First Hunter Legend

Lore & Background

These legends emphasize that hunting was not born from sport or greed, but necessity. The core feature of Monster Hunter is its compulsion loop. Unlike traditional computer role-playing games, a player's Hunter does not grow and has no intrinsic statistics or attributes whatsoever. Rather, the Hunter's abilities are instead defined by the specific weapons and armor selected. The player can equip weapons, armor, and items most beneficial towards completing a given mission, and if successful, the Hunter is awarded in both in-game money ("zenny") and loot representing parts from the monster. These parts, along with other resources collected while on missions and/or through mission rewards, can be used to forge or upgrade new weapons and armor which then can be used in against more powerful monsters and tackle more difficult missions, completing the compulsion loop.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through the jagged peaks long before stone towers were built. A lone figure stood atop a ridge, gripping a crude spear wrapped in leather, watching the shadow blot out the sun. There was no Guild to call for aid, no supply chest waiting at camp. Only the instinct to protect the village below and the quiet resolve of an ancestor who understood that some battles must be fought alone. The beast roared, shaking the earth, but the hunter did not flinch.

Reader's Guide

This lore is woven throughout the series via item descriptions, quest logs, and environmental storytelling rather than a single linear narrative. The games feature a variety of different weapon classes, ranging from swords, hammers, and bows, with the most recent titles (Generations, World, and Rise) having a total of fourteen classes. Each weapon class has a unique set of combat maneuvers and reflect a number of different play styles based on speed of attack, damage strength, range and the application of buffs and debuffs to monsters and allies. Monster Hunter games use an "animation priority" combat, committing the player to a move until the animation is completed and leaving them potentially vulnerable to a monster's attack. Further, players are encouraged to watch their Hunter's health and stamina. Losing all health will force a retreat to a base camp, and after three such retreats, the mission is deemed a failure. Performing certain combat actions consumes stamina, which recovers in a short amount of time; once exhausted of stamina, the Hunter becomes vulnerable as they pause to catch their breath. Monsters and other environmental hazards can also inflict blights and other negative status effects that impair combat abilities. Combat is centered around watching for a monster's tells prior to an attack to be able to dodge it and/or make a counterattack, and looking for openings to unleash strings of attack combos, depending on the Hunter's current weapon. Unlike most other action games, Monster Hunter fights have been compared to a series of boss fights.

Did You Know?

• The main Monster Hunter games take place in a common fantasy world set some thousands of years after the collapse of an advanced civilization.
• The player's Hunter does not grow and has no intrinsic statistics or attributes whatsoever; abilities are instead defined by the specific weapons and armor selected.
• Monster Hunter fights have been compared to a series of boss fights, unlike most other action games.
• The in-game currency is called "zenny".
• Losing all health will force a retreat to a base camp, and after three such retreats, the mission is deemed a failure.