Monster Hunter Outlanders kicks off its second beta test with some new surprises up its sleeve

It’s time to sharpen your swords and prepare to take down some beasties, as the Monster Hunter Outlanders second beta test kicked off today. I am one of the lucky few who snagged an invite, and from the brief amount I have played, it is amazing. So let's hop straight to the features so I can wrap this up and play more.

As with the first test, you can strike out into the heart of Aesoland with your protagonist, who actually speaks in this one. That's a novelty for Monster Hunter. Although, thanks to the new suite of Radiant Monsters, all we will probably be hearing is “Ow, my leg, get out of it, you.” At least our Felyne buddy is along for the ride.

The second beta test will unleash the likes of the Radiant Diablos, Radiant Anjanath, Radiant Barroth, Radiant Rathian, and more, who all sound absolutely terrifying. But don’t worry, you can still tangle with the original flavour of monsters, including Diablos, Rathian, Great Jagras, and a host of other angry, massive, snappy buggers. 

At least one of the Adventurers has the right weapons

Luckily, there are a few new Adventurer friends you can team up with, or control, should you wish to play wrong. Amongst the three types, our first disruptor is Pepper with a Heavy Bowgun, able to use her Ultimate to slow foes. Or you can pick Keres, our now queen, for she uses Dual Blades. The best weapon. As you would expect, she is a hurricane of steel.

In the Assault class, Midori is packing a Long Sword and is adept at counters, making quick work of clumsy foes. Pyro wields the heavy Great Sword and can use Charged finishers to clear vast areas. There's not much finesse, but it packs a punch. Finally, the cornerstone of any team: the Support. With her trusty bow in tow, Madelyn can raise the whole team's attack, whilst also buffing her own abilities via that most wonderful of things: explosions. 

Monster Hunter Outlanders is available to pre-order from the official website now.