battling for dominance in their local Gyms. But whilePokemon GOhas managed to have a much longer shelf lifethan many thought possible, it still isn’t perfect, and a lot of that boils down to its combat system, a system that needs to be much improved for Niantic’s upcomingMonster Hunter Now.
Releasing in September of this year,Monster Hunter Nowis the latest in a long line of Niantic mobile projects. Much likePokemon GOandPikmin Bloombefore it,Monster Hunter Nowis designed to deliver a condensedMonster Hunterexperience that encourages players to leave their houses and explore their surroundings, all under the guise of slaying some monsters. But whilePokemon GOcould rely on its collect-a-thon gameplay andPikmin Bloomwas all about exploration,Monster Hunter Now’s reputation revolves around its combat gameplay, so it needs to be good.
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Monster Hunter Now Needs Better Combat Than Pokemon GO
Over the last seven years,Pokemon GO’s gameplayhas received multiple updates, but even then, the game’s core combat mechanics have remained largely unchanged. When engaged in a Pokemon battle, players are limited to essentially just one button press, with tapping the screen being the only way to attack. Players can do certain finger swipes once they’ve charged an attack, and they can technically dodge by swiping left or right, though this doesn’t always work too well in practice.Pokemon GO’s battling system is extremely simple, and it’s easily one of the weakest parts of the game.Pokemon GO’s catching and collecting mechanics help to paper over the game’s combat issues, but that’s not somethingMonster Hunter Nowcan really rely on.
The entireMonster Hunterexperience, at its core, boils down to combat. While players are encouraged to plan carefully before each hunt, prepare, and scavenge for supplies, it’s all in service to the game’s primary form of gameplay, the combat. And ifMonster Hunter Nowwants to truly capture the essence of the franchise and distill it down into an addictive bite-sized, on-the-go adventure, then it’ll need to have combat systems that are at least similar to the rest of the series, and much better than those inPokemon GO.
According to Niantic,Monster Hunter Nowplans on condensing the series' infamously long battles into a streamlined 75-second experience. While this might sound like an alarm bell forMonster Hunterfans, it makes a lot of sense in this new mobile context, and it sounds like the devs might be able to pull it off. Apparently, when in combat, players will turn their phones sideways, giving them a better view of the monster and their surroundings and giving them more room on the screen to play with. Players will attack the monster by swiping on the screen, with the direction of each swipe actually playing a role in how the monster is affected by the attack. Players will also be able to dodge out of the way of counterattacks and block some oncoming hits.
On top of all that,Monster Hunter Nowwill also allow multiple friends to team up together to defeat one monster. According to the devs,Monster Hunter Nowwill encourage players to work together as a team, with coordinated attacks giving the team a bonus, and letting them defeat the monster at a faster rate. Winning the fight will reward players with currency and materials that they can then use to unlock brand-new weapons and upgrade their gear. All in all, it sounds likeMonster Hunter Nowis doing a lot to try and capture the heart ofMonster Hunter’s core gameplay loop, hopefully coming out on top when compared toPokemon GO’s combat.
Monster Hunter Nowreleases on mobile devices in September 2023.
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