User blog:Lord Loss/Discussion of the Week: Frontier Season Forward 3

Welcome to Discussion of the Week: Monster Hunter Frontier Season Forward 3!

Again, a lie. Last Frontier DotW blog got up to 10.0, so I'll be doing the next three from there. We'll be caught up soon!

Season Forward 1


Frontier moves to the 'Forward' system of numbering, which does at least seem more imaginative than 11.0, I suppose. And Forward 1 is a genuinely great update; the new monster, Rukodiora is one I like the look of a great deal. Sure, it sticks closely to the original Elder Dragon skeleton, but the wings are unique, and it's element - magnetism - is also unique and surprisingly well implemented. I bet that swirling rock around him gets annoying as hell though.



Rukodiora gets a new area all of his very own - the Interceptor's Base although as it's basically the Town again the standard town-destroying monsters show up there later anyway. Not a bad area though, I like the dynamicness of things burning and falling down.

Two new great new subs in this update too; Raviente Subspecies and Rathian Unknown Species. I'm reliably informed Ravi Sub is less of a massive chore to fight than his cousin, and Rathian Unknown just blew me away. Staggering movepool, amazingly powerful, looks super-badass.



Season Forward 2


Maybe not quite as dramatic an update; a whole new area, again, was introduced: Tide Island. And I don't really like it. Another bland Jungle-ish zone, with a grand total of 4 pretty similar areas (at this point). Gogomoa, on the other hand, is fairly good, unique monster. Well, unique until Kechawacha comes out.



Season Forward 3
Hold onto your hats - two completely new monsters? Wonderful. Now, I'll be the first to admit that, on the surface, Abiorugu seems a lot like Deviljho, but he is distinguished in some ways. I actually think his design is better; cool plates, nice crest, lovely tail, and in battle he can fling spikes, sweep hunters into the air and spit fiery explosions - all wonderful. The other new monster is Taikun Zamuza - and it might be one of the best Carapaceons ever. I really like the idea of breaking all the mud off him means he gradually gets faster and faster. It has a bubble-wrap popping appeal, and once you break the shell and he goes white, fast and electric the battle changes completely. Very neat idea Capcom. And with the additions of caves to Tide Island... well played.



Questions

 * Which is your favourite monsters of the four introduced here?
 * What do you make of the Tide Island?
 * Were there any especially good HC monsters introduced in these three updates? Maybe HC Blue Kut Ku, but I don't really remember.