Monster Hunter World has been an overall positive experience.
For returning hunters like myself, the base game is less challenging than MH3U, but still solid.

Some positives are:

- Being able to eat after entering the quest!

- More storage space in your bag (as you do not have to carry pickaxes and nets!)

- A really nice variety of weapons to choose from, and the ability to back track after upgrading said weapons (to a certain extent!) They've tweaked the Greatsword to give you just a little more mobility, so you can aim while charging it. I didn't mind how it was before, but sometimes this is a nice, realistic touch.

- It's a very fun multiplayer experience, highly recommended for playing with family and friends.

- Catching pets is a charming little feature they've added to this game, and you can place them in your room.

- It is also nice getting to design and name your little companion.

- Great character customization. The best I've seen in the series so far!

Now, some downsides for me were as follows:

- It did not feature many cool armor sets for the female character, and many of the designs for both the male and female characters do not seem to stand out as much as they did in former games (in my opinion.) Most of the female sets do not have helmets that cover the face, and almost all of the sets expose the thighs. Male or female, it's kinda hard to feel cool slaying monsters when you're running around in shorts. Now although it is not as bad as other games I've seen (and then proceeded to not even play,) a few of the armor sets that looked really cool on the male character featured what is basically a bikini top on the female... Not an overly revealing bikini top, it doesn't come off as being suggestive by any means, just super lame... -_- I just... really want a solid, full set of armor like the dudes, and no chance am I wearing that other stuff. I adored my Rust Duramboros armor in MH3U! Something awesome like that, with a giant horned helmet and axes attached to the sides of the boots, with all of her face and body covered in glistening red metal, now THAT would be really appreciated! I ended up sticking to one kinda weak armor set just because it was my best option in the looks department here. (I have both a female and male hunter, so I'm very familiar with the differences in designs!)

- The story cannot be skipped.
Whether you like it or not, or you're playing through the game yet again, there is not option to skip cutscenes. Most aren't too painfully long, but it would be nice to have the option to skip, at least.

- The story must be progressed to play with others.
You have to enter a mission solo and see the cutscene before playing with others. This is especially bothersome if you're progressing along side another player as I was. We would both enter the quest solo, watch the scene, then I would return from quest and join his so we could hunt together. It worked, but it was tedious.

- They like to tell you what to do a lot. Hand-holding is strong in this one. I'm talking a fight with a Deviljho and they're warning you to stay back when it's enraged. (Uhh... are you serious right now?)

- Lots of climbing. LOTS.

So yeah. That's been my experience with the base game, and I'll later be writing a review for Iceborne. Ah yes, I'm personally opposed to modding Monster Hunter, I do not think this is a game that should be messed with like that, but apparently there's a lot tension in the community over this. Really, there's no need for that. Just make some friends you can get along with and enjoy your experience! ^-^ Don't stress!

If you're on the fence about buying this, it's a really fun game and I don't regret my purchase!