Monday, February 10, 2020

Monster Hunter Monster Spotlight: Deviljho


When a hunter makes it to High Rank, their quest can be invaded be other large monsters that aren’t their intended targets. In Monster Hunter 3, the staple monster for that mechanic was the Deviljho. While it may look like someone engineered a tyrannosaurus crossed with a pickle, there is nothing laughable about it. The first thing that should catch your attention is the change in atmosphere upon its arrival. It has its own musical score that plays when it appears and has the ability to escalate a hunt’s difficulty within seconds of its arrival. Being a bulky dinosaur, one hit this thing could easily knock off more than half of a hunter’s health with one hit if they haven’t prepared themselves.  Newly high ranked players are faced with a huge difficulty spike then they come face to face with it. That’s not even ignoring the attacks in the Deviljho’s arsenal. It has standard attacks you’d expect to see such as a forward charge and a tail swipe, the real danger comes from the ailments that it can inflict on you. It can shoot dragon breath that can strip your weapons of their elemental damage leaving you to only rely on raw power.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Convention Survival Guide by Robert Andrews



Intro
So, you’ve decided to attend your first convention. I remember what it was like when I attended my first Anime Blues Con. Going in unprepared can really take it out for an attendee that hopes to do this long term. After getting a few underneath my belt, I thought it’d be nice to share what I’ve learned, heard and seen since attending in 2012. This will help with conventions from the small, local scene to the nationally covered events. These are the ins and outs of what to do and what not to do and how to survive a convention weekend.

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Monster Hunter Monster Spotlight: Tigrex


I think it’s start by covering the first monster to truly give me grief when I jumped into the series, the Tigrex. When I saw this thing on the cover of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, I knew I was in for a brutal fight. From its massive, chomping jaws to its lunges and swinging tail, this wyvern is definitely one that relies on pure power. This was the first monster I faced in the game that actually made me nervous to fight when I first came across it. There was nothing fancy about the way it moved or fought. Its only goal was to crush the hunter. It can be one of the faster monsters to deal with if you aren’t careful, but when it’s enraged, that only makes it kick the speed and damage up a few notches.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Monster Hunter Monster Spotlight: Intro


           
 I love Monster Hunter. Ever since picking up Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for the PSP, I’ve been enthralled with the idea of teaming up with fellow players, wielding an over-the-top weapon and going toe to toe with giant, fearsome beasts. The world of Monster Hunter is home to a cornucopia of predators from giant crabs and birds to dinosaurs and dragons. These creatures are easily what I find most appealing about the series. From their designs to their attacks, there are always those select enemies that get my hunter’s blood pumping when I’m facing them. These are the ones that I happen to hold a soft spot for and have been my favorites in the entire series. Monster Spotlight is my way of showing and explaining my appreciation for the beasts that keep me coming back to carve or get carted over and over again.