Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Huge fantasy adventure is deeper, has more hunting content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
What's It About?
MONSTER HUNTER GENERATIONS ULTIMATE is the follow-up to 2016's Monster Hunter Generations, and is available exclusively on Nintendo Switch. The core gameplay remains the same from what was included on the 3DS, which lets you and/or some friends team up to fight large and powerful creatures, including dragons, dinosaurs, and other monsters. Tactics, smart weapon use, and combos are required to take these beasts down without inflicting too much damage on yourself. In this new adventure, gamers can play solo or via local wireless support or online multiplayer, with up to three other hunters. You'll interact with townsfolk, add characters to your party, and defend each of the game's four villages from a major threat known as the Fated Four -- along with an even more dangerous (and all-new) Elder Dragon. Along with new areas to explore and monsters to fight, there's a new quest level called "G" rank with even tougher foes. At least there are new super moves called Hunter Arts, a half-dozen different Hunting Styles (including two new ones), more customization options, and more to give you a fighting chance.
Is It Any Good?
While some series vets may complain that this version is more accessible for new players, the addition of new features and harder modes makes this adventure one that shouldn't be missed. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate may seem similar to 2016's Monster Hunter Generations for the Nintendo 3DS at first glance. It even lets you transfer your data from one platform to another, but it has a ton of extra content. It has the largest roster of monsters ever in a Monster Hunter game to date -- including all-new monsters, Deviant variants, and for the first time, the Elder Dragon Valstrax, which will take a while to beat. You can also unleash super moves to help you in a fight ("Hunter Arts"), along with deeper crafting, new potions, and two bonus combat styles. One of these lets you complete a chain of attacks to build up evasive maneuvers and weapon combos, while another lets you use items to enhance the strength and abilities of yourself or your allies.
Visually speaking, it looks OK on a Nintendo Switch screen -- and seeing these huge beasts compared to your small character gives you a great sense of scale -- but the graphics don't look so great when played on a big screen. Again, this seems to be more of a "remix" of a previous game, so don't expect anything too fancy here. Other small issues include frequent (but short) load screens and no English voice tracks for all the text you need to read. But the depth and breadth of this game can't be ignored. There are literally hundreds of quests to tackle alone or with others across different regions. The battle system is rewarding, and the leveling up is well-paced and gratifying. Especially for those who passed on the last version, fans of the franchise will get a lot from this new Monster Hunter adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate affected by the fact that you're fighting monstrous characters instead of humans? Would it be intensified if you were fighting against other human characters?
Can you take the lessons about teamwork that you need to use to be successful in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate and apply them to other games or to real life? How is teamwork necessary to defeat obstacles that are clearly too large for one person to overcome?
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo Switch
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Capcom
- Release date : August 28, 2018
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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