One Monster Hunter Companion Deserves a Second Chance

Summary

Palamutes in Monster Hunter Rise were popular due to their utility in traversal and combat.
Some Monster Hunter veterans criticized Palamutes for reducing discovery and sidelining Palicoes.
The introduction of the Seikret mount in Monster Hunter Wilds makes a strong case for the return of Palamutes.

Capcom's latest entry in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Wilds, is nearly here, bringing yet another big batch of changes to the franchise that already seem as though they're going to pay off. Monster Hunter Wilds is breaking tradition in a lot of areas, like with its fully-voiced protagonist, and these broken traditions could be what allows it to soar to success. However, the Monster Hunter series shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the old in favor of the new, especially when it comes to one of its most recent, beloved companions: the Palamute.

The Monster Hunter series has featured a variety of animal companions, including Shakalakas, Palicoes, and now the Seikret with Monster Hunter Wilds. However, more recently, Monster Hunter Rise's Palamute struck a chord in many ways, thanks to its ability to bridge the gap between utility and traversal. On account of its popularity, as well as the gameplay opportunities it offers, it's due for a comeback, so, hopefully, Monster Hunter hasn't chosen to forget it.

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By Josh Cotts

Monster Hunter Rise's Palamute Is Due for a Comeback

Monster Hunter Rise's Palamute Was Immensely Popular

While it might not have been universally received, Monster Hunter Rise's Palamute was still immensely popular. This is largely due to the companion's utility in both traversal and combat — a combination that even Palicoes have never been able to accomplish. A lot of this praise came from Monster Hunter newcomers, or, at least, those who were first introduced to the series with Monster Hunter: World, as Palamutes offered new players a way to make hunts and exploration a bit easier. With Palamutes, Monster Hunter Rise players could reach their destinations in an unprecedentedly short amount of time, after which their Palamutes would provide support in combat.

The main thing getting in the way of a more universally positive reception of the Palamute in Monster Hunter Rise was the perspective of many Monster Hunter veterans, who felt that the introduction of the Palamute came with a trade-off. One such trade-off was that, while Palamutes offered players a faster way to get from one side of an area to another, it also reduced the sense of discovery and immersion that was known to be present in the Monster Hunter series. Furthermore, some fans felt as though Palamutes were a bit too versatile, to the point that Monster Hunter Rise's Palicoes were somewhat sidelined.

Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret Makes a Strong Case for the Palamute's Return

Despite some criticism from long-time Monster Hunter players, however, Palamutes are still due a second chance, especially after the introduction of the Seikret mount in Monster Hunter Wilds. Like the Palamute, Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret mount will allow players to get from one place to another rather quickly, in addition to providing some other useful benefits. While Seikrets don't help out in combat like Palamutes or Palicoes, players can set their Seikret to automatically navigate to their next objective while they prepare their weapons for battle. Players can then perform a Dismounting Attack that allows them to strike monsters while dismounting.

With Palamutes, Monster Hunter Rise players could reach their destinations in an unprecedentedly short amount of time, after which their Palamutes would provide support in combat.

Needless to say, the debut of the Seikret mount in Monster Hunter Wilds seems like more than enough of a reason to justify a Palamute return. This, as well as the immense popularity of Monster Hunter Rise's Palamute, make a strong case for its return. Perhaps the Palamute could even be more balanced the next time it arrives, to prevent it from overshadowing Palicoes as it did before. It might even be nice to see the Seikret, Palamute, and Palicoe all available as companions in one Monster Hunter game, thereby giving players plenty of options to choose from before heading out on an expedition. Either way, the Palamute can't be forgotten after Monster Hunter Wilds.

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