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Introduction
Big... monsters. That’s the essence of Monster Hunter—a game series that dares to ask, "What if every encounter was a boss battle?" With tight combat, exaggerated weapons, and of course, monsters, monsters, and more monsters, it has captivated players for over 20 years. Each installment of the series has sought to mix up the now-classic gameplay, but Monster Hunter Rise takes things a step further by weaving in the rich tapestry of Japanese folklore. This blend of cultural history and terrifying legends not only elevates the game but also breathes life into some of Japan's most haunting tales.
The Evolution of Monster Hunter
Monster Hunter Rise is a fascinating installment in the series, especially following the mega-hit Monster Hunter: World. That game brought breathtaking graphics, expansive environments, and immersive hunting mechanics, creating an experience where players truly felt they were part of a living, breathing world. It was slower-paced, with grand spectacles that invited players to take their time and soak in the environment.
Then came Monster Hunter Rise, which said, "Let’s make the pace faster. Here’s a rideable dog. Godzilla-style monster battles? You bet. How about controlling a monster to fight another monster? Oh, and by the way, you’re basically Spider-Man now, too." It’s a full-blown action game that retains what made the series great while cranking everything up to 11.
But it’s not just the gameplay that makes Rise stand out. The game world is steeped in the aesthetics of Feudal Japan, brimming with cultural details that celebrate Japanese heritage. Take Kamura Village, the game’s main hub, which is adorned with cherry blossom flowers. These blossoms symbolize renewal and fit perfectly with the “Rise” in the game's title, representing the coming of spring after the icy world of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. This attention to Japanese culture feels like a celebration, a homage to the country’s rich history and its influence on the game.
Cultural Influences in Monster Hunter Rise
The design of Kamura Village, with its grand temples, vibrant lanterns, and nature-inspired elements, is a love letter to traditional Japanese architecture and aesthetics. Even the food reflects Japanese culture. While previous games featured giant meals of steak and vegetables, Rise introduces dango—a round Japanese dumpling skewered on a stick. The canteen offers various types of dango, each with specific stat boosts, making mealtime both a personal and strategic part of the game.
The cultural influences extend to the very design of your hunter. When you first boot up the game, your character dons ninja-inspired outfits, reflecting Japan's rich history of stealth and agility. This isn’t just for show—the game’s new wirebug mechanic allows for unprecedented vertical movement, making you feel like a true ninja as you zip through the air. The addition of rideable dogs, or Palamutes, is another nod to Japanese culture, referencing the loyal canine hunting companions of old, such as the Akita, which helped track down wild prey.
But as iconic as these elements are, the real stars of Monster Hunter Rise are the monsters, each of which draws inspiration from yokai—strange and supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore.
The Haunting Inspiration of Yokai
Yokai are a broad and fascinating category of supernatural entities in Japanese folklore, encompassing everything from ghosts and spirits to gods, possessions, and urban legends. Historically, yokai were part of local belief systems in villages across Japan, much like ghost stories in other cultures. They served as explanations for the mysterious and often frightening aspects of life.
Monster Hunter Rise pays homage to these legends by reimagining yokai as terrifying and formidable creatures that players must hunt. Here’s a closer look at some of the game’s most iconic monsters and their eerie inspirations.
Tetranadon and the Kappa
One of the most prominent new monsters in Rise is the Tetranadon, a large, amphibious beast with a turtle-like shell and a belly that inflates to enormous proportions. This creature draws direct inspiration from the kappa, one of the most common yokai in Japanese folklore.
Kappa are aquatic humanoids with scaly skin, webbed feet, and turtle-like beaks. They are known for their incredible strength and their dish-shaped heads, which must always be filled with water. Should the water spill, the kappa would lose its power and potentially die. The Tetranadon mirrors this yokai’s traits, with its large, water-filled belly and sumo-inspired attacks, such as belly flops and seismic stomps.
Bishaten and the Tengu
The Bishaten is another fascinating creature in Monster Hunter Rise. This ape-like monster with a hand for a tail throws fruit at its enemies and has a striking red face with a long nose. It’s inspired by the tengu, a type of yokai that is iconic in Japanese culture. Tengu are often depicted as bird-like humanoids with red faces and long noses. The Bishaten, with its mischievous behavior and fruit-throwing antics, echoes the trickster nature of the tengu, particularly the kotengu, a variant known for its sharp beak and red complexion.
The tengu’s influence goes beyond just the Bishaten’s appearance. The fruit-throwing mechanic is a nod to a famous Japanese folktale, "The Crab and the Monkey," in which a monkey kills a crab by throwing hard, unripe fruit at it. This story, while dark, adds a layer of cultural depth to the Bishaten’s design and behavior.
Goss Harag and the Namahage
Moving to the icy regions of the game, we encounter the Goss Harag, a terrifying creature that resembles a demonic ice bear. This monster is nearly identical to the Namahage, a yokai from the Akita Prefecture in Japan. Namahage are demons with bright red or blue skin, wild hair,
sharp teeth, and horns, often depicted carrying large blades. During New Year’s festivities, villagers dress as Namahage to scare away evil spirits. The Goss Harag embodies this fearsome yokai, with its ice bear aesthetic adding an extra layer of terror.
Great Izuchi and the Kama-itachi
The Great Izuchi is a giant, scythe-tailed raptor that leads a pack of smaller Izuchi. This creature is inspired by the kama-itachi, a yokai known as the “sickle weasel.” Kama-itachi are small, invisible weasels with razor-sharp claws that attack so quickly that their victims have no idea what hit them. In Rise, the Great Izuchi’s rapid, scythe-like tail attacks and its tendency to travel in groups of three reflect the kama-itachi’s swift and deadly nature.
Interestingly, the design of the Great Izuchi also includes a subtle reference to the kuchisake-onna, or the Slit-Mouthed Woman, a ghostly figure who haunts her victims and asks if they think she is beautiful. If they answer incorrectly, she reveals her grotesque, mutilated mouth and attacks. The Great Izuchi’s mouth design hints at this terrifying yokai, adding another layer of horror to its already fearsome presence.
Aknosom and the Kasa-obake
Not all monsters in Rise are directly terrifying, but that doesn’t make their yokai inspirations any less interesting. Take the Aknosom, a fiery, majestic crane-like creature. Surprisingly, its design is based on the kasa-obake—a haunted umbrella yokai. Kasa-obake are typically depicted as one-eyed umbrellas with long tongues and a single leg. The connection might seem odd, but when a crane stands on one foot with its wings closed, it can resemble an umbrella. The Monster Hunter team cleverly used this imagery to create the Aknosom, blending the elegant with the eerie.
Almudron and the Dorotabō
The Almudron is a massive, mud-dwelling leviathan that uses the earth itself as a weapon. This monster takes inspiration from the dorotabō, a yokai that manifests as the ghost of an old man who worked tirelessly in rice fields. Dorotabō emerge from the mud, seeking vengeance on those who neglected or ruined their fields. The Almudron captures this vengeful spirit, using its muddy environment to ensnare and attack hunters, much like the dorotabō would rise from the earth to exact its revenge.
Conclusion
Monster Hunter Rise is more than just another installment in the long-running series. It’s a celebration of Japanese culture, history, and folklore, brought to life through its richly detailed world and the terrifying monsters that inhabit it. By drawing on the legends of yokai, the game not only introduces players to thrilling new challenges but also keeps the ancient stories of Japan alive.
As you hunt these monsters, take a moment to appreciate the history and culture they represent. Each battle is not just a test of skill but a journey into the heart of Japanese folklore—a world where the supernatural and the real coexist, where ancient spirits still roam, and where every fight is a legend in the making.
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