The "massive" Monster Hunter Rise expansion, Sunbreak, officially launches next month. Capcom has been doling out information to keep fans interested, and with Rise being 2021's most-downloaded Switch game in Japan it promises to be a big event. More accessible tutorials and an emphasis on open-world movement helped the latest Monster Hunter gain a sturdy foothold in the West as well, and Sunbreak will feature "Three Lords" based on myths and stories of western canon: the vampiric Malzeno, werewolf Lunagaron, and Frankenstein's monster Garangolm.
Capcom's Monster Hunter Digital Event for May 2022 announced three more monsters coming to Sunbreak, the returning fan-favorite Seregios alongside new subspecies for Rise's Somnacanth and Almudron. The expansion's latest trailer, plus further breakdowns by producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and director Yoshitake Suzuki, also gave hunters a good idea of mechanics to expect in Sunbreak. One notable addition is "Switch Skill Swap," letting players bring multiple sets of special attacks to diversify their arsenal. However, another addition that could become a staple of the Monster Hunter franchise is "Follower Quests."
What Are Follower Quests in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak?
Follower Quests are teased following the Sunbreak logo drop in its latest trailer, during which the player character is joined by Kamura Village quest maidens Hinoa and Minoto to take on Monster Hunter Rise's flagship monster Magnamalo. The twin sisters wield a Bow and a Lance, respectively, and are seen with a full range of abilities that the player utilizes: grappling with Wirebugs, riding Palamutes, and cooking steak.
Suzuki later reveals Follower Quests are solo activities featuring story characters, essentially acting as smart NPCs with their own weapon specialties akin to hunting with other users in the Gathering Hub. These followers are unlocked gradually "as you advance in the game" according to Suzuki, including Fiorayne, Luchika, Jae, Admiral Galleus, and Master Arlow from Elgado Outpost; as well as several unnamed companions from Kamura Village. Among their capabilities are recovering health, placing traps, and using the Wyvern Riding feature, with players incentivized to take on Follower Quests because some offer "exclusive rewards."
How Follower Quests Could Improve Future Monster Hunter Entries
This activity was teased in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak's trailer during The Game Awards 2021, which shows Fiorayne - a Knight of the Royal Order - stepping in to help players fight a Lunagaron that invades the Shrine Ruins. It also cleverly builds upon Rampage quests from the base game, which act as pseudo-tower defense maps wherein players are able to summon the "Warriors of Kamura" for a limited time to help defeat hordes of monsters.
Those summonable warriors include Hinoa and Minoto as a duo, also wielding their Bow and Lance, which suggests the other characters from that mode are likely candidates to join Follower Quests. Rampage quests also include Kamura Village elder Fugen with a Longsword, buddy handler Iori with allied Palico and Palamutes, tutorial questgiver Utsushi, and Bunny Dango chef Yomogi with a machine cannon. Utsushi also appears in The Game Awards trailer battling Lunagaron, and Yomogi could theoretically sub out the Rampage-exclusive installation for a similar Heavy Bowgun.
While this new quest type is a great addition to Sunbreak, it also presents an opportunity for Capcom's later endeavors. One quirk of the Monster Hunter universe has always been players hearing about, but not usually seeing the endeavors of supposedly master hunters across the globe. Many NPCs tell tales of their adventures or even give players the ability to craft their armor sets after completing certain quests, but rarely do players see anyone else hunting outside multiplayer. Including Follower Quests in future titles from the get-go would not only give more NPCs defined personalities through their hunting styles, but also make it easier to develop their roles in the narrative.
Monster Hunter Rise is available now for PC and Switch. Its Sunbreak expansion launches on June 30, 2022.
