User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Discussion of the Week: MHWI/@comment-5020152-20190914163601

1) Haven't played World, ha ha. (Am I still allowed to join this discussion then? Hmm...)

2) I was certainly intrigued. I thought it was great that Iceborne would be added as DLC instead of being sold as a totally different game, which obviously MH has been doing since the beginning. I also felt that World was severely lacking in icy content, so seeing that it was being added in was relieving.

3) I like both. Master Rank is more appropriately descriptive, but I've also been saying G-Rank for years, so it sounds more "iconic" to me, I guess.

4) Obviously I can't form a solid opinion on the Clutch Claw, but it's cool to see that it gives you a way to stun the monster and get more free hits, or otherwise soften up parts you wish to break.

5) It's a unique feature and I wouldn't be opposed to making it a staple of the series moving forward.

6) Again, can't answer this. :)

7) Because World/Iceborne has added so much detailing to the monsters' behavior and the environments they live in, View Mode looks like a great addition for those who want to kick back and admire the scenery once in a while.

8) Both were needed for Iceborne, I think. The discovery of a new continent and the creation of a new research base really makes it feel as though the exploration/research themes of World has been expanded on.

9) Surprisingly, I'd say Nightshade Paolumu. I'm definitely not a fan of the original, but Nightshade has an awesome name, looks legitimately intimidating (in terms of both gameplay and appearance), and it's the first monster since Great Baggi to have Sleep status as its main weapon (rather than just an added gimmick). But all the other subspecies except Edgy Odogaron are close behind Nightshade for how cool and unique they are.

10) Edgy Odogaron, because dear LORD the edge is real.

11) Obviously I can't make an accurate statement about their relative strengths/weaknesses as compared to previous variants, but I like how they feel like natural extensions of each monster's ecology. Seething Bazelgeuse is hotter and angrier (a la Savage and Furious before it), Blackveil Vaal has become more virulent and has expanded its habitat, Scarred Yian Garuga is a more unique version of the One-Eyed Garuga, and Ruiner is... harder, I guess?

12) I mean, it's an ice dragon, the first true ice dragon in the main series. But other than that, I can't say much about whether or not it's "appropriate".

13) I was initially skeptical about Nargacuga, but luckily they seemed to have improved her. Yian Garuga was a wonderful surprise for me, and again, he seems to have been given much-needed improvements. The only one I think shouldn't have been included was Zinogre - he's awesome and Iceborne has done wonders to his design and gameplay, but his little popularity streak has yet to be broken and it's getting fucking exhausting.

14) I wouldn't complain. I love Glavenus, but Gammoth would've been a much better addition with the Hoarfrost Reach's debut being a key feature of Iceborne. Plus, with all that fur on her and all the snow she throws around, she'd doubtlessly look fantastic.

15) The new monsters are all pretty cool and I don't dislike any of them. My only complaint is that there isn't enough of them. I wouldn't have minded having less monsters return in favor of new ones.

16) I've heard rumors of Gore Magala returning, which would be amazing because of how great he and his armor sets looked in past games. I'd also like to see Astalos, because it's our best bet for an insect-like monster because it uses the wyvern skeleton. Also GIGGINOX PLEASE.

17) Maybe a new Black Dragon? Or at least something that could beat Capcom's new pet.

18) As unfortunate as it'd be for me, who doesn't own any consoles aside from Nintendo, Monster Hunter should continue forward on PlayStation/Xbox/PC, just so that it can keep and continue to expand upon the higher quality that World/Iceborne has blessed us with.