The first Monster Hunter game came out in 2004. Since then, there have been six main installments, with Monster Hunter Rise being the latest one. The series has only risen in popularity over the recent years. It has been so popular and successful, in fact, that a movie based on the franchise was released.

In celebration of the series’ success, there are a couple of things and details in Monster Hunter Rise that either call back or draw inspiration from the previous games in the series. A lot of these are blatant, while some are more hidden and obscure. Those who have played the previous games may or may not have spotted these on their first playthrough, but they’ll surely appreciate knowing that they’re there.

Updated February 27, 2022 by Michael Abayomi: In honor of the recently-released PC port of Monster Hunter Rise and the forthcoming Sunbreak DLC, we’ve updated this list to include two additional details players of the previous games in the Monster Hunter series should immediately notice and appreciate.

12 Improved Traversal With The Wirebug

Of all the new gameplay mechanics introduced in Monster Hunter Rise, the most prominent one is the wirebug. Not only does it allow players to execute unique special attacks for each of the game’s 14 weapon types, it can also be used to zip around the map and reach new vantage points.

This lends the game a level of verticality that was simply missing from the previous games, something long-time players should appreciate considering how restricted the traversal in those games tended to feel.

11 Rideable Monsters

Another new mechanic introduced in Monster Hunter Rise is wyvern riding. This allows the player to temporarily ride weakened monsters, weaponizing it to do damage against itself or other monsters within the vicinity.

Players coming from the spin-off title, Monster Hunter Stories, on the Nintendo 3DS should immediately recognize and appreciate this specific detail since that game has players playing as a member of a clan of Riders, who ride Monsters into battle rather than hunt them for parts. A sequel called Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2021.

10 The Other Control Options Are Taken From Previous Games

Veterans of the series may find it tough to adjust to the new controls introduced in Monster Hunter Rise. The controls in this game is an odd mix of new and familiar. Thankfully, there’s an option for you to change the controls in the game’s settings.

Interestingly, some of the control types provided in this game are very reminiscent of the control styles of previous games. Control Type 1, the default setting, is understandably similar to Monster Hunter World with a couple of changes. Control Type 2, on the other hand, is very much like the controls to Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.

9 Farming Is Now More Convenient

If you want to excel in a game like Monster Hunter Rise, you are going to have to do a lot of farming. In the previous game, you will have to exit an area after clearing it with monsters to fight more enemies. In this one, though, that’s something you don’t have to do anymore.

Those who have played the previous games will find this fact very delightful. You no longer have to exit an area only to return later if you want to grind. This time, you can simply stay still and wait for more monsters to arrive.

8 Close Resemblance With Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

The Monster Hunter franchise is massively inspired by Japanese folklore. This is made even more evident in Monster Hunter Rise. The Monster Hunter game that Rise closely resembles the most is the last Monster Hunter game to come out on the PSP, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd.

To this day, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd remains the highest-selling Monster Hunter game in Japan and the third best-selling PSP game of all time. Both Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and Monster Hunter Rise borrow a lot of inspiration from Japanese folklore, and both do so to great effect.

7 Returning Monsters

With six main entries under its belt, the Monster Hunter franchise now has an abundance of monsters in its roster. Fans of the old games will be delighted with the fact that a lot of the monsters from previous games make a return in this one.

Fan favorites and popular monsters such as Rathalos, Rathian, Tigrex, Anjanath, and Ludroth are just some of the many monsters that also appear in Monster Hunter Rise. Of course, that doesn’t mean the game doesn’t have its new and unique monsters to make the game more individualistic.

6 Returning Weapons

In order to combat the myriad of monsters in the game, there are a ton of weapons the player can choose from in Monster Hunter Rise. Similar to the monsters in the series, a lot of the weapons in this game are also already established in the previous games.

For example, you have the Dual Blades. This is one of the most sought-after weapons for those who prefer a quicker play style. The opposite to that is the Long Sword, the one preferred by those who prioritize power.

5 The Superman Dive

The Superman Dive is an evasive maneuver veterans of the series have pretty much utilized to perfection at this point. Not only does the move look insanely fun, but it is also a very effective lifesaver during combat

To perform the Superman Dive, simply sprint away from the monster and press the dodge button. This will cause your character to dive to the ground instead of rolling. Doing this maneuver will make the player invincible while the animation is ongoing.

4 New Healing System

Monster Hunter Rise’s healing system is a tad different from that of its predecessor, and that’s ultimately a good thing. In this game, healing from Potions and Mega Potions is so much more effective. Essentially, these potions now function like how the Max Potions worked in the previous game.

When drinking a potion, your health will instantly replenish and will continue to do so during the animation. You are also allowed to move around while the animation is ongoing.

3 The Companion

In this game, you are accompanied by two different companions: Palamutes and Palicos. The Palamute and Palico are a hunter dog and a hunter cat, respectively. You can use the prior as a mount to move around the world, and even in combat, while the latter functions as a support to your character.

In the previous game, the Palamute was completely absent. This companion is introduced in this title as a new mechanic. The Palico, on the other hand, was introduced in Monster Hunter World.

2 The Game Director

This Monster Hunter title is directed by Yasunori Ichinose. If you’re a long-time fan of the series and the name sounds familiar, that’s because he also directed three other Monster Hunter games in the past.

Yasunori Ichinose first directed Monster Hunter: Freedom. He also directed Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite and Monster Hunter Generations. This is why Monster Hunter Rise is more reminiscent of the older games than its direct predecessor.

1 Turf Wars

One absolutely cool gameplay system that was introduced in Monster Hunter World that makes a return in Monster Hunter Rise is the Turf War. This mechanic allows two monsters to engage in battle when they meet.

Fans absolutely loved this feature when it was first introduced Monster Hunter World. Thankfully, it makes a return in this game. Whenever you get the chance, you should definitely take advantage of this mechanic. Not only is highly beneficial for you, but you will also be treated with a very cool-looking fight scene between the game’s biggest monsters.

NEXT: Monster Hunter Rise Complete Guide And Walkthrough