User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Glavenus/@comment-5020152-20161125234516

GLAVENUS (aka SHARPTOOTH)

Other Fun Nicknames: Carnotaurus, The Dinosword, Glaive-Butt

 Concept : One of the four flagship beasts of MH Generations, Glavenus is meant to represent the 4th Generation of Monster Hunter. He’s a brute wyvern covered in spiky plating that rules over the Ancient Forest, and he has a fascinating gimmick involving the extensive use of his tail and fangs. Glavenus is the self-proclaimed leader of the Elite Four, the top predator wherever he goes, and boy does he know it. 9/10

 Design : Let me just come right out and say that creating a prehistoric-themed area was something that Capcom really should have done sooner. The Jurassic Frontier is such a cool region, and Sharptooth reigns there as the equally-cool king of the jungle. With his horns, fangs, and head plating, he’s meant to resemble a Carnotaurus. His scales look more like armor, especially the twisty spikes lining his back. Glavenus’ most notable feature is his tailblade, which is more flexible than it looks, and changes color depending on how Glavenus uses it. His color scheme is an interesting one, with lots of red and black and metallic blue going on. I have to admit, I’m a big sucker for dinosaurs, and because of that, Sharptooth is probably my favorite of the Elite Four in terms of design alone. 10/10

 Sound : Glavenus has a really awesome roar, a resonating metallic sound that ends with a grating growl. “MYAAAAAAGRRR!” All of the Elite Four’s themes are equally good, but Dinovaldo’s theme is perfect for the monster he is. It’s hard for me to describe, but when I hear that music while seeing Glavenus in action in the Jurassic Frontier, I get such a vivid Jurassic Park vibe it isn’t even funny. 10/10

 Gameplay : Sharptooth is an absolute BLAST to hunt. Most of his moves involve him biting or swinging his tailblade around. The tailblade is actually a huge part of Glavenus’ battle strategy, since it has an incredibly long reach and is as sharp as a Great Sword. When Sharptooth does certain attacks, the tailblade drags on the ground and bursts into flames! It eventually cools down and rusts, but Sharptooth just has to sharpen it with his fangs to reset the cycle. The most dangerous move at Glavenus’ disposal is the dreaded Whirlwind, where he grabs his tail in his mouth and then lets it go, spinning around to hit everything in the immediate vicinity. He can also spit magma-like projectiles that explode with an impressive blast radius. As well as “charging up” his tail, Glavenus can do the same with his mouth, causing fire to sit in his throat and give Fireblight to his biting attacks. On the plus side, you can make him stagger by attacking his head enough to make the fire explode in his mouth. It is a REALLY fun fight, and nothing is more satisfying than seeing the end of that tail come off (except perhaps that epic death animation). 10/10

 New Stuff : N/A

 Equipment : Glavenus weapons use the Fire element. The armor introduces a very interesting skill that grants your weapon a temporary power boost whenever you sharpen it, reflecting Sharptooth’s ability to set his tailblade on fire by “sharpening” it. The equipment in general sports a lot of dark red and metallic blue, resembling the thick, spiny armor that Glavenus is covered in. Considering both design and attributes, I would definitely use Glavenus’ equipment. 8/10

 Personality : Monster Hunter Generations does a phenomenal job of characterizing its four flagship monsters. Glavenus is shown to be the warrior king of his domain, one who isn’t scared of anything or willing to stand down for any challengers for his throne. He does what he wants whenever he wants, and is always more than ready to silence anyone who speaks otherwise. In the game’s intro, he challenges a group of hunters and smashes them aside like nothing, forcing them to have to resort to more strategic techniques. In his ecology cinematic, he is challenged by a Rathian and quickly sends the Queen of the Land fleeing for her life. With this in mind, my interpretation of Glavenus is a leader who keeps to himself but demands respect, wasting no time in putting any disrespectful subjects back in line. If the monsters of Monster Hunter had any sort of community structure, Glavenus would probably be the mayor, or the chief of police. (Or maybe the owner of a lumberyard, because that tail would be great for chopping logs.) 10/10

 Summary : As with the rest of the Elite Four, Sharptooth is a fantastic monster in all aspects. His design, soundtrack, equipment, and even attitude all fit together for an all-out and offensive theme, and the battle itself only serves to drive that theme home. At the end of the day, while it certainly is a close match, Glavenus ends up being my favorite of the Elite Four. Overall 9.5/10