Monster Hunter's narrative often gets overlooked, deemed simplistic. But is it truly that straightforward? This deep dive explores the underlying themes and stories woven into the gameplay.
← Return to Monster Hunter Wilds' main article
The Evolution of Monster Hunter's Narrative
The Monster Hunter series isn't known for its story-driven gameplay. Many would argue the narrative takes a backseat to the core hunting mechanics. Yet, a compelling narrative does exist, often obscured by the mission-based structure. The player's choices and the quest structure shape the experience, but does this mean the story is simply hunting monsters for profit, fashion, or sport? Let's delve into the mainline series' narratives to uncover a deeper meaning.
The Familiar Beginning
Most Monster Hunter games follow a familiar arc. You begin as a novice hunter, accepting quests from village elders, gradually progressing to hunt increasingly challenging monsters. This climb to the top, becoming the village's most skilled hunter, is the driving force. The core gameplay loop revolves around this progression, culminating in the defeat of the game's final boss (e.g., Fatalis in Monster Hunter 1). This structure remains consistent even as storytelling becomes more prominent in later iterations. However, games like World, Rise, and their expansions offer more cohesive, narrative-driven experiences.
Guardians of the Ecosystem
The series frequently portrays the hunter as a force maintaining ecological balance. Monster Hunter 4 (MH4), for instance, features the Gore Magala, whose Frenzy Virus threatens the entire ecosystem. The virus, spread through the Gore Magala's scales, increases the aggression of infected creatures. The Gore Magala's villainous appearance underscores its role as a disruptive force, necessitating its defeat to restore balance.
However, Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne present a more nuanced perspective. The endings reveal that while humanity bears responsibility for restoring balance, there's much to learn about the natural world's inherent processes.
Iceborne's conclusion highlights Nergigante as a natural force of balance. While Nergigante's role might seem underwhelming at first, it perfectly encapsulates the game's theme. The base game's ending portrays the hunter as the "Sapphire Star," a guiding light for the Research Commission, reflecting the in-game "Tale of the Five," which links the Sapphire Star to human civilization's origins. This implies the Research Commission accepts its role as a guardian of the New World, guided by the hunter.
Iceborne's ending offers a counterpoint, showing the Research Commission's need for further understanding of the natural world's resilience, even without human intervention. This juxtaposition reflects the complexities of nature and human interaction, revealing a deeper layer beyond simple monster hunting.
This thematic approach extends to how monsters perceive the hunter.
The Hunter Reflected
In MH4, defeating the Gore Magala only reveals its evolved form, the Shagaru Magala. This mirrors the player's experience of upgrading equipment and facing stronger challenges. This suggests monsters learn from the hunters, adapting and evolving in response.
The Ahtal-Ka, the final super boss of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, exemplifies this. Its unique design and use of hunter-like weaponry (Dragonators, steel beams, a giant wheel fashioned into a yo-yo) highlight its adaptation to hunter strategies. The Ahtal-Ka's creation of a walking fortress showcases its ability to learn and innovate, mirroring the hunter's ingenuity. This unique antagonist perfectly embodies the theme of nature's adaptation to human influence. One could even speculate a connection to the Silkbind moves in Monster Hunter Rise.
A Personal Narrative: Man vs. Wild
Considering the themes of ecological balance and monster adaptation, what is Monster Hunter truly about? It's a personal journey of growth and improvement against formidable challenges. The game's impact lies in how it weaves the player's experience into a compelling narrative. Similar to the Souls series, the satisfaction derives from overcoming seemingly impossible odds through skill and perseverance.
The initial encounter with the Tigrex in Monster Hunter Freedom 2 perfectly illustrates this. The early game's helplessness against the Tigrex establishes a clear goal: to overcome this initial defeat. Later encounters with the Tigrex reinforce this personal narrative of growth and triumph. These moments, while not explicitly narrative-driven, create a powerful sense of personal accomplishment.
The series' evolution toward more explicit storytelling in games like Wilds enhances player engagement. While the narrative may not always be the central focus, the player's personal journey and overcoming challenges form the heart of the Monster Hunter experience. The series successfully embeds the player's experience within a memorable and impactful narrative.
