The aesthetic is obviously from Monster Hunter, yet it is altered enough to make it an independent and fantastic game.
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 8/10
Replayability: 9/10
Learning Curve: The hacking and slashing is simple and the tutorial has it all covered within the first hour of play, understanding the items and bullets may take a little longer if you haven't first played a Monster Hunter title.
Pros:
- Much faster paced than it's aesthetic sibling, which admittedly is a breath of fresh air if you aren't one for meticulous planning and want an instant slice of the action
- The storyline is well voiced with familiar voices such as Kyle Herbert (Funimation Adult Gohan from Dragonball Z/Kai) and Yuri Lowenthal (Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto)
- Customization is well formed and rewarding, once again like it's sister game but the materials required are much easier to obtain
- Quicker progression through the game and definitely quite easy to play if you weren't a fan of the MH series
- Multiplayer is pretty good, four people or less with this game slashing a few Aragami to death; sounds like a plan
- Versatile weapon choices and perks for your setup (Control Units and Upgrade Packs) to ensure that not every person playing is simple slashing or shooting; medics, snipers, scouts, defenders and the like are also needed to heal and boost your COM/player team mates, precisely destroy the right part of the Aragami, seek out items and display the boss's health bar and attract the attention of the boss at hand whilst defending against it's attacks, letting the COM/players attack it or heal.
- The ability to create (you heard me right) CREATE your own bullets for dozens and dozens of parts and elements. Intensely in-depth and requiring the most intricate of details and technical prowess to ensure you create something really unique, but this feature is so expansive and out of the blue that it is almost a selling point by itself.
Cons:
- Not as much attention to graphics and smaller scale maps in comparison to Monster Hunter, and definitely much shorter
- Very easy and seldom offers an actual challenge, which is good if you are casual and want some simple satisfaction I guess
- Not a massively diverse pool of Aragami (monsters)
The Verdict:
I wouldn't put this as good as Monster Hunter on the token of difficulty, satisfaction and time spent to complete, but it certainly is enthralling and could possibly serve as a decent stepping stone for lesser skilled players to one day aspiring to stepping up a notch to Monster Hunter, although these things aside - I would much prefer to play this. This game has innovation in the form of allowing you to absorb the enemie's powers and either utilize them yourself or hand them over to a team mate, and being able to jump and use air combos makes life a whole lot easier. So my verdict? A solid contender and with a few alterations and additions, could easily take the cake and rule the portable market; well, with the exception of Pokemon :L