GBA 049's video: Monster Hunter Frontier Z: Hyujikiki - Switch Axe F

Avoiding redundancy is objectively impossible for me to do when it involves anything Frontier related. It's obvious that my bias is heavily influenced toward the inner most design aspect from each monster, but that doesn't ultimately mean I have zero genuine disapproval; or more simply hatred, to any of them at all. To.... uh... stretch a point on what I mean, this monster quite honestly gave me utter HELL when I first fought it way back during my time still progressing through G Rank, still as an easy to notice amateur from the flawed actions I was doing, therefore still learning the ropes within the harsh environment I was still trying to adapt in with all of the immense dedication I brought along with me to make it happen. And I can not stress that enough. I digress Though the ambition I gathered was admittedly taken a bit too much for granted right by the time I encountered this bundle of pain for the first time 100% completely blind. Because LITTLE DID I KNOW that Hyujikiki, would result in the BIGGEST difficulty spike (Those clever bastards...) I've ever received in my life. I wish I was kidding, but it's true. I may have died a lot by Baruragaru in HR5, but NOWHERE NEAR as much than the dozens of failures I've received from Hyujikiki. It's not even close to compare at all If any of you reading this are familiar with my Golden Samurai Crafting Frontier Z Let's Play episode, you already know that my experience I had with Hyujikiki was a fabrication. A lie with fake commentary like I was seeing the action for the first time. (It became legit later on though) When in fact, I wasn't. To this day, I am filled with so much lingering regret that my actual first impression I had with Hyujikiki vanished in an instant as a result of my laptop dying in the middle of recording. Completely forgotten that I did not have it plugged in So here's the legendary story that has sadly ceased to be: In short, my knowledge with Hyujikiki was very minimal. I only ever saw it as a basic porcupine monster. And nothing else. For the first few minutes of the quest, it gave me disappointment. I kept toppling it over and staggering it repeatedly like nothing. I effortlessly cut off the tail in less than a minute afterwards. Laughing all the while. (I'm pretty sure I almost cried as well) Calling it pathetic for barely doing anything. Confused as to why a hunt in G rank has suddenly turned all for nothing. And then... it started to rain. Noticing a spontaneous shift with the monster's abilities. The horrendously weak trails of needles now emitting a strange mixture of elements. Out of morbid curiosity, knowing how DAMN WELL that it was already a stupid idea, I then approached the bed of spikes. And just like that. In a fucking instant. My previous state of disappointment, confusion, and non stop hilarity by once calling it easy, PLUMMETED straight down into INSTANT. KARMA. With "holy shit" and "what... the... fuck...?" washed up all over my face. As thus, the "easy" battle transformed into lethal injected chaos via RNG toxtricity sedative desperation. Out of freaking nowhere. And the rest is forgotten history So yeah that's my story. Anyway despite the interesting first impression Hyujikiki struck on me like a well deserved call out, what else did he do to still be included on my list of favorite normal monsters anyway? Well the fact being that the spike traps he places everywhere like wildfire first starts off relatively non threatening in the slightest to becoming actually dangerous and TOP PRIORITY TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS! From harmless acupuncture to a unique obstacle course of death. As ludicrous as it is, at the same time personally for me, I find it rather genius. Because on surface level, Hyujikiki is extraordinarily authentic on design, but when the top quality weather gimmick of the Highlands settles in, it fully utilizes a deadly defense mechanism and becomes increasingly intelligent with the use of it's quills, in addition to forming a tornado that it then places on it's tail as a one time use weapon for exclusive wide range attacks. It's interesting to me that Hyujikiki optimizes the weather changing gimmick of the Highlands more creatively than all the rest. Plus the sound design of the monster itself is just perfect for Frontier standards since the latter is barely audible. Singlehandedly has one of the best roars in the game. Loud and alarming. Like an incoming train about to run you over and tread on you repeatedly across the track. (I mean.... it fits, right?) I also admire how it's low HP stat makes up for a good weakness that thankfully doesn't make the fight TOO overwhelming. But it was still enough to make me really frustrated for how annoying it was to bring this monster down at first. As time went on, this monster eventually started to grow on me because of how fun it actually was to coordinate yourself in alternate routes for an opening once it decides to get interesting. All thanks to the Highlands