User blog comment:Lord Loss/Monster Appreciation Week: Nibelsnarf/@comment-1758220-20130429071747

Ugh, I'm doing that thing again where I put these off. Sorry!

 NIBELSNARF: 

 Concept:  Well, I'm glad Capcom realized so soon that the Sandy Plains was aching for more exclusives, let alone a Leviathan. I think what sets it apart from the rest of the family is how intertwined it is with the environment. Capcom worked around the idea of a monster that literally uses the desert sands both offensively and defensively. This decision would go on to positively influence the visual and combat design of the monster. 9/10

 Design:  I was also pleasantly surprised that they went for a short-necked, Gobul-like design rather than something like Lagiacrus or Agnaktor. There's really a lot to like here, and I think it's one of my favourite designs from 3rd gen. The duality of the design is really key. On the top you have a worn, weathered, rocky carapace, with almost chalk-like ring designs along the spine, but on the bottom, you have this beautiful, smooth, ornate pattern of flourescent shades of blue, yellow, and white. Reminds me almost of a tropical reef fish or sea slug, and when he pops out of the sand, the shining underbelly is a gorgeous sight to see among the brown desert. Beyond color, I like how a lot of its body is designed around its use of the environment. the orifices on the back which eject sand are a really nice touch, for one thing. His "gills" on the sides of his head are also really well realized, as he can even be seen unfolding them and ejecting the excess sand from them. The eyes on top of the head is an interesting and memorable touch, as are the rows and rows of long, pointed teeth. Bright colours meet functionality for a multiu-faceted design. 8.5/10

 Sound:  I find that a lot of the sounds he makes are quite hard to discern. Just loudness, really. That said, the sound he makes when he bites while charging is absolutely adorable! 6.5/10

 Gameplay:  One of the most underrated fights in 3rd gen, if you ask me. He really does not get enough praise for his battle. Let me just start with the fact that literally ALL of his animations are completely exclusive. He doesn't nick a single frame from any other monster, which is absolutely awesome. As such, the fight is one of the most unique in the game, with all manner of weird and wild attacks to observe. These range from a rampaging charge/bite, subterranean surprise attacks, and my personal favourite, a vortex-charged sand beam that it visibly struggles to remain in control of. His ability to be fished out adds a cinematic flair to the battle, with the dynamic camera angles, and the bait-like, dummy-Nibelsnarves that dot the scenery are a nice touch indeed. I can't stress it enough, this fight is absolutely great, and people should sing praise to it more than they do. 9.5/10

 Equipment:  The equipment for this one is a mixed bag. On the one hand, the water-type weapons that can be made from him are rather good for mid-level battles at the port, but slightly less useful in the village. In fact, even the armour is quite serviceable at all ranks. What I'm disappointed by is how the set looks visually. I dislike how little resemblence it bears to the monster from which it is made, similar to Plesioth's armour. The military motif is really a strange idea, and I can't understand what the connection is. Conventional armour design would have been much better in my opinion. But of course, functionality trumps looks, so I can't rag on it oo hard. 7/10

 Overall:  Nibelsnarf is a great addition to 3rd gen. He's a much-welcomed exclusive monster for the Sandy Plains, and ensures that nowhere are we safe from the Leviathan class. He combines a detailed, thoughtful and eye-popping design with a gameplay experience you literally won't find anywhere else in MH. Though the equipment leaves more than a little to be desired, and the sound design is definitely not the best, Nibelsnarf's transition from concept to gameplay is expertly executed. This monster is a one of a kind, refreshingly new package all around, despite a few minor kinks. 8.5/10