Capcom shared lots more details on Monster Hunter Rise during today’s Digital Event, including some information on the game’s upcoming demo. The publisher had previously teased that would be released sometime this month, and it has now confirmed that the demo will go live on the Switch eShop later today, January 7.
The demo will give fans their first taste of Rise’s two big new gameplay mechanics: the Palamute and the Wirebug. The former is a new type of canine companion that players can ride and fight alongside during a hunt, while the latter functions like a grappling hook and lets players swing around the environment.
In terms of content, the demo will feature four missions: two training exercises that introduce you to the Wirebug and the new Wyvern Riding mechanic, and two proper hunts. The “beginner” hunt tasks you with slaying a Great Izuchi, one of the new monsters being introduced in Rise, while the “intermediate” hunt has you battling the returning Mizutsune.
Both hunts are playable either solo or online with other players, and you’ll be able to sample all 14 weapon types in the game. However, the demo will only be available until February 1, so you’ll have a limited time to play it.
In addition to detailing the demo, Capcom shared a new trailer for Monster Hunter Rise during today’s Digital Event. The video introduced us to a new locale, the Frost Islands, as well as a variety of monsters that will be appearing in the game, including the new Goss Harag and several returning fan-favorites like the Tigrex, Khezu, Barioth, and the aforementioned Mizutsune. The demo also gave us our first look at Wyvern Riding, a mechanic that lets you temporarily ride and take control of a monster.
Monster Hunter Rise launches for Nintendo Switch on March 26. In addition to the standard edition of the game, Capcom will also release Deluxe and Collector’s editions, which come with some additional bonus items. You can learn more in our Monster Hunter Rise preorder guide. Three new Monster Hunter Amiibo figures are also launching alongside the game on March 26.
Rise is the first of two new Monster Hunter games coming to Switch this year. The second, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, is slated to arrive sometime this summer and is a follow-up to the series’ 3DS RPG spin-off. Capcom has teased that there will be some connectivity between Rise and Wings of Ruin.
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