User blog comment:BannedLagiacrus/Monster Appreciation Week: Yian Kut-Ku(4th Gen)/@comment-1758220-20150405184042

 YIAN KUT-KU 

 Concept:  Not much to say here. Kut-Ku is a very run-of-the-mill monster idea. It's a standard wyvern with fire-breath. Nothing overly creative or noteworthy at all, really. 5/10

 Design:  Despite what I just said, Kut-Ku is actually a pretty decent-looking monster. The pink, yellow, and blue colouration goes together nicely, and its non-threatening appearance is befitting of its lowly status. The incorporation of sympathetic features such as large pupils, eccentirc mannerisms, and big goofy ears make it a notably likeable monster from a visual standpoint, and it lends itself really well to chibi and cartoon versions of the character. I guess that's part of why he's such an outrageously popular monster. Kind of wish there was a little more colour variation in the carapace, but hey, it was first gen. Only problem I have with this guy is that he's so likeable and innocent that you actually kinda feel bad when you beat him up and kill him. 8/10

 Sound:  Some really cool soundwork here, with all manner of crowing, squaking, honking, and trumpeting. It's actually a fairly intimidating sound suite for such a lowly monster, but it's still somehow fitting. 8/10

 Gameplay:  Kut-Ku has always been the first major challenge for beginners in the games it's appeared in. He fills this spot very nicely, as he's just tough enough to demand diligence and skill from the player, but not so tough as to be discouraging or act as a wall for new players in the series. It's a fast-paced fight that keeps the player on their toes and is one of the first actually fun and engaging fights in the game. He has one major annoyance at G-rank though, which I'll discuss later on. 8/10

 Equipment:  Kut-Ku's got an okay set of beginner armour, although in my experience there's no need to upgrade your set at that point, so it's also very skippable. The weapons, on the other hand, are really great entry-level fire gear with healthy green sharpness, perfect for taking down your first Gypceros or Congalala. 7/10

 Fourth Gen Alterations:  Kut-Ku got a fairly limited range of new things added to him in MH4. His animations have been made more fluid, most notably the 180 degree turn and the telegraph before his charge, although they are largely the same as before. At G-Rank he gains a hair-pullingly annoying attack where he pulls a pair of Konchu out of the ground and throws them onto the field, so that you end up with up to six Konchu rolling around and tripping you every three seconds. Kinda wish he got, say, one more new attack, but it's not like he feels dated. 6.5/10

 Intro Cutscene:  This one's pretty boring, but at least we get to see Kut-Ku doing quirky, innocent, Kut-Ku things. But at the core of it, we just watch it eat Konchu for several seconds before it notices the hunter and the battle begins. 5/10

 Overall:  Kut-Ku is classic, and a widely-regarded fan favourite. He's got the most important bases covered as far as monster design goes, and only falters in a few arguably not-that-important areas. Despite a fairly simple remake in MH4, the ball has not been dropped on our friend, and we welcome him back to the series with open arms. 8/10