That is, until it transforms into its true form and stands up on its hind legs, cutting down hunters with its razor-sharp claws and ability to freeze the air. Lunagaron, for instance, is a formidable wolf-like monster that stalks the Kingdom on all fours. The Three Lords-an infamous trio of rampaging beasts-are the standout monsters and the ones that tap into this new influence, introducing nasties inspired by both werewolves and vampires. While Rise's aesthetic was inspired by Feudal Japanese culture and folklore, Sunbreak is influenced by Western and European mythology. The new monsters in particular are all fantastic additions that offer unique challenges, and they're just as fun to look at as they are to fight. While it can be frustrating that so many of this expansion's new additions are withheld for so long, they're almost worth the wait. It would've been nice if it were frontloaded with a few new monsters to avoid the feeling that you're simply revisiting well-trodden ground. Much like its new monsters, however, Sunbreak holds back on unlocking new Switch Skills until you reach Master Rank 4. Doing so puts you into a bespoke animation that can also transition into a rangy dodge that's much more effective than your standard dodge, and being able to utilize double the number of Switch Skills adds more variety and dynamism to your offensive arsenal. This lets you take two different Switch Skill loadouts into battle, letting you alternate between them on the fly. One change Sunbreak does introduce from the very beginning is the Switch Skill Swap. As it is, the first time you'll face off against a new threat isn't until a dozen or so hours into Sunbreak, when you reach Master Rank 3. This is par for the course when it comes to Monster Hunter's endgame-which Master Rank usually represents-but considering this is a paid expansion, it would've been nice if it were frontloaded with a few new monsters to avoid the feeling that you're simply revisiting well-trodden ground. For the most part, though, you'll be hunting a familiar rogue's gallery with slightly expanded movesets. There are other subspecies of different Rise monsters sprinkled throughout, such as the Blood Orange Bishaten, which trades the poisonous persimmons of Rise's normal Bishaten for explosive pinecones. It has some new moves, and it's a new encounter for Rise, but for long-time players, it's not the most exciting way to open an expansion. Your first hunt is against a variant of the Hermitaur, a large crab-like enemy that has appeared in the series numerous times before. It makes sense to throw some familiar foes your way at the beginning, just in case you're returning to the game after a number of months, but Sunbreak falls into the trap of dragging this process out for far too long. Once you begin the expansion and arrive in Elgado, you're quickly promoted to Master Rank and sent off to defeat some particularly tough foes-albeit ones you've mostly fought before. In order to access Sunbreak, you first need to complete the Hunter Rank 7 quests in Rise, thus ensuring that you're ready to tackle its new challenges. Rise was by no means an easy game, but its approachability made for a more gentle introduction to the Monster Hunter franchise, saving the real threats for its post-campaign hunts. Having a helping hand is also greatly appreciated since Sunbreak rips the training wheels off from the get-go. These quests might be optional, but each one rewards you with unique items, and they make it much more enjoyable to grind for monster parts on your own. You'll notice them when they're actively helping you, and they're smart enough not to frustrate you by doing something boneheaded. Your companions fight like other players, using lifepowder at opportune times, laying down traps, drawing the monster's attention for prolonged periods, and sometimes disappearing before emerging on the back of another reluctant beast. These are single-player-only quests, but the intricacy of your allies' artificial intelligence makes them almost indistinguishable from multiplayer hunts. New Follower Quests give you a chance to embark on hunts in the company of various non-player characters, allowing their personalities to surface more than the series usually allows.
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