EXAMINATION | Monster Hunter Rise: a PS5 port above the sun?
After an initial release on Nintendo Switch and a PC port after that, Monster Hunter Rise is coming to PlayStation and Xbox consoles to please more people. Smart decision on Capcom’s part, while waiting for a possible Monster Hunter World 2 or equivalent title, but is it enough for people who want a more ambitious and luxurious hunting game? If it’s not a remaster, Monster Hunter Rise still has some arguments in favor of Sony and Microsoft consoles.
The test was carried out on PS5 thanks to a code provided by the publisher
A port with impressive graphic options
Since we are talking about a port of Monster Hunter Rise and not a remaster or a remake, there is no need to focus again on the story or possible gameplay changes etc. In fact, it’s exactly the same adventure as on Nintendo Switch or PC so there are no surprises on the horizon. If you want to know more about the game in general, we refer you the Nintendo Switch version trial, suggested our dear Turpdat when it was released. Here’s a brief reminder of the context of this opus: unlike its elders, Monster Hunter Rise benefits from a framework more inspired by feudal Japan, while still having what makes Monster Hunter so attractive universe. This time, it’s about stopping a Calamity where monsters go crazy and start attacking Kamura’s village to burn it down. Fortunately, the Hunters are there, aided by their loyal Palicos and also by the Chumskys, cats and dogs who are as loyal to the farm as they are.
This is a table with something to shine more than the latest machines and after spending some time with the PS5 version, this is definitely the case. Although we clearly maintain a cross-gen aspect that is noticeable in some textures (especially in the traps, which remain low resolution no matter what, contradicting others) and more or less angular model (if you play a bald character, we wish you a good return to the past), the porting is both successful and in the heat of the action, Monster Hunter Rise always offers a spectacle worthy -must be in the name. In addition, to our great joy, Capcom did not skimp on the graphic options, which are more than usual on consoles.
Having a screen that cannot display 120 Hz, we prefer to leave everything at the maximum and even then, we benefit from a 4K resolution with 60 frames per second that offers an impeccably smooth and continuous rendering. Then, if you want, you can change some things to your liking: image quality, high resolution textures or not, ambient occlusion, quality of shadows, motion blur, depth of field… You can also apply different filters, including one in black and white reminiscent of old Japanese films, creating a striking period atmosphere.
Cheap in all its glory.
In addition, we take advantage of the well-crafted HDR settings, with the possibility to change the brightness, saturation and contrast to have a rendering that pleases you as it should be. Prefer a very colorful or more sober visual, it’s up to you to see but even on a mid-range television, it’s enough to catch your eye, especially in the village of Kamura with its cherry trees and beautiful buildings. As a result, Monster Hunter Rise is a more than successful port in terms of graphics and even though we see the origins of the Nintendo Switch a few times, Capcom’s software comes out on top.
Cutscenes are always a good show.
Slightly withdrawn senses
Now let’s move on to the sensations felt with the controller in the hand, the PlayStation 5 version of Monster Hunter Rise is able to pull out the game through the DualSense controller. But alas, on this side, Capcom has not done the minimum. As for the vibrations, they are very few and do not deserve the engine that we are used to better, even in other third-party games. The search is similar for adaptive triggers, only activated on certain attacks and offering only low resistance. It’s unfortunate because it can cause even more immersion in many shootings. Fortunately, the control options are also plentiful and there is the possibility to activate the motion detector to have more effective aim, which is always a good point..
On the audio side, of course, there are different output parameters and the presence of 3D audio, quite good but we rarely take advantage of Monster Hunter Rise because there is often background music that takes more than the top. That said, it’s nice to hear the different sounds that come from all the senses while exploring, like the meows of the Palico, the panting of the Chumsky, the birds on the horizon, the small animals at our feet, and more yet.
Riding a monster would be better with a more harnessed DualSense.
Finally, even if it does not go directly into the quality of the port, it should be noted that Monster Hunter Rise is offered at a recommended price of € 39.99 at release, which is a pleasure in these difficult times. However, the Sunbreak extension – where here the test – is not directly included and will only be released in a few months, a poorly understood option. In addition, fans of physical versions may be disappointed because, at the moment, Monster Hunter Rise only appears digitally on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
The traps seem barely retouched in this version.
Verdict: 8/10
If we’d prefer a remaster to a port, Monster Hunter Rise remains an enjoyable PS5 game. With many graphic options and several command settings, it will undoubtedly satisfy fans of the series who did not crack the Nintendo Switch and PC versions. While DualSense isn’t exploited as much as it should be, we can’t fault Capcom’s porting work. As for the lack of Sunbreak expansions and physical releases, whether on PlayStation or Xbox, that’s another debate.
