User blog comment:Lord Loss/Monster Appreciation Week: Zinogre/@comment-1758220-20130613210025

Zinogre is the best monster in the entire series, and I'll tell you why.

 ZINOGRE 

 Concept:  I think Zinogre has one of the most solid foundations to build off of in the MH franchise, with an elevator pitch that would make any creature designer giddy. It is meant to be the thing that all other creatures run from, or the reason parents tell their kids to stay out of the forest. It's a "monarch" (excellent title by the way, Capcom) that rules its kingdom with an iron fist, and this is wholeheartedly reflected in its design, equipment nomenclature and even subtle nuances of its animations. More importantly though, Zinogre embodies a lot of MHP3rd's personality. Thunder/Storm gods are major players in many Japanese myths, and the decision to make a monster that naturally reflects these deities and have it be the flagship for the Oriental-inspired game was genius. More than any other monster in MHP3rd, Zinogre actively pulls together the tone and theme of MHP3rd and does a lot to unify the entire game across all facets. How many other monsters in the series can be described this way? 10/10

 Design:  This category is where the inspiration and dedication that went into realizing this monster is naturally most apparent. Zinogre pulls from so many visual cues that it becomes its own, wholly unique design. While most other monsters in the series can be approximated to a modern-day animal, dinosaur, or real-world mythical creature, there is truly nothing like Zinogre visually. The colour scheme embodies all facets of its nature, with the beige of the shell evoking its wooded homeland, while the turquoise scales and electric blue bioluminescence embody its thunder-wielding abilities. I could go on for hours and hours about all of the little touches to his design that I love, but here are a few. I love the segmented rack of shoulder plates and how they individually unfold when fully charged. I like how the wolf like "ears" are actually horns, and its real ears are small and off to the side. I love its massive, intimidating feet and the long, flip-out claws. I like how it walks with an almost gorilla-like gait despite being mostly doglike in nature, and I like its armoured lower jaw with the teeth that layer over the upper set. Not to mention, the bright blue that it emits while in second rage is beautiful. Overall, I think if any monster in the series represents its element better than any other, it's Zinogre. It is easily the most original design the series has produced in years, and succeeds wildly on every visual level. 10/10

 Sound:  Perfection. Utter perfection. I usually don't have much to talk about in the Sound category, but holy hell, Zinogre has such a significantly better suite of soundwork than most other monsters that I feel like I can actually discuss nuances. Let's start with that battle theme. The Zinogre BGM is one of the best in the series. It is a face-meltingly awesome combination of traditional orchestra and electric guitar. Seriously. Hearing the screech of an electric guitar mix with the pounding of oriental percussion while you go toe to toe with a rampaging thunder god in the middle of a picturesque Japanese locale is nothing but utter bliss. In addition, Zinogres roar is essentially a deep-guttural wolf howl, but again, put through an electronic filter to reflect his thunderous nature. The crackles and roars of the thunder during gameplay are expertly implemented as well, and I'm especially a fan of the noise it makes when charging up. Bravo to the Capcom music/sound team, because this is their finest creation. 10/10

 Gameplay:  Unsurprisingly, Zinogre also does Gameplay better than anything else too. This is because of a couple of major factors. Firstly, Zinogre is the only Fanged Wyvern, and the only monster with its animation skeleton. Therefore, by its very nature, every single animation of Zinogre's moveset is completely unique and cannot be seen from any other monster. Secondly,  Zinogre has a MASSIVE movepool. It has all manner of rushes, lunges, ranged attacks, thunder blasts, AoE thunder strikes, forearm slams, tail whips, horn thrusts, bites, the lists goes on. This humongous range of attacks prevents the fight from ever, ever getting repetitive or boring to a degree not seen by pretty much any other monster. Thirdly, Zinogre has not one, but two rage modes, and a new, interesting way of entering these states. Instead of being based on damage dealt, Zinogre enters rage mode on his own schedule, charging up electricity from the atmosphere and overloading into a supercharged state. During this state, he gains a new attack and his other attacks are augmented to keep the hunter on their toes. Deal a little more adamge and he enters a second state of rage, in which he gains even MORE new attacks and further new comboes are unleashed. A side note, but the way he angrily stomps straight towards you at a brisk pace upon noticing your presence really reflects his status as a tyrant, as if to ask "who dares challenge me?". Combining all these traits with smooth, fluid animations, breakneck speed, and a healthy level of challenge, and you have the absolute pinnacle of Monster Hunter combat. 10/10

 Equipment:  Zinogre is responsible for some of the best Thunder-type weapons in the game, on par with, and sometimes even superior to the Lagiacrus line. Nothing can stop these elemental powerhouses at G-rank, and they are the perfect tools for taking down top-tier foes like Silver Rathalos or Stygian Zinogre. The kingliness of Zinogre is represented well in the names of the weapons themselves, which is awesome too. The armour, thanks to being made from a high-tier monster, sports powerful defense and extremely useful skills. One of the best sets to be made at both high and G rank. Every hunter should have at least one fully-upgraded Zinogre weapon in their box, and the armour is a more than worthwhile investment as well. Recommended 100%. 10/10

 Overall:  Zinogre represents Capcom at the top of their game. This is truly the finest monster to be produced for this series in its entire history, far superior to any other monster in all areas of interest. A killer concept, masterful design, god-like sound work, a battle that simply has no equal, and some of the best high-tier equipment the game has to offer. Combine these things, and the result is absolute perfection. All hail the Monarch. 10/10