Monster Hunter Now Carnival: Shibuya Set the Tone for Upcoming Global Event

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Monster Hunter Now Carnival: Shibuya Set the Tone for Upcoming Global Event

As someone who had the privilege of attending the Shibuya Monster Hunter event earlier this year, I can confidently say that the upcoming Global Carnival is going to be a beast of its own! While the localized event was an unforgettable experience, complete with Shibuya-specific references and landmarks, the global event is shaping up to be a monster hunt for the ages.

From November 2nd through November 3rd, participants of Monster Hunter Now can join the game’s inaugural global event. After a year of dedicated work by Capcom and Niantic since the AR game’s release in September 2023, they have prepared the Monster Hunter Now Carnival. During this event, players will be tracking down Gold Rathian, Silver Rathalos, and Nergigantes, completing unique quests, and unveiling exclusive weapons and armor.

Initially scheduled for November 2-3 as its global release date, the Monster Hunter Now Carnival actually kicked off earlier – on October 12-13 – in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. This location holds a special significance for Monster Hunter Now, having been featured in its artwork, making it an ideal spot to introduce this event firsthand. Game Rant recently visited Shibuya to experience the carnival, and we can confirm that Niantic and Capcom are pulling out all the stops with this exciting event.

The Monster Hunter Now Carnival Experience

Hey there, fellow gaming enthusiast! If you’re yet to dive into the thrilling world of Monster Hunter Now, even after a year since its release, fear not! This Carnival is an excellent opportunity to join the hunt. Newcomers might worry about the event’s accessibility, but fret not, the bar for entry is exceptionally low. All you need is to reach HR11 (the game’s leveling system), which takes around an hour or two to achieve, depending on your play style and location. For those veterans who are already HR100 or beyond, there’s a wealth of challenges waiting for you! So, let’s gear up, track our prey, and embark on this exhilarating adventure together!

To make the most out of this exciting gaming event, I’d advise fellow players to upgrade their weapons and armor to the maximum, keeping a good amount of inventory space for extra supplies like healing items. It’s always smart to have some stockpiled just in case! As the carnival began, we made it a priority to equip ourselves with the special event-specific gear, which can be enhanced using special tickets. We also found ourselves focusing on Gold Rathians and Silver Rathalos, but as the day progressed, we gravitated more towards Silver Rathalos due to its cooler appearance and better stats. They were abundant, making it easier to hunt them with a lot of players around. In my hometown alone, several players were online at once. When the event started at 9 am local time, there were around 400 active players ready for hunts, and the peak number throughout the day reached an impressive 1600!

At the time of the Carnival, our two unique missions in Monster Hunter Now were Expedition and Slaying. The Expedition special quest involved gathering approximately 11 “Mystery Monster Traces” at designated locations (such as Mining Outcrops, Bonepiles, and Vegetation), which was quite straightforward. This is where things got interesting – we found ourselves exploring Shibuya, unsure if the on-screen traces or our own curiosity were driving us down one alleyway after another, onto the main street, or even to Starbucks. It was a distinctively augmented reality game experience, and it was so seamlessly executed that for a moment, we truly believed the game was directing us.

As a dedicated fan, I found myself with roughly three hours to explore and gather Traces in Monster Hunter Now before tackling the Expedition quest to hunt Nergigante later. In the meantime, I was also working on the Slaying quest, which as its name suggests, required me to take down various large monsters, event monsters, and more, keeping me thoroughly engaged during this special event.

Later, we inquired about how designing Nergigante differed from Kushala Daora and Teostra to Capcom producer Genki Sunano, who shared that while Nergigente isn’t larger than them, it complements the other aggressive monsters introduced recently. In our own playthrough, this certainly rang true. Those seeking a challenge will find an 8-star Nergigante as challenging as expected. As the event came to its conclusion, we were left feeling a tinge of sadness, but we had created numerous new memories and acquired valuable gear. Walking through Shibuya, battling tirelessly, searching for every hunt, and Elder Dragon Interception proved worthwhile due to this experience.

How the Shibuya Event Differed From the Upcoming Global Carnival

It’s worth noting, of course, that the Shibuya-specific event and the Global Carnival have some differences. We obviously weren’t in our hometown, and the event text specifically referenced Shibuya. It even suggested we take a break at Meiji Park at one point, so it’s likely the worldwide event will have this text generalized. Furthermore, Shibuya was all-in on supporting the Carnival. We visited Shibuya Parco (which hosts the Capcom Store, as well as a Nintendo Store and Pokemon Center) the day before, and those locations were obviously busy. That was nothing compared to the day of the event, where the halls were incredibly crowded and it seemed everyone was playing.

As I wandered through the gaming ward, my eyes were drawn to an amazing Monster Hunter extravaganza! Base camps teeming with signage and colossal weapons like hammers, a towering Zinogre display, an Rathalos footprint exhibit, a Rathian showcase, and sprawling photo zones. It was an unforgettable event, and the local community’s enthusiasm took it to new heights. Nothing could compare to this experience in my home gaming setup, but even without those added location details, the in-game event itself was more than enough excitement. Gamers who attend events like this within their own communities are in for a real treat, and with a hunting party, they’ll have no trouble racking up impressive scores – if not hundreds – of Rathalos and Rathians! And to top it off, there were even a few Nergigantes to conquer!

What to Know Ahead of Monster Hunter Now Carnival: Global 2024

If we were to compare the Carnival to a character from the franchise, it would be a top-tier one, boasting an impressive 8-Star quality. Everything about it was exceptional, and despite potential adjustments by Niantic and Capcom for its global release, players can anticipate a wealth of enjoyment with their hunting party, an abundance of engaging in-game content, and groundbreaking event designs that will pave the way for future Monster Hunter Now Carnivals (or similar events). For those eagerly awaiting this global event, here are some key points to bear in mind:

  • Date and Time: Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3 – Beginning at 9 am local time.
  • Ticket Cost: $14.99
    • Grants access to the event and 300 bonus Gems
    • The event features exclusive special quests, weapons, and armor.
  • Exclusive, limited-time items in the shop
  • Large Monsters will reappear on the field after 30 minutes.
  • Access range in the field is increased by 50%
    • This cannot be combined with a Wander Droplet or Wander Orb.
  • No waiting time for Elder Dragon Interceptions and Hunt-a-thons
  • Full details are available at the Monster Hunter Now Carnival event website.

When Monster Hunter Now Carnival launches globally, make sure to prioritize enjoying yourself by hunting monsters, spending quality time with your friends, and immersing yourself in the vibrant community it offers.

Title Refrased: Global Monster Hunter Now Festival: A Two-Day Event Happens on November 2nd and 3rd. For this article, Game Rant was given travel and accommodation expenses.

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2024-10-18 19:07