Monster Hunter Puzzles

It’s impressive how well the game is rigged - I can struggle with a level over and over even using a booster I own, but as soon as I watch an ad that gives me the exact same booster, I magically beat the level in less than half the moves and all the colors match up perfectly? Every time I play I get the deep sense that it is unfair design - but somehow seems *just* perfectly calibrated to let me win at the point where I’m ready to give up, or when I do stop trying, I magically beat the level on the first try next time I reopen the game. The powerups begin behaving erratically later in the game - a bomb + boomerang sent right into other powerups I could have used instead of an important section, or boomerangs hitting random pieces instead of the high priority pieces causing me to lose the level. Also, recommended moves that make no sense or do nothing when a far superior move is available. That’s all fine. Whatever. Standard manipulation tactics for a monetized match 3 game. But forcing me to watch an ad before I get to play the game at ALL, now? Wowza. The game is cute and entertaining if you don’t mind watching ads to win or don’t find it frustrating to lose. I stopped watching ads on principle because it’s crazy that that makes me instantly win, and if it takes me 10 hearts to pass a level, so be it.

The gameplay is fun, please don’t misinterpret this. It’s great for those who enjoy the likes of bejeweled blitz and candy crush. As I progressed through the game, I found it more resource-reliant as I progressed. The balance feels off to the point where it’s frustrating. The difficulty levels between the various puzzles you’ll play through a session feels like a rollercoaster, sometimes it’s really easy and other times it’s really difficult. Difficult to the point where a player will be given 20% of the board to play on while the remaining 80% is littered with obstacles you have to clear several times over within 20 moves. “Players can purchase an additional 5 moves by paying 900 gems”? That’d be nice if gems weren’t so sparse. An average level will yield 50 to 100 gems, so a player will have to complete 10 to 19 levels to extend one level attempt by 5 moves. “Players can purchase tools for gems”? The tools cost at least twice as much as a 5-move extension and have to be used towards the beginning where they’re the least effective. It’d be great if the village provided you with the resources to get everything you need to proceed but instead it’s all resources for cosmetic upgrades. 2 stars because it’s a felyne-centric monster Hunter game. Edit: Uninstalled. Fun gameplay but I’m at a point where I have 20 moves to clear out several bushes, 20’ish mining spots, and uncover a dozen fossils. Or clear out a dozen bushes while 8 honeycombs spawn throughout my 20 moves.

Let me start by saying I love this game. The art is adorable, and the music is great. The gameplay loop is very satisfying and overall very fun. And the felynes? We love them. However, I do think a change needs to be made. As it stands, levels feel extremely unbalanced. I’m aware this game seems to be a little on the more difficult side, but not being able to progress due to inconsistent drops is killer. I’ve played quite a few “hard” levels that I just have to repeatedly attempt (and wait for more hearts), because I wasn’t lucky with pieces on the board. If you aren’t able to make big combos, you’re likely not going to be able to pass a quest, and it’s very frustrating when there’s literally nothing you can do. I’m not saying make the levels so easy a child can do it (please don’t), but I’d really like to see some balance changes because it’s extremely off-putting having to rely on luck in order to progress.