Monster Hunter Generations
Common Sense says
- Nintendo 3DS
- $39.99
- 2016
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Monster Hunter Generations is an adventure game for the 3DS. As with previous Monster Hunter games, the goal is to explore huge maps, take down giant creatures with other players, grow in abilities, and unravel more of the epic story. There's a fair bit of fantasy violence against these giant creatures. Players must use swords, lances, guns, and bombs to destroy all the threats that get in their way. Some blood can be seen when defeating enemies. Some female players can be equipped with outfits that reveal cleavage and buttocks. Players can also throw "dung bombs," which implies fecal matter, that emit a strong odor. While the game will offer free downloadable content packs until the end of 2016, the content will feature themed characters from Nintendo and Capcom games, which could prompt interest in those other franchises.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Interactive, engaging, and family friendly! Great game!
Great game, but a little violent...
Excellent game, no mature themes at all.
Um.... not quite sure what to make of this game...
What's it about?
MONSTER HUNTER GENERATIONS fuses action with role-playing game (RPG) mechanics and has you band together with other characters to take down fantastic beasts using a variety of weapons and tactics. New to the game are Hunting Styles and Hunter Arts, which deliver a unique and customizable play style. At the start of the game, you'll join the Wycademy, a group that specializes in studying monsters, and work your way up to becoming a powerful hunter tasked with defending each of the game's four villages threatened by a new malevolent force known collectively as the Fated Four. The game has hundreds of quests in the solo adventure, cooperative (co-op) quests via local or online multiplayer (with up to three other hunters), and a ton of weapons and equipment.
Is it any good?
Almost as good as last year's game (which was really good), this adventure succeeds at delivering what made the franchise so popular to begin with. It features a ton of exploration, intense battles, and compelling RPG upgrades and quests, but the developers have also added a lot more content to keep things fresh. Some of this content gets repetitive, mind you, but overall Monster Hunter Generations is an A-grade game for the Nintendo 3DS. Come for the exploration, stay for the monsters. The combat system hasn't been changed much over the years, and that's just fine. There are a few new attack moves and combos, but the battles against these mostly giant monster are inherently rewarding. There isn't a lot of help this time around, so players will have to take their time, upgrade weapons and armor (by looting from the dead or buying from the store), combine items wherever possible, and play with people to learn from their strategies. Speaking of multiplayer, keep in mind that the main game is a single-player offline experience only, but there's a multiplayer hub to join a few others locally or online.
As with the games that came before, players will enjoy the richly detailed worlds, with impressive graphics (especially for a Nintendo 3DS title), an excellent soundtrack, and a ton of story-based quests. Some might be difficult to follow and others may feel repetitive, but it's easy to fall for this game's wonderfully crafted atmosphere, multiple locations, and characters. It's not all about hacking and slashing, then moving on to do it again a few minutes later. As previously mentioned, there are some new features this year, including Hunter Arts and Hunting Styles, both of which help to customize the experience. Fighting enemies builds up the few Hunter Arts meters, which give cool combos when the meter is filled, such as a stamina boost or special attack combo. The new Hunting Styles feature includes Guild Style, Aerial Style (attack from above), Striker Style, and Adept Style (which helps with nimble strikes and new counterattacks). Plus, feline companions called Prowlers have been in these games for years, but now they're playable. Monster Hunter Generations is a blast. Despite some repetitive monsters and quests and a steep learning curve -- especially for beginners -- this game is one of the year's best for the Nintendo 3DS platform.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about violence in games such as Monster Hunter Generations. Would this game be just as much fun without the combat and light gore? Does the violence matter because you're fighting fantasy creatures instead of realistic beasts or people?
Talk about teamwork. What are the benefits to working with others? Are there specific moments when you'd do better going alone?
Game details
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
- Price: $39.99
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online? Available online
- Developer: Capcom
- Release date: July 14, 2016
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Dinosaurs, Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Bugs, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Wild Animals
- ESRB rating: T for Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Last updated: May 8, 2021
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.