The Zones
Both Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise feature very impressive zones. World was the first game in the series to really step things up a notch, though, as the levels were huge and sprawling, with so much to see and do in every corner.
The map would be absolutely littered with things to collect, and the way the monsters moved around just felt so natural and made the level feel like a living, breathing habitat for these majestic creatures. The ecosystem of World was so mind-blowingly impressive that it’s hard to imagine anything topping that.
On the flip side, Monster Hunter Rise goes for a completely different vibe. Built for the Nintendo Switch, it’s inevitable that Rise’s zones would be a lot smaller and less detailed than the ones in World. There’s still quite a bit of verticality as you can get up to some high points with the wirebug, but the levels certainly don’t hold a candle to the ones in World.
One thing I will say, however, is that Rise’s compact levels, coupled with how fast you can get around with your Palamute and wirebugs, makes it a lot more fun to move around and complete your hunts quickly.
It feels like there’s no wasted time or movement in Rise, which is a feeling I often got in World. You’d take a bad tumble somewhere and fall all the way to the bottom of the level, then have to slowly make the trek back up to your prey. That can be infuriating after a few hours.
Winner: Monster Hunter World. While I personally prefer the compact nature of Rise’s zones, there’s just no denying that World’s levels are just in another league completely with how immersive and alive they feel.
