“Monster Hunter: World” (MHW), developed and published by Capcom, stands as a pinnacle in the action RPG genre, renowned for its deep gameplay mechanics, expansive world, and challenging monsters. At the heart of MHW’s gameplay are its quests, which drive the narrative, progression, and challenges players face throughout their journey in the New World. This review explores the intricacies of MHW’s quest system, covering everything from main story quests to optional investigations and event quests.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Quests in Monster Hunter: World
Quests in MHW serve as the primary method for players to advance through the game, acquire resources, improve their gear, and ultimately confront its most formidable adversaries. Structured across various types and difficulties, quests range from simple gathering missions to epic battles against massive creatures known as Elder Dragons.
Types of Quests
- Main Story Quests: These quests propel the game’s narrative forward, introducing players to key characters, environments, and monsters. Completing main story quests unlocks new areas and features crucial to progression.
- Optional Quests: Optional quests provide additional challenges and rewards. They often focus on specific monster hunts, resource gathering, or other unique objectives. Completing optional quests contributes to unlocking new tools, mantles, and upgrades.
- Investigations: These are repeatable quests that involve hunting or capturing specific monsters within a limited number of attempts. Investigations offer increased rewards, such as rare monster materials and decorations, making them essential for resource farming and character progression.
- Event Quests: Limited-time quests tied to seasonal events, collaborations, or game updates. Event quests offer exclusive rewards, special gear, and sometimes crossover content from other franchises, adding variety and excitement to the gameplay experience.
- Special Assignments: Unique quests that often unlock after reaching specific milestones in the main storyline or achieving certain Hunter Ranks (HR). Special assignments typically feature challenging encounters or story-driven scenarios.
Main Story Quests
Narrative Progression and Key Milestones
The main story quests in MHW guide players through the Research Commission’s investigation of the New World and its mysterious ecosystem. Each quest unfolds a piece of the overarching narrative, revealing the truth behind the Elder Dragons’ migration and the Commission’s efforts to understand and control their impact.
- Introduction to Astera: Players start their journey in Astera, the Research Commission’s base of operations. Initial quests introduce gameplay mechanics, NPC interactions, and the significance of gathering resources and materials.
- Discovering the New World: Quests early in the storyline focus on exploration and familiarizing players with the diverse habitats of the Ancient Forest, Wildspire Waste, Coral Highlands, Rotten Vale, and later, the Elder’s Recess.
- Elder Dragon Investigations: As the narrative progresses, players face increasingly powerful Elder Dragons like Zorah Magdaros and Nergigante. These quests are pivotal to understanding the New World’s ecosystem and the role of Elder Dragons within it.
Optional Quests
Diverse Challenges and Rewards
Optional quests in MHW provide a breadth of gameplay experiences beyond the main storyline. They cater to various playstyles and objectives, offering rewards that range from basic crafting materials to rare decorations and armor spheres.
- Monster Hunts: Many optional quests center around hunting or capturing specific monsters. These quests allow players to hone their combat skills, earn monster materials for crafting, and achieve personal milestones in their Hunter’s Log.
- Resource Gathering: Some optional quests focus on gathering specific resources or completing environmental research. These quests are essential for unlocking botanical research upgrades, canteen ingredients, and other useful amenities in Astera.
- Specialized Tools and Upgrades: Completing certain optional quests unlocks specialized tools, mantles, and Palico gadgets that enhance hunting capabilities. These tools range from the Glider Mantle for aerial mobility to the Vitality Mantle for increased survivability in combat.
Investigations
Resource Farming and Monster Research
Investigations in MHW offer a dynamic gameplay loop focused on targeted monster hunts and resource gathering expeditions. They differ from standard quests by imposing specific success conditions, time limits, or restrictions on the number of attempts available to players.
- Reward System: Investigations reward players with bonus zenny, rare monster materials, and decorations based on quest difficulty and completion criteria. Players can choose investigations that align with their current objectives, such as farming specific monster parts or earning experience points (HR) to increase their Hunter Rank.
- Tempered Monsters: High-level investigations introduce tempered monsters, which are more resilient and deal increased damage compared to their standard counterparts. Hunting tempered monsters is essential for acquiring rare decorations and augmenting endgame equipment.
Event Quests
Limited-Time Challenges and Exclusive Rewards
Event quests in MHW are time-limited challenges that celebrate seasonal events, collaborations with other game franchises, and major content updates. They introduce unique gameplay mechanics, crossover content, and exclusive rewards that are unavailable through standard quests.
- Seasonal Events: Seasonal events introduce themed decorations, armor sets, and weapon skins. They often feature limited-time event rewards, such as festival tickets and fireworks, which players can exchange for rare items at the Celestial Pursuit.
- Collaborations: Event quests collaborate with popular franchises, such as “The Witcher,” “Final Fantasy XIV,” and “Street Fighter.” These quests feature special guest characters, themed gear sets, and unique crossover gameplay elements that expand upon the base MHW experience.
Special Assignments
High-Stakes Challenges and Story Extensions
Special assignments in MHW offer high-stakes challenges and story extensions that complement the main storyline. They typically unlock after players achieve specific Hunter Ranks (HR) or milestones in the main narrative, introducing new monster encounters and narrative revelations.
- Arch-Tempered Monsters: Special assignments feature arch-tempered monsters, which are highly aggressive and deal augmented damage compared to their standard and tempered counterparts. Hunting arch-tempered monsters rewards players with augmented gear sets and unique cosmetic items.
- Elder Dragon Investigations: Some special assignments revolve around Elder Dragon migrations, ecosystem disruptions, and the Commission’s efforts to mitigate catastrophic events. These quests deepen the lore of the New World and provide context for endgame challenges.
Quest Mechanics and Gameplay Strategies
Tips for Success
Mastering quest mechanics and gameplay strategies is crucial for success in MHW’s diverse quest ecosystem. Players can optimize their questing experience by adopting the following strategies:
- Preparation: Prioritize gathering resources, crafting consumables, and upgrading equipment before embarking on challenging quests. Visit the Workshop in Astera to forge new armor sets, weapons, and charms that align with specific hunting objectives.
- Research and Observation: Study monster behavior, environmental hazards, and terrain layouts to exploit weaknesses and anticipate attack patterns. Use the Scoutflies to track monster footprints, mucus trails, and odor clues that lead to their current location.
- Team Coordination: Coordinate with fellow hunters in multiplayer quests, investigations, and special assignments. Communicate objectives, share resources, and collaborate on tactical strategies to increase mission success rates and earn bonus rewards.
- Adaptability: Adapt to changing combat scenarios by experimenting with different weapon types, elemental attributes, and defensive tactics. Customize Palico gadgets, armor skills, and hunting equipment to optimize performance and resilience during prolonged engagements.
Quest Difficulty and Progression
Scaling Challenges
Quest difficulty in MHW scales dynamically based on player progression, monster rank, and environmental conditions. Players can enhance their questing experience by understanding the following difficulty mechanics:
- Monster Rank (MR): Monster rank determines the overall challenge level of quests, investigations, and special assignments. Higher-ranked monsters possess enhanced mobility, attack patterns, and elemental resistances that require adaptive combat strategies.
- Environmental Hazards: Be mindful of environmental hazards, such as falling boulders, lava geysers, and poison gas vents, that inflict damage, impair mobility, and disrupt combat flow. Use these hazards to your advantage when hunting monsters and defending against aggressive adversaries.
- Time Limits: Manage quest time limits and expedition durations effectively to maximize resource gathering, complete optional objectives, and achieve bonus rewards. Extend quest duration with meal effects, consumable items, and environmental modifiers that increase stamina, health, and damage output.
Conclusion
“Monster Hunter: World” quests offer a dynamic and immersive gameplay experience that challenges players to explore diverse environments, engage formidable monsters, and uncover the mysteries of the New World. From main story quests to optional investigations and limited-time event quests, MHW’s quest ecosystem provides endless opportunities for adventure, discovery, and achievement.
By mastering quest mechanics, preparing for combat scenarios, and collaborating with fellow hunters, players can optimize their questing experience and achieve success in challenging hunts, special assignments, and endgame content. Whether embarking on solo expeditions or teaming up with friends in multiplayer quests, MHW quests reward perseverance, adaptability, and strategic thinking that define the essence of a true Monster Hunter.
As players continue their journey in the New World and confront new challenges, the quest system in “Monster Hunter: World” remains a testament to Capcom’s commitment to delivering engaging gameplay, compelling narrative, and unforgettable adventures that resonate with hunters worldwide.