Capcom. 12 studios that keep making the same game
Table of Contents
- Games or series: Monster Hunter
- Copy-pasting since: 2004
- Copied elements: basically everything except (sometimes) a different art style and some minor changes in gameplay
The three series discussed on the previous page can summed up with the statement that their basic mechanics, i.e. shooting, is generally done very well. Here is, however, a series in which we can come across many seemingly quite differently designed elements. Only the goal in these games seems to be always the same, namely killing monsters. And no, we're not talking about The Witcher – we're talking about Monster Hunter.
Many Western players came across the Capcom's series only after the release of MH: World (2018). Nevertheless, the IP dates back to 2004, the PlayStation 2 era. In terms of graphics, the original is a bit outdated, but it is similar to the newer versions in surprisingly many, strictly gameplay aspects.
The interface usually includes a compass, health and stamina bars, a minimap and a window showing consumables that can be used in combat. We invariably stumble upon bloodthirsty beasts, more or less resembling dinosaurs. We use bones and organs obtained from their bodies to create more powerful weapons and armors, which help us to fight even more powerful creatures. Sound familiar?
If you don't shy away from cooperation in games, you will probably not be surprised by the information that the Monster Hunter series focused from the very beginning on hunting together with several other players. Two decades ago, the Internet was neither as fast nor as easily accessible as it is today, but yes – the first Monster Hunters could be played with friends.
Over the years, there were versions with different storylines, graphics – some had a more cartoon style than others – as well as individual mechanics, but the foundation of the monster hunting remained the same. The same beasts returned regularly as well – the flying Rathalos has been there pretty much from the onset.
What keeps fans entertained despite doing the same thing over and over again for nearly two decades? It seems to me that these could be the small changes that Capcom introduces to the next installments of the series. Let's take Monster Hunter: World we already mentioned and the slightly younger Monster Hunter: Rise as an example. They differ in the graphics first of all, but in the latter, I was especially delighted with the possibility of riding some monsters.
A small thing, yet it was able to influence the tactics of my hunting so much that after two hundred hours spent with MH: World, I have already sunk several dozen more in MH: Rise. Playing solo, might I add. It happens from one installment to another – the Capcom series is addictive, although in the following parts we do basically the same thing.
