User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Nargacuga (4th Gen)/@comment-5020152-20161007174400

(Wrote this before Generations, and I'm keeping it the same because there's literally no difference between Narga in 3U and in Gen. Unless I'm missing something blindingly obvious.)

NARGACUGA

 Concept : To complement Tigrex’s unmatched ferocity and power, Nargacuga comes leaping out of the jungle with grace and agility. Like Tigrex, who’s meant to represent the primal fears of humankind, Narga draws elements from distinguished real-life apex predators that spark awe and terror in our psyche. While superficially similar to Barioth, Nargacuga is a classic monster that has certainly left a memorable impression on both new hunters and old veterans alike. 9/10

 Design : Nargacuga’s design takes elements from both eagles and panthers, which are real-life predators that are plenty impressive on their own. Simply by looking at her, it’s easy to see that she’s sleek, elegant, and mysterious. She might not have any fancy frills or other such additions, but there’s definite beauty in her simplicity. Just by looking at her bladed wings, muscular bullwhip-like tail, and pointy ears and beak, you can instantly tell that this is a monster that is to be feared. Her color scheme is all black, with fur in the front and scales in the back, and the way it gleams in the light is fantastic. And when she gets enraged, the spikes come out and her eyes leave menacing red trails as she jumps about. No bones about it – Nargacuga is simply amazing. 10/10

 Sounds : There’s no other monster that sounds quite like Nargacuga (except for possibly Teostra). That high-pitched, screeching yowl and that low, menacing growl are some of my favorite sounds in Monster Hunter. That’s not all – she moves her tail so fast, you can actually hear it whip through the air. Nargacuga’s theme is fast and furious, bringing to mind a frenzied chase through the jungle between predator and prey. 8/10

 Gameplay : It’s easy to see why a lot of people love Nargacuga. She’s fast and agile, striking quickly and precisely before leaping away to have another go. In other words, she presents a challenge. Unfortunately, I find that Nargacuga is more than a little frustrating. It’s extraordinarily difficult to find opportunities to attack when she’s constantly on the move, attacking with wide-ranging tail strikes and out-of-nowhere wing slashes. It’s possible to avoid her attacks because they are so fast and precise, but I always have difficulty getting the timing right. Her Tail Slam gets me more often then not, and it does obscene amounts of damage (so yeah, look out for that), while her other tail attacks have such a huge range that I find it hard to get close. And then there’s that Leaping Slash attack – it has a deceptively large range, and I can never tell which wing Nargacuga is going to strike with first. I understand that most people find her enjoyable and sometimes even easy, but Nargacuga just isn’t the monster for me. 5/10

 New Stuff : 3 Ultimate’s Nargacuga got a new tail-spin move with some serious range on it. Other than that, she’s pretty much unchanged from Freedom Unite. 7/10

 Equipment : Nargacuga’s weapons’ claim to fame are really high sharpness and really high affinity. I’d recommend forging a few just for that alone, but they also come with cool designs, with lots of black blades and edges. The armor set is also pretty cool, with a ninja-esque vibe, and skills like Evasion +2, Sneak, and Evade Extender, fitting Nargacuga’s natural agility perfectly. 8/10

 Cutscene : All is quiet in the Flooded Forest, until a pair of red eyes glow and a monster leaps out of the shadow. The Nargacuga jumps about, demonstrating her unrivaled agility before letting out a fierce yowl. A simple scene, but it demonstrates Nargacuga’s stealth and quickness. Pretty nice. 7/10

 Summary : I’m the first to admit that Nargacuga is an awesome monster, with excellent equipment and a nice soundtrack backing up her killer design. But the battle is less than fun for me. While others praise Nargacuga for presenting a good challenge with her quick attacks and reflexes, I get easily frustrated while struggling to keep up with her. Sorry, Narga fans, but while I certainly don't hate it, I’m on the fence when it comes to fighting this lovely pseudowyvern. Overall 7.5/10