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I really wanted to give this a higher score, because it encapsulates the Monster Hunter experience like nothing else. If you like classic Monster Hunter, odds are you will enjoy this manga, but I'm not sure it offers much substance to everyone else.

The story starts off well enough and follows a pretty standard plot, with strong focus on personal growth, the ins and outs of being a hunter, and the camaraderie between the members of the main hunter group.
The artwork is stunning and you can easily tell the author is an experienced and impassioned Monster Hunter veteran. The weapons, armor and monsters are practically ripped ... out of the games and brought to life in gorgeous detail. The hunts are intricate, the world feels alive and all aspects of classic Monster Hunter are represented here.

However, the combination of edgy and uninteresting human antagonists, an ending with barely any buildup outside of expository flashbacks, and characters getting idiot balled make the later chapters a frustrating read. Many hunts are also taken straight out of the games, which works wonders for my nostalgia, but ends up feeling uninspired in hindsight.

It frustrates me that nothing else has come this close to being a perfect Monster Hunter manga. Those first four volumes are fantastic and the author's passion is obvious.