I still don’t really know what I’m doing in Monster Hunter World. It’s fun to play and experiment with the mechanics, but I am quite lost.

I can see that I can upgrade my weapon to something better, but I can’t tell what pieces I am missing to make that upgrade, or where they drop.  I just end up going with the flow of the game.

I can see that I can craft a whole bunch of items.. traps included.  Not why why I need them just yet though, or how to better manage my inventory of all the things I’ve collected.  Do I need spiderwebs?

There are quite a few quest types.  The main mission ones (assigned), optional ones (I think I can repeat them), investigations, deliveries, bounties and then open world exploration.  They are offered by different folk, with different criteria, for different rewards (that I don’t quite understand yet either).  Quite honestly, this game could be in a completely different language and I don’t think that would matter.

I will say that the act of Monster Hunting is a lot of fun.  I’ll see if I can get a video of it up.  I use Dual Blades, which are a very close ranged weapon, with set animations.  These animations cannot be cancelled, so you may end up pressing a combo that locks you for a second or two… and then the big monster hits you.  Timing becomes extremely important, as well as understanding hit boxes.  I’ve become partial to a slice and dash combo that does decent work.  And when I see the monster setting up something large, I go for the 6 second demon slash combo that just looks like ginsu knives.

I will say that this is the first time I have ever been in the middle of a fight with a giant monster and been distracted by collecting footprints.  That is very weird.  One second I’m slicing away, avoid jaws of death, and then “ooooh, a doodle” and off I go.

Anyhow, in terms of main quest the Pukei Pukei is down. A giant flying T-Rex appeared in the middle of that fight.  I did what anyone would do, and ran away.  Which was cool, because more footprints/mucous/doodles!

If all of this seems like the ramblings of a mad man, yes.  That is true.  I feel like a madman.  I barely understand how all the pieces fit together and that’s just fine be me.  It’s a level of fun I haven’t had in some time.  And that’s the main reason I play any game.