As a dedicated Monster Hunter fan with over 2000 hours logged in Monster Hunter: World and Rise, I was both excited and skeptical when I heard about Monster Hunter World: The Board Game. Having become deeply immersed in the video game’s intricate mechanics and richly detailed universe, I wasn’t sure how well that experience could be translated into a tabletop format.
With over 1,900 hours invested in Monster Hunter: World and its successor, I consider myself well-versed in these titles despite not being an expert on the larger franchise. Confidently, I believed my extensive gameplay experience would help me navigate Monster Hunter World: The Board Game. While my familiarity with the mechanics provided a foundation, I underestimated the intricacy and depth that Steamforged Games had incorporated into this board game adaptation.
It’s important to note right away that most of what makes this game so good is that complexity. Steamforged Games have managed to incorporate almost every mechanic from the video game to some degree or another, from using the Scoutflies to carving and crafting. It’s much more limited in terms of weapon classes and monster variety of course, with only four hunter types and five monsters (with two using the same miniature), but there’s also a ton of replayability and the option to grind multiple hunts for materials just like the video game. The real witchcraft here is that it feels almost as thrilling.
As a gamer, I’d describe it this way: In this game, we embark on an adventure that lasts for 25 days in the virtual world. Every day brings new challenges, divided into three distinct phases. First comes the Gathering phase, where we prepare for what’s to come. We arrange our miniature on the board, manage our stamina, and decide which cards representing our starting gear, attacks, and damage, we’ll use. The quest book, filled with Choose-Your-Own Adventure style scenarios, offers us opportunities to track monsters and collect resources. Higher level quests present tougher challenges but reward us generously. If I prefer a more straightforward fight, the quest book also includes one-shot Arena Quests where I can just battle the monster without any distractions.
In this game, you need to monitor your income and acquisitions, such as crafting materials and potions, which your whole party is allowed to carry a maximum of three each. The three-failure rule from the original series also applies, making it potentially more advantageous to play alone, even though it’s less enjoyable. However, if you choose to play with just one or two Hunters, the game lets you bring along a Palico companion that can significantly aid your team for a brief period.
During a hunt, each quest has a time limit. You mark the elapsed time using Time Cards, which are discarded at specific moments during the Gathering phase and following every player’s turn. If you exhaust your Time Cards, the hunt fails. Additionally, you keep track of the monster by accumulating Track Tokens. These tokens will be employed to discover the monster’s unique special attack when you confront it. Generally, the longer the tracking process takes, the less potent the monster’s special attack becomes.
After concluding the Gathering phase or Adventure, it’s time for a showdown. Place your Hunters and the monster on the game board. The monster initiates attacks using a Behaviour Card selected at random from a deck of 11. These cards dictate each Hunter’s actions in their turn, including how many can act and how many attack cards they can play. Attack cards determine the damage inflicted upon the monster. However, to use these cards, place them on the stamina board. Once you run out of attack cards, wait for the resolution of a Time Card or another attack card before making your next move.
An alternative option is to consume a potion to cleanse your slate and restore your health, or hone your weapon that returns all your damage cards. The quantity of these drawn depends on the attack cards you’ve previously played. In reality, it may seem more intricate, but during combat it becomes thrilling, engaging, and swift-moving. It necessitates prudent management of resources and the occasional daring gamble to vanquish your objective. The board artistry effectively immerses you in the environment, while the meticulously crafted miniatures bring them to life. Notably, the Wildspire Wastes expansion introduces several monsters exclusive to the Wastes, as well as four additional Hunters that can be employed in the Ancient Forest scenario.
If you use up three turns or run out of dice, the game ends, but if you successfully vanquish the monster, you’ll earn valuable rewards by carving it. This process involves rolling the dice and receiving additional bonuses for damaging specific monster body parts during combat. As you progress to the HQ phase, you can utilize the resources you’ve accumulated to create more advanced equipment, symbolized by distinct cards. Your ultimate objective is to challenge a Tempered Azure Rathalos, which necessitates numerous upgrades and extensive preparation – an experience that faithfully embodies the spirit of this renowned video game franchise.
Steamforged Games has nailed the Monster Hunter World: The Board Game adaptation with impressive results, despite some inconsistency in their board game versions (like the Dark Souls RPG). Monster Hunter World: The Board Game delivers an engaging and thrilling experience, albeit with a learning curve. However, this intricacy is likely to fade as players progress. The game’s artwork, miniatures, and mechanics blend seamlessly to generate an authentic atmosphere, capturing the spirit of the video game through dynamic encounters and high replayability value.
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2024-07-21 20:16