Seeing the release of the official website of "Monster Hunter: Traveler" and the release of the trailer, many players have mixed emotions. This open-world mobile game jointly created by Tencent Tianmei and Capcom not only covers the deep expectations of the classic IP, but also inevitably causes people to have doubts about its presentation on the mobile terminal and its commercialization structure.
Tencent and Monster Hunter join forces for the fourth time
This has now become the fourth cooperation between Tencent and Monster Hunter IP. Prior to this, the two parties launched the online PC game "Monster Hunter OL" in 2015, as well as the subsequent attempts at mobile terminals, which have accumulated relevant experience for this cooperation. For Tencent, Monster Hunter IP seems to have always had a special and unique attraction, which is nicknamed "White Moonlight" by some players.
Although the results of previous works vary, Capcom still chose to cooperate in depth with Tencent Tianmei Studio to develop this new open world mobile game. This shows that both parties share a common determination to expand the mobile market, and also indicates that the resources invested in the project will not be a small amount.
Classic elements revealed in PV
Although the first trailer is limited in length, it covers elements that many veteran players are familiar with. The flying dragon that flashed at the beginning of the video was recognized by many hunters as very similar to the original monster "Queen of Flame" in "Monster Hunter Online". This may be a sign of spiritual inheritance.
Classic movement methods such as wedge insect movement and slope gliding are clearly visible in the PV. The game screenshots also show the turf battle between monsters and the hunter’s indispensable companion Ellu Cat. These details strive to restore the experience of orthodox monster hunting.
New mechanisms and unknown gameplay
In addition to the classic content, the PV shows some unprecedented new elements, such as the character can move in the air with a paraglider, and there is also a large turret device that can launch hunters. These newly added mechanisms seem to be designed to adapt to open world exploration and mobile operation.
At present, it is not clear how these new systems will be integrated with the core hunting gameplay. Whether they will become an excellent supplement or whether there is a core design that can change the rhythm of the game. This requires more actual machine demonstrations to determine.
Real challenges of mobile operation
Wanting to transplant the complex operations of monster hunting to the mobile screen is a problem that the development team has to face. On consoles and PCs, hunting has to consider weapon combos, movement and avoidance, and various operations such as the use of props. Also, the differences in the gameplay of different weapons are huge.
To achieve such a deep and differentiated operating experience on a touch screen is one of the most significant technical challenges faced by "Monster Hunter: Traveler". Whether you can get a smooth hunting feel by rubbing the screen with your fingers will directly affect the core evaluation of the game.
The double-edged sword of business model
As an open-world mobile game that can be played for free, its commercial design has naturally become the focus of attention. What the public players are generally worried about is whether it will fall into common mobile game modes such as card drawing, limited physical strength, and numerical payment.
For Tencent and Capcom, how to design a reasonable profit model while ensuring a fair competitive experience and core fun is a subject that must be delicately balanced. Excessive commercialization will damage the reputation of the IP. However, if the revenue is not sufficient, it will affect the long-term sustainable operation of the game.
Open world and social possibilities
According to the official description, the game not only gives a real hunting experience, but also builds a vast open world and a rich community social system. This is likely to be the most significant feature that differentiates it from the original game, allowing hunters to adventure together in a world that is constantly evolving.
If Tianmei can successfully combine the core fun of monster hunting with the free exploration of the open world and multiplayer social interaction, then "Monster Hunter: Traveler" will hopefully stand out in the highly competitive mobile game market. It may be able to complement the upcoming "Monster Hunter: Wilderness" and expand the influence of the IP together.
In which aspect are you most looking forward to the breakthrough of "Monster Hunter: Traveler", which combines classic IP, open world and mobile experience, and which aspect are you most worried about disappointing you? Welcome to share your views in the comment area, and don’t forget to like and forward this article so that more hunter friends can participate in the discussion.
