Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is a big success for Capcom on PC, but it hasn't been an entirely smooth ride. Players have complained about performance problems, issues with matchmaking, and worst of all, a tendency to erase saves—a potentially maddening loss for a game that can easily eat up hundreds of hours of playtime.

Capcom acknowledged the problems today on Twitter, where it announced the upcoming release of a patch intended to address Iceborne's "unusually high level of CPU utilization during active gameplay," as well as the issue with incompatible saved games.

The Steam announcement concerning lost saves confirms that the problem is by a change made in the October 2018 update that added Kulve Taroth to the game. Capcom said that players impacted by the problem should shut down the game when they receive the "Failed to read saved data for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Create new save data?" warning.

Unfortunately, there's no indication of a possible fix for players who have already pushed the "Y" button. My guess is that with the data already erased, the only options are to carry on with the new game, or use something like the MHWSaveTransfer utility and Iceborne Ready save file to get straight into the Iceborne expansion.

The patch is expected to be out "in the coming days," although a solid date hasn't been set yet.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne finally arrived on PC yesterday, but it's not going especially well for everyone. A number of players on Steam and Reddit are complaining that the update has deleted their saves, which in some cases has cost them hundreds of hours of gameplay.

After installing the Iceborne expansion, players impacted by the issue are told that a compatible save file cannot be found when the game starts. At that point, they're prompted to create a new save, which begins a brand new game. Making matters worse, according to VG247, exiting the game at that point automatically uploads the same to Steam (assuming you have Steam Cloud saves enabled), so you can kiss that one goodbye, too.

One theory is that the presence of certain mods could be causing compatibility issues, although at least a few players have said that they lost their saves despite having no mods installed. Another possibility is that long-absent players may have missed an update that changed save formats, and Iceborne is unable to read the older saves. A Capcom rep said the team is aware of the complaints and looking into the issue, but hasn't come up with anything definitive yet.

If you haven't yet run the Iceborne expansion but plan to do so imminently, you'd probably be well advised to back up your saves manually before you do anything, which you should be able to find in Steam\User data\(your steam user ID number)\582010. If your saves have already been wiped, you might be able to restore them with the MHWSaveTransfer utility and this "Iceborne Ready" save, both available from NexusMods (via Steam user nomotg).

Alternatively, instead of diving face-first into a potentially risky DIY fix, you could just wait a bit while Capcom sorts it out. You do you, but that's the route that I'd recommend. We'll let you know when more information becomes available.

In the meantime, if you've avoided any issues and are happily hunting monsters in this icy new world, we've got some helpful resources you should probably check out, including list of fearsome new beasts, ten things you should do before you get going, and a Guiding Lands endgame guide.

Update: There's no word of a resolution yet, but a Capcom rep said that updates will be posted when they're available on the Steam announcements page. 

2020 is kicking off with a bang! And a crunch, bash, slice, stab—each several thousand times over, into the soft underbellies of very large and very panicked fauna. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is finally hitting PC on January 9, and we have early access to the grand expansion (shh, I know it came out on consoles months ago). I loved Monster Hunter World, so I'm jazzed the best way to play it is nearly here. Check out the PC version in action in the video up top. 

If you're a lapsed player like me, someone who tore through the base game but only dabbled in the endgame as new monsters and events were released, it's important to know what Iceborne is and what kind of Monster Hunter player it's for. 

I'm just a few hours in, and I can't talk about the story after a certain point (not that the MH lore is something to worry about), but I like what I'm seeing so far. It's cold and pretty and more difficult than ever, but the new layered armor system means I'll be making cool clothes out of every last organism in this world, no matter the challenge. Or ethical dilemma. 

Iceborne is difficult: it's balanced for the endgame crowd

It took 40 minutes to kill Iceborne's first monster with the gear I ended with in the base game, the product of about 60 hours of play. Puny numbers to a series vet, big numbers to a fervent but infrequent fan. 

I mean, I'm still getting to grips with the controls again and it took me a bit to realize that the default key assignments had changed since I last played, but I don't think those things mattered much. The damage I was doing wasn't enough, which is why it dragged on for so long. Iceborne marks the beginning of a new power curve, a steeper one that's going to be extra exhausting for the more casual crowd, but—hopefully—all the more satisfying in the end. I'm already feeling encouraged to dip back into the old zones to gear up and get truly prepared for Iceborne. The loop begins again. 

I have no doubt the MH loyalists with hundreds or thousands of hours will breeze through these early battles, but lapsed players shouldn't expect to hit the ground running. Iceborne introduces Master Rank and isn't joking around with the title. To be as prepared as possible to take some big hits, you should take on Behemoth to earn the Drachen armor.

Capcom has thrown new and lapsed players a bone with Defender weapons and Guardian armor sets, though. They're the new base level item, cheap and available right now, before Iceborne is even out. They're meant to help you plow through Monster Hunter World's campaign or original endgame challenges. Several of the Defender weapons are the best in their slot, meaning you can go into Iceborne knowing you're doing an appropriate amount of damage. The Guardian armor, though, is nowhere near the best, so take on Behemoth if you want better protection.

So far, having this gear hasn't made Iceborne that much easier. The first few monsters can still easily deplete half of my HP with one or two direct hits. If you haven't been putting the work in, you'll need to put it in now to be in fighting shape come January.

The fashion game is bigger and better

Layered armor is a stand-in for the transmog system (which is also on the way, assuming PC gets the same console updates) where you can craft purely cosmetic armor sets that simply change the appearance of your actual armor. Looking good is my favorite aspect of the game— setting my own goals according to what cool clothes I want next, so more ways to update my look without busting my stats is great news. 

The environment is a much bigger factor

Now you won't just have to juggle health, stamina, and dodging monster attacks. Iceborne's frigid environment also wants to mess up your day.  

Deep snow can slow movement and reduce visibility, so steering the battle towards clear ground is always on the mind. You're also constantly fighting the onset of Iceblight from monster attacks, which makes you consume stamina faster. Then there's Cold, which reduces the size of your stamina bar over time. You'll need to craft Hot Drinks or know where the nearest hot spring is to offset those effects. It's a lot to take in at once, let alone manage constantly. 

Some armor sets and stats eventually allow you to offset these new negative effects, effectively part of that new power curve, but getting the ideal gear won't be easy. 

It all emphasizes the scavenging and preparation game of Monster Hunter. I can tell I'll need to think harder about what to bring with me. Monsters hit harder, the snow wants to swallow me up, and the new area Hoarfrost Reach is one massive zone that's pretty easy to get lost in. Iceborne is about extending your stamina in every way. Fights are longer, filling out that 50-minute limit with ease early on. Keeping up on supplies, knowing where certain herbs spawn in the world, and knowing exactly what to bring for a particular fight feel more important than ever.

We checked out some Monster Hunter figurines last year, shortly after Monster Hunter: World made its way to PC, and some of them were pretty sweet. But none of them are anywhere as sweet—or maybe "grotesquely ostentatious" is the term I'm really looking for—as the 24k Gold Rathian statuette, and the Silver Rathalos constructed of platinum, offered by Japanese collectible manufacturer U-Treasure.

Hypebeast shared photos of the statues on Instgram, while Google-translated details are available on the U-Treasure site. The Gold Rathian measures approximately 15.5 by 11 cm, stands roughly 7.5 cm in height, and weighs about 600g, while the Silver Rathalos is 15x15x7.5 cm and weighs about 840g. Each comes with a glass case, because of course they do—we're not talking about injection molded plastic crapola here, people.

How much do they cost? I'm glad you asked. They sell for ¥8.8 million each, which is a little over—holy kapowzers—$80,000, or you can pick them in a set for a negligibly discounted ¥16.5 million—that's $150,000 and change, depending on fluctuations currency conversion. For gamers on a budget, silver models, coated in gold or rhodium, can be had for a paltry ¥880,000, or about $8000. That's each, by the way.

In case there's any doubt, these precious metal monsters are officially licensed by Capcom, and actually appear on Capcom Japan's Monster Hunter 15th Anniversary website. Alas, they're only available for purchase in Japan.

Seriously though, just look at these damn things:

What do Monster Hunter: World's diligent Hunters smell like? It's not a question I've ever asked before, but now that the Capcom Tokyo Store is selling a collection of Monster Hunter perfumes, along with Devil May Cry and Phoenix Wright scents, I think answers are needed. 

The two Monster Hunter collections are actually from Monster Hunter Generations and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, but I'm not sure if that would have an impact on the smell. First we'd probably need to establish if it's designed to make us smell like a Hunter or the game itself. 

Its purpose is similarly a mystery. Does it have a practical application, like attracting monsters? Or dates? Does it cover up the smell of sweat and blood and monster drool, or does it just pile on more? Does it provide any buffs?

Clearly there's only one way to tell—I need to douse myself in it. Andy Kelly is in Japan right now, so I could just ask him to get a crate for the office. 

I'm going to assume the Devil May Cry 5 range has the overpowering whiff of leather, and Phoenix Wright probably just sprays something generic on himself because he's too busy with justice to worry about smelling nice. 

The absence of Resident Evil perfume is probably for the best.

I was given Marvel's Avengers cologne for Christmas one year, for some inexplicable reason, and it didn't smell anything like the Avengers, so I'm steeling myself for disappointment again. C'mon Capcom, let me smell like I've just kicked the shit out of a dinosaur.

Capcom has been having a pretty good run lately, what with the success of Monster Hunter: World, the remade Resident Evil 2, and Devil May Cry 5. In its latest financial report, Capcom hints that this string of successes is fuelling a push to revive dormant—but still valuable—Capcom properties.

What those might be is anyone's guess at this point. But Capcom is clearly looking to an international audience now more than ever. Monster Hunter—a series which formerly had about 25 percent of its player base hailing from outside Japan—is now enjoyed by a supermajority of international players, who make up 75 percent of Monster Hunter: World's audience, Capcom says.

The report suggests that Capcom is looking at 'dormant' IPs to re-release or remaster for modern hardware, and given Capcom's recent catalogue, that could mean a range of possibilities. Of course it would be fun to see a remastered Final Fight become available on PC, but what about a completely reimagined version of Ghosts 'n Goblins, designed for modern machines? Could the Lost Planet series work better as co-op experiences now, especially with an audience that's more primed to jump into multiplayer PvE?

You can read the full report on Capcom's website.

Thanks, PCGamesN.

Capcom has a long and rich history of plopping characters into games that they really have no business being in. There's a Chocobo mount in Assassin's Creed: Origins for some reason, and Geralt has done a turn in Monster Hunter: World, and it gets pretty weird sometimes because there's generally no effort made to blend them in. I suppose it's a bit like Agent 47 in a flamingo suit—the incongruity is part of the fun.

That weirdness is going to kick up again in November, when Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield from the Resident Evil series turn up in a Monster Hunter: World Iceborne crossover. And they've brought a friend who is traditionally not a friend.

Capcom announced the crossover today with a trailer that starts off looking relatively straightforward, as these things go. Leon and Claire, in their standard RE garb, find themselves surrounded by zombies, but just as things are about to end horribly, the moon rises—and the zombies go monster hunting. Then they dance. Then Leon and Claire go monster hunting with them. It's a whole thing. 

But it doesn't get really weird until later in the video, when Mr. X shows up. He's not here to horrifically murder anyone, surprisingly: He's got a copy of Raccoon Magazine and what appears to be a giant monster ham, and he's apparently here to help out. Leon even saves him from what looks to be certain death at one point. It's a tender, supportive side of the great, grey-skinned goon that we haven't seen before, and it looks like it could be a lot of fun, as long as you're not hung up on taking any of it too seriously—and don't mind having your perception of the fearsome foe possibly changed forever.

That ship may have already sailed, I guess.

From what we can tell, Mr. X won't be playable but is actually a reskin of the Handler NPC, a Guild Receptionist in Astera who hands out quests to players. That would explain his personality change: The Monster Hunter Wiki says the Handler is "a cheerful and energetic person" who "cares deeply about the safety of others." Like I said, the incongruity is part of the fun.

The bad news is that a specific date for Leon and Claire's (and Mr. X's) arrival in Monster Hunter: World Iceborne hasn't been announced, and that we won't be able to play it immediately anyway, as Iceborne isn't coming to PC until January 2020. Whether we'll get to enjoy their company in the game after that happens remains to be seen: A Capcom rep said that the announcement is only for the console versions of the game, and that information about PC content be released after Iceborne is live on our platform.

Monster Hunter: World has enjoyed loads of free updates since it launched on PC in August 2018. These seem tiny in comparison to the upcoming Monster Hunter: World Iceborne expansion, which promises to be "massive," and comparable in size to the old Ultimate and G Rank versions. Iceborne is out now on console but we still have to wait a while yet until January 2020 to play it on PC just like we did with the base game launch.

Iceborne will feature a whole story campaign set after the events of Monster Hunter: World, including a new area and changes to the existing world. The big new baddie is the Elder Dragon called Velkhana. We've seen a bunch of new Iceborne videos since the announcement: everything from new monster showcases, the new Clutch Claw, developer interviews, and story trailers. We've picked the best below to tell you what you need to know about the expansion.

Read on for the full Monster Hunter: World Iceborne details from E3, Gamescom, and its console launch.

Here's Iceborne's PC trailer in 4k

Capcom released a trailer for Iceborne just for PC players showing off the game in 4k at 60FPS. Here are the PC-specific additions coming to Iceborne according to the trailer:

• High resolution texture pack support
• 4k resolution and uncapped framerate
• Ultrawide screen support
• DirectX 12 support
• Improved keyboard and mouse controls

Monster Hunter: World Iceborne is World's only expansion, will conclude the story

During a Rapid-Fire interview with Game Informer, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto said, "Iceborne basically completes World, so it will be the last expansion." That's a bit of a bummer, but we can assume this is due to the studio being hard at work on World's followup, which will hopefully have a more timely PC version.

But Capcom isn't completely hanging up Monster Hunter: World after Iceborne. "We're planning a lot of the updates for the future," said Tsujimoto. Just don't expect many new mechanics, areas, or monsters following Iceborne.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne gameplay footage

Here's Capcom's Iceborne livestream, with half an hour of details on the new expansion and plenty of footage showing off its new monsters, hunter abilities, and new region. More on all of those below.

Iceborne's new location is called the Hoarfrost Reach, and it'll be World's biggest area

It's snowing in monsterland. Iceborne is adding a whole new area to World, and it sounds like it's not going to be a single map. Capcom's developers explained that you'll open up new parts of the Hoarfrost Reach as Iceborne's story progresses. They said it'll become fully explorable by the midpoint of the new campaign, and that "in the end it'll be the largest region in Monster Hunter: World so far."

The Hoarfrost Reach is covered in thick, fluffy snow, with new endemic wildlife including popos, a returning creature from past games. It's cold, which means the Hoarfrost Reach will drain your stamina faster than usual unless you scrounge some hot peppers to make a Hot Drink, which will offset the chill. There are also hot springs you can hang out in to warm up.

During Game Informer's Rapid-Fire interview, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto said that the story of Iceborne will take place half in Hoarfrost Reach and half in the old continent, so areas like the Ancient Forest or Coral Highlands.

Iceborne will have a new hot spring gathering hub

The new developer diary from Capcom shows off a new gathering hub for players in Iceborne called Seliana, which seams like a great place to relax in the frigid climate. 

As well as facilitating player interaction, the new hub will also streamline the process of gearing up for a fight by enabling quick access to facilities including the Smithy, Resource Center, the Botanical Research Center, and Argosy. There are still "transitional periods," but the number of loading screens will be reduced.

Hail a monster cab

Iceborne will add brand new Raider Rides, an alternative to fast travel where you can ride on the back of a monster. Capcom says that while you won't be able to control the monster directly like a mount (it is still wild, after all), it can be instructed to either carry you to a map location of your choosing or follow the tracks of other nearby monsters. 

Iceborne's new hunter actions, weapon combos, and Master Rank

Iceborne will continue Monster Hunter: World's story with a big new location and a new rank: Master Rank. Capcom says it's essentially G-Rank from past Monster Hunter games.

The most exciting of Iceborne's new features, at least for hunters who still like whoopin' up on its current bestiary, are its new hunter actions. Here's a major one: You'll be able to use the slinger with your weapon drawn, on every single weapon type. Greatsword, dual blades, bowgun, doesn't matter. That's going to be hugely convenient for getting off flash pods mid-battle.

Your slinger also has a new feature called the Clutch Claw, which is pretty much what it sounds like. It lets you grapple onto a monster from range, and all of the game's weapons will have combos that make use of the Clutch Claw in some way. More on that below.

A basic, weapon-agnostic move is called the Flinch Shot. Grapple onto a monster's head and unload your entire inventory of flash pods to send the monster hurtling in the other direction. Used strategically, you can smash them into walls or traps this way.

Capcom gave some other examples, like the dual blades being able to grapple onto a monster mid-combo. A greatsword combo move uses the slinger to make a monster flinch, so you can deliver the slow finishing blow to the head.

There are also going to be new mods for the light bowgun, including one that let you reload ammo while evading.

Capcom didn't talk about any new weapons being added to Iceborne, but we're hoping the new gear from the new monsters have some special designs, up there with the likes of the Wyvern Ignition. Fingers crossed.

The Clutch Claw

The Clutch Claw will work like a grappling hook that you can use when readying your Slinger to attach yourself to monsters. Each weapon can be used in combination with the Clutch Claw and each will be getting new weapon abilities as well. Capcom released the trailer above summing up the Clutch Claw itself. They've also released individual videos showing the Clutch Claw in combination with heavy weapons, light weapons, and technical weapons.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is getting a dynamic difficulty system

This is the kind of exciting, small change that could dramatically improve the feel of hunts. In Monster Hunter games up until now, monsters could only have two health pools: one for solo hunts, and one with roughly double health for two or more players. This made two or three player hunts a slog, but Capcom has a better way.

In Iceborne, there's a new health pool between the two that should feel better tuned for the player count. More importantly, it scales dynamically. If someone disconnects from the session, the monster's health with adjust accordingly. The best part? The feature will come as an update to all players, not just Iceborne. Neat!

Hunter Helper rewards high-rank players for helping newbies

Speaking to Eurogamer, Capcom explained Iceborne's new Hunter Helper system, which rewards veteran players for helping low rank players with quests.

"We've also got a system in place called Hunter Helper, so if you haven't finished World yet and want to catch up so you can play Iceborne, your friends who are a higher rank than you will actually get rewards by playing quests with you and helping you finish up your storyline," explained Iceborne directors Kaname Fujioka and Daisuke Ichihara.

"We understand there are people who are still part-way along the journey on this game, and we can reassure them it's definitely something you don't need to think 'it's not for you' just because you haven't finished yet, or because you still haven't reached a certain rank."

Your Palico can revive your hunter in Monster Hunter: World Iceborne

In a sit-down with Game Informer, Capcom revealed that new Palico gadgets are on the way in Iceborne. We heard about one in particular, which allows a Palico to revive their hunter after fainting. That's an incredibly useful tool, especially on tougher quests with low life counts.

Iceborne's new monsters

Velkhana - A new Elder Dragon, and Iceborne's new big bad. Velkhana uses ice attacks, but Capcom says that naturally, since it's a mysterious, ancient creature, there's more to it than that. Expect a twist.

Capcom's new trailer, above, introduces the legend of the Old Everwyrm, something that has the power to destroy ecosystems. It seems like the legend is somehow related to Velkhana, or perhaps is Velkhana?

Zinogre - The sharp, angry dog is making a return in Iceborne. In Iceborne, Capcom describes the Zinogre as having a "thunderous howl, imposing stance, and dynamic gameplay mechanics paired with epic custom battle music" that creates memorable hunts.

Brachydios - This punchy wyvern is making its return from MH3 Ultimate. Instead of sharp claws, the Brachydios has two blunt stumps coated in highly explosive green slime. The creature can activate its slime to make its punches explosives, but water attacks are particularly effective against it.

Tigrex -  The Tigrex is a returning monster that first appeared in Monster Hunter Freedom 2. The Tigrex is known for its ear-piercing screams and brute strength rather than elemental attacks. In the short video above it can be seen throwing rocks for a huge area of effect attack.

Shrieking Legiana - A new variant of Legiana, the Shrieking Legiana is known to slow its prey with a freezing wind it emits. After slowing prey to a crawl, it can follow up with elemental ice attacks seen in the short preview above.

Nargacuga - A returning favorite, Capcom says he'll appear around the halfway point in the story. Interestingly, the footage of Nargacuga showed him appearing in the Ancient Forest, the strongest evidence that Iceborne will promise some big changes for the existing World regions. Capcom says "as usual, he's no pushover!" and that he has all his old movesets plus some crafty new moves. He's fond of turf wars and is definitely going to kick Rathalos's ass.

Banbaro - A new brute wyvern monsters who shows up early in Iceborne. He has a straightforward moveset that's mostly built around charging straight at you, but his giant horns will pick up anything in his path. That means Banbaro can end up hurling boulders or full-on trees at you while he charges.

Beotodus - Described as the first large monster you'll fight in Iceborne. He's the snow version of the fishy Jyuratodus, submerging himself in thick snow drifts and popping out to ruin your day. Capcom says getting him out of the snow will be the trick.

Barioth - The giant, cat-like wyvern Barioth, ruler of the Hoarfrost Reach, is returning to sink its teeth into some poor Popo and hunters. Thanks to Game Informer for the exclusive first-look at a turf war between the Barioth and Banbaro.

Glavenus - Check out the sword-tailed brute monster Glavenus in the trailer above. The video shows off its signature move, sharpening its tail along the ground. 

The World Cosplay Summit is an annual event that's been held in Japan every year since 2003 to celebrate Japanese pop culture and its influence on the world. Last week, duos from 40 participating countries took part in the competition and the winners were Team Australia's KCoz and A. K. Wirru. 

Their elaborate Azure Starlord armor sets and appropriately oversized Monster Hunter weapons won out over plenty of other great costumes, like Team Arabia and Team China's Sekiro cosplay, Team Indonesia's Soul Calibur cosplay, and a bunch of other stuff from things that aren't videogames or at least aren't out on PC, and which I am therefore forbidden from mentioning under pain of ancestral curse.

There's a video showcasing the entrants to a synthwave soundtrack below. Make sure to turn closed captions on to see the sources of each cosplay if you're not up-to-date on your anime series and console spectacle fighters.

Monster Hunter is hilarious. I'm wading through a chest-high snow drift as a sinister fin roams around the clearing. The piranha-like Beotodus swims under the snow looking for an opportunity to explode from beneath like a great white puncturing a seal. My instincts tell me to unsling the enormous sword-axe on my back and fight back, but instead I'm chugging cocoa from a steaming flask. Seconds feel like minutes as my character glugs, glugs, glugs, and the fin lurches dangerously in my direction.

Just in time the animation finishes, I dive roll sideways as Beotodus erupts from the snow with a spinning tail attack. The monster's body clips me and I fall backwards onto my butt. A bit of health lost, but could be worse. The main thing is I have another window I can use to stuff my face. I pull out an enormous chunk of meat and watch the circling fin again as I chomp... chomp... chomp.

High-risk snacking is an integral part of the Monster Hunter experience, and that's still true in the massive Iceborne expansion, which adds a huge snowy zone, new monsters, new weapons, and new crafting opportunities. The game has very funny running-while-swigging animations because the developers know how tense and necessary these moments are to a successful hunt. The Beotodus's claws inflict a new chilling status effect that slowly eats away my stamina bar. The hot drink gives me some resistance to that and other cold effects, and the well done steak restores huge chunks of lost stamina bar. My feline Palico buddy hits me with a vigour wasp to restore my lost health—thanks, chum—and I'm back to fighting form.

Later I learn that instead of the hot drink, I could have taken a run through a hot spring to hold back the chill. You can spot these little oases by the gentle heat shimmer, warm colouration, and hosts of tiny otter-things taking a happy bath. Iceborne really wants you to feel the cold. Frost coats your weapon as you fight, snow deforms realistically under your feet, and drifts can slow you down at crucial moments. Watch out for cold streams too, I lingered in one too long and was reduced to a shivering wreck.

After spending a few hours with Iceborne, I don't know what more I could want from a Monster Hunter World expansion. I'm not particularly interested in new weapon archetypes—there are ten or so I still haven't mastered—but the addition of new grappling moves and combo possibilities does just enough to broaden the charge blade moveset I'm familiar with. 

You use left-trigger to aim the grapple and press circle to launch it at a monster. The range is deceptively short, so it's something you use when you're already close to combat engagement range. If you hit, you grapple to the monster's hide. From there you can hop between sections—haunch, to back, to head—and land a couple of strong blows before dismounting. It's a different attack to the familiar leap-to-back attack that lets you repeatedly stab the monster until it falls over. The grapple is good for closing on a monster that likes to dart about quickly (*shakes fist at Odogaron*), and it lets you target bodyparts. Smashing Beotodus' legs stops it from afflicting you with that nasty chilled debuff.

The new landmass is larger than any of the existing zones. The four or five areas I explored were relatively flat, but the north of the map is dominated by a mountain where I'd hope to see taller locations reminiscent of the coral highlands. There are a few underground caverns too, where the floor is a glossy, transparent sheet of blue ice. The zone is rich with new plantlife and new types of ore to mine, and there is a lot of new ambient wildlife, such as skunk-like creatures that like to jump on you and claw your face until you shake them off.

There are a lot of other small but welcome additions. Overclothes let you keep your armour set bonuses but change your appearance to something more fitting for the wintry climes of Iceborne. There's a new camp where your utilities are much more conveniently arranged and easy to access. Crucially, there's a new chef brigade in the kitchen. I don't know why the sight of a homely cat massaging salt flakes into a hunk of beef makes me smile, but that's the peculiar charm of Monster Hunter. Sure, it's a game about hunting down beautiful creatures and stealing their bones, but it's all done with a powerful sense of enthusiasm and fun. Monster Hunter is hilarious.

Monster Hunter: World Iceborne is coming to PC in January 2020.