I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised by how short this book was!

It includes character drawings, maps and explanations of the new world, and a history of how this new world was created. There are also some insights from developers and creators about specifics in the game development which is a cool insight.

There's also information about some of the creatures of this new world and great pictures!

Overall I was expecting something longer and more thorough, but there's some great information for fans of the series in this book.

The Monster Hunter franchise has come a long way since its inception back in 2004. Over the years, Monster Hunter has come in many iterations across just about every gaming platform, from its roots on the Playstation 2 to the handheld hotspots of the PSP and Nintendo 3DS. While the series has always been a hit in its home country of Japan, Monster Hunter only garnered a measly cult-following here in the West. But those untapped markets overseas would soon burst wide open, as Capcom prepared to make Monster Hunter a global success with their current-gen iteration. Monster Hunter: World was Capcom’s most ambitious entry in the series, aiming to take the Western home console scene by storm. And that’s exactly what they did – as of March 2020, Monster Hunter: World is Capcom’s best-selling game of all time, with over 15 million copies sold worldwide (a majority of sales coming from outside Japan!).

But what makes Monster Hunter: World any different from previous titles? Ultimately, World does what the series has set out to do from the very beginning – to create a Monster Hunter game that makes players feel like they’ve stepped into a living, breathing ecosystem. Although the franchise has always been about smacking beasts with excessively large weapons, at its core, the games want you to feel like these monsters are truly a part of the environments we find them in. From sprawling deserts to chilling mountain tops, Monster Hunter’s landscapes are just as important as the monsters who inhabit them. And with the technical power of current-gen consoles, Monster Hunter: World created massive, detailed environments like never before. With the release of Monster Hunter: World – Official Complete Works from VIZ Media, readers will get an in-depth look at the creative process; expanding the lore and enriching the details of Capcom’s most grandiose Monster Hunter game to date.

At a whopping 560 pages, Official Complete Works is packed to the brim with content – including commentary from the producers, tons of concept art, detailed weapon and monster descriptions, and passages that expand on the story surrounding the New World. I’m not exaggerating when I say this book is incredibly detailed – take the Monsters & Endemic Life section for example. Each of World’s diverse creatures has a full-on ecological report, detailing the creatures’ body & bone structure, eating habits, evolutionary traits, and how they interact with the environment, other monsters, and hunters. The Fifth Fleet and their home base of Astera receive plenty of love as well. Couldn’t get enough of our cheery pard, The Handler? Well, there’s a whole section that provides a thorough look at her backstory, skillset, and motivations, going so far as to explain the various equipment she carries around.

And of course, there’s a ton of beautiful art and production notes describing the creation of Monster Hunter: World’s beautiful environments. Monster Hunter really took it to the next level with its map designs for World, rendering massive ecosystems without the need for loading screens between areas. These expansive locales are ripe with wildlife, luscious foliage, and scenic views that’ll have you in awe. Official Complete Works walks you through the conception of each map, explaining the specific design choices for every nook and cranny of the landscape. Monster Hunter has never looked so good, and this book aims to impress. Capcom put a lot of hard work into making this one of the most immersive entries in the series.

Whether you’ve been hunting since day one or World is your first venture into the franchise, Monster Hunter: World – Official Complete Works is a must-have for fans. Thanks to VIZ Media for letting me take a peek at an advance copy of this gorgeous book. Look forward to its release on August 11th!