Monster Hunter World: Iceborne – Review

Written by: Marius Speider Sørum

Name: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Reviewed on: Xbox One X
Release Date: 06.09.2019
Acquired: A copy of this game was provided from a publisher for review purpose

Suddenly, the monsters in the area are starting to act mysteriously. Their more intense behavior must have a cause, and that cause must be tracked. Yep, this is Monster Hunter World, alright.

Getting back into a game as complex and layered as Monster Hunter World after spending quite some time playing other games, was a daunting experience. The game is famously difficult to navigate without taking your time and learning every new bit of information that pops up, and that’s a lot. Returning after being away for a long time, I had to re-learn concepts like food vouchers before hunting, what bugs to use in certain situations, how to track animals, how to learn their weaknesses, jewelry slots, and more. Luckily, the tutorial system and pop-up hints in Monster Hunter have finally been expanded, helping both totally new players, and those who, like myself, are diving back into this deep game after months away.

Immediately when you log in, you’ll get a new tool that’ll help ANY Monster Hunter, namely the Clutch Claw! With it, you can, independent of your weapon, grapple onto any monster and start chopping away. Like anything in Monster Hunter, it’s a tool with a lot of depth. Any person can grapple onto a monster and hit it a little, but depending on where you grapple, your hacking will soften up that particular spot so it can be cut more easily by the people on the ground. For well-oiled teams, it’s a great and more effective way to cut off those precious monster tails before finishing the actual monster. Good players can also grapple onto a monster’s head, and by deliberately striking the right places, try to make it crash into walls and stalactites.

You’ll also get access to some new tools in the training yard, and all-new weapon combo moves. But that’s all you get. Iceborne, just like Monster Hunter World itself, is not about to anything for free except the most basic of tools. Not only that, but in order to start the main story of Iceborne, you first have to complete all story missions in MHW, which includes every single high-rank assignment, and THEN you get to depart for the new hub.

If you’re new to Monster Hunter, this DLC just isn’t for you. Iceborne is a giant new area built for veteran monster hunters, but if you are one of those, then the most beautiful, exciting, and challenging monster hunts are here to test every facet of your skill. It’s as exhaustive as it is impressive, with both new variants of old monsters (that can feel a bit grindy), and wholly new ones. Weirdly, one of these video game’s greatest strengths is its ability to display the majesty and power of nature. Combats often las for up to half an hour, and for anyone who guessed that this DLC would be a quickie to finish, they were wrong.

What’s included?

• 1 new hub
• 1 large new area to explore
• New variants of monsters from Monster Hunter World
• Completely new monsters
• A new/continuing storyline beyond high rank – master rank
• New moves for all weapons
• A new tool, the Clutch Claw
• Tons of new weapons and armor

The Good

It’s more Monster Hunter, more challenges, more stories, more monsters… basically more of everything! This expansions is an absolutely fantastic one and feels like a very natural progression of the game you already have.

It’s polished and beautiful, and the expanded tips help old players come back into their groove. Like the main game, it’s tough, but oh-so-very rewarding when you finally down the thing you set out to hunt.

The Bad

The great part of Iceborne is also frustrating, namely that it is high-level content that continues on from after the main mission in Monster Hunter. If you want to travel to the cold wastes and trudge through the snow with your friends, it’s not as simple as buying the DLC, you also have to have beaten the main game. Not that the main game is bad by any stretch of the imagination, but for those who want a quick boost into Iceborne, there simply is none.

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