The concept behind Follower Quests is simple; for those who wish to take on Master Rank quests (Rise’s equivalent of G-Rank) without other players, they can embark upon solo quests with NPCs from Kamura Village and Elgado Outpost. While Follower Quests should return in future Monster Hunter games, Rise has a lot more room to expand upon them through its Free Title Updates. Sunbreak already leans into referencing past titles more than the base game, so Capcom should consider adding some recurring characters for bonus Follower Quests.
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The World of Monster Hunter
Though each Monster Hunter game looks to be disconnected, focusing more on their complex mechanics of hunting boss monsters with 14 weapon types to improve one’s gear, there is connective tissue. Nowhere was this more clear than in Monster Hunter Generations on 3DS and its “complete” edition Generations Ultimate on Switch. The original title came out just over 10 years after Monster Hunter on PS2, and acted as a sort of celebration that featured NPCs and hub areas from all four mainline titles preceding it.
However, 2018’s Monster Hunter World made a very clear distinction that the intermingling areas which Generations paid homage to are all part of the “Old World.” True to its name, World took fans to the New World: a different continent separated by a great sea that has just a few burgeoning settlements and a host of unique creatures to hunt. There were returning monsters, from series’ mascot Rathalos to infamous creatures such as Deviljho and Diablos, but newcomers made up a much larger cross-section.
Where exactly Monster Hunter Rise fits is unclear. The rampages that afflict Kamura Village include monsters from World, such as Pukei-Pukei, and players have to cross the ocean to reach Sunbreak’s hub area Elgado Outpost - where recurring characters from the Old World games like the Hell Hunters appear. Yet Kamura is a well-established settlement linked to the Monster Hunter series’ primary governing body, the Hunter’s Guild, through Guild Master Hojo and his baby Tetsucabra. Ultimately, there’s enough connective tissue that Capcom could add special Follower Quests akin to Easter eggs if it wants.
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Untapped Potential for Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak’s Follower Quests
The aforementioned Hell Hunters are the best example of recurring characters who should be added as followers once Sunbreak’s Free Title Updates begin rolling out in August. The brothers, known simply as Black and Red Hell Hunter, have appeared since Monster Hunter 2 - in which their supposed legendary exploits were put to an end by Freedom 2’s flagship monster Tigrex. In every title they appear, including Rise, their main purpose is to send players out on hunts or other errands.
Given this duo spends time eating Dango, a new quest could allow them to take on their arch-nemesis alongside the Hero of Kamura. Whether Capcom plays their worldwide renown straight or turns this quest into a more difficult challenge by having them be rusty, it could do a lot for character-building. Elgado Outpost’s Smithy Minalye also offers a window into potential crossovers, as her outfit is based on one of her inspirations: Little Miss Forge from Monster Hunter 4. Knowing she’s out there also connects to characters like the Caravaneer and Guildmarm, plus their allies the Ace Hunters.
The Ace Hunters are a foursome also introduced in Monster Hunter 4 whose abilities could be just as fun to see as the Hell Hunters. Even more crossovers would be available going this route, as the Ace Cadet returned in Monster Hunter World as the “Excitable A-Lister” Aiden, joining the Research Commission that explores the New World. He could return home to compare Rise’s Wirebug mechanics with World’s unique Slinger, and bring other characters back with him.
These Follower Quests introduced via Title Updates would not have to strictly adhere to a coherent canon, either. Capcom has a long history of crossing series like Street Fighter and Mega Man with Monster Hunter, and even has collaborations like Sonic the Hedgehog gear in Rise. More unique quests could see players teaming up with characters like Arthur from Ghosts ’n Goblins using the existing Layered Armor, or there could be ties to Monster Hunter Stories 2 with major characters from the RPG spin-off. There’s plenty of room to experiment, so hopefully Capcom has some fun with Rise’s Title Updates.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is available now on PC and Switch.
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