How do you control the direction of your attacks?

[Chugster]

Unless I am doing something wrong the character only attacked right infront, missing enemies slightly to the side.

Do you have to always be facing directly at your enemy or am i doing something wrong?

[Yves]

you an press q but u cant really direct its like in dark souls where they have locked system u gotta get used to it , hope that helps

[Suzaku]

Holding a direction can slightly turn it, with varying effectiveness based on the attack, but generally you attack straight forward, so aim your strikes and perform them intentionally. If you need to make a large change in direction, stop attacking and realign yourself.

[Bobucles]

There is no melee autoaim. Face the monster and attack. Some weapons can adjust their aim slightly such as TCS, but usually no more than 45 degrees. Lance can duck into a power guard, then use that stance to aim anywhere, which is a great way to reorient yourself.
Monster hit zones are fairly generous and the pace of combat makes aiming not too big an issue. It's more important to find good attack positions and avoid enemy attacks.

[Chugster]

Well i just killed the Great Jagras and i really dont like the combat.

Compared to other games it feels clunky and limited and slow to react.

I was expecting something like Nier Automata or AC Odyssey but it feels so slow...would it feel better with a faster weapon? I'm currently using the Longsword Katana?

[Mythily]

Originally posted by Chugster:

Well i just killed the Great Jagras and i really dont like the combat.

Compared to other games it feels clunky and limited and slow to react.

I was expecting something like Nier Automata or AC Odyssey but it feels so slow...would it feel better with a faster weapon? I'm currently using the Longsword Katana?

Can't recall how AC Odyssey combat was (aside from stealth) but this game's combat definitely slower than the other game you mentioned. It's slower than dark souls as well. You either stick with it, find a weapon you like or quit.
"Fast" weapons would be double blades (faster than the following two), sword and shield and maybe insect glaive.

[Bobucles]

Nope, that's pretty much how the flow of combat goes. Monster attacks create moments of time where they can't respond, and player attacks are the same. You can be stuck for several seconds after a bad maneuver, with no escape from the next incoming attack.
Choose your options wisely, button mashing and reflex maneuvers won't go very far.

[Chugster]

Ok thanks for the input, I knew i should have tried it before i bought it, I 'downloaded' it a few times but never got round to trying it

[Hammer Of Evil]

Originally posted by Chugster:

Compared to other games it feels clunky and limited and slow to react.?

you have to understand each action is a cooldown, attacks need to be memorized and timed.

hope you can refund it still, the entire game is this way, that doesn't change, and the difficulty goes way up. enough to cause people to cheat or rq.

[Chugster]

Originally posted by Hammer Of Evil:

Originally posted by Chugster:

Compared to other games it feels clunky and limited and slow to react.?

you have to understand each action is a cooldown, attacks need to be memorized and timed.

hope you can refund it still, the entire game is this way, that doesn't change, and the difficulty goes way up. enough to cause people to cheat or rq.

Nah, got it 'elsewhere'...so i didnt pay RRP for it

[FuyuNoSora]

There are two camera options in the options menu: "Target Camera" or "Focus Camera". To activate them you have to click the "right direction stick" when close to a big monster (X-Box controller). With target camera you have to click the L button on the X-Box controller to adjust the camera on the monster practically all of the time. Focus Camera keeps the monster in the center, but you have to readjust your character. Target Camera needs some training, but once you got the hang of it, it is the best way to play in my opinion.

[Nerrinas]

Not only is world really slow, but all monster hunter games have this combat. You can adjust the direction of some attacks, on some weapons - but otherwise, it's straight forward / where you're looking and that's it.

If it's not your style of game, hopefully the 'reduced' price was worth it since you can't refund it.

[Mr. September]

The direction of your attack is based on three factors. The direction your character is facing, the direction your camera is facing, and whether you are holding W (forward) or not. Usually, you have to pay attention to all three of them to attack in a precise manner.

You can't cancel attacks in most cases, which means you have to go through the entire animation before you can do something else. Which means you are meant to plan ahead in combat. Attacking recklessly and not paying attention to positioning will get you killed fast. The game punishes you for playing in a reactive way, unless you grab evasion skills and/or the Evasion Mantle. Compared to, let's say, a soulslike, your reflexes are far less relevant for the moment-to-moment gameplay. The rolling iframes are very short unless you use evasion-related stuff, but with enough practice, you can dodge almost everything with the default iframes. I used to do that myself, but I got lazy and got used to Evade Window 2 (or 3) after a while. Surely, I can slack a little at this point. I think I earned it by now, lol.

TL;DR: Be persistent and get used to the pacing, or (positively) play something else. Monster Hunter games are not for everyone. World has casualized the MH franchise by having a very vast reach (multiple platform release) and streamlined mechanics (less clunky crap), but certain gameplay aspects are still much slower and deliberate than most popular action games. Including popular soulslikes.

PS: Forgot to mention. You can only turn slightly during certain attacks/charging animations. Once an attack is executed, you are locked in place and direction until the animation is finished.

[Damien Scott]

Originally posted by Chugster:

Well i just killed the Great Jagras and i really dont like the combat.

Compared to other games it feels clunky and limited and slow to react.

I was expecting something like Nier Automata or AC Odyssey but it feels so slow...would it feel better with a faster weapon? I'm currently using the Longsword Katana?

The Monster Hunter series is up there alongside Dark Souls as the best combat systems in Video gaming.

You have to be deliberate with your actions or you're going to have a bad time. Greatsword and longsword aren't as mobile as some other weapons. maybe you would prefer Sword and shield, dual blades, insect glaive, or even hammer or hunting horn. Hammer is a really straightforward weapon and is oddly enough one of the more mobile weapons. you can semi sprint while holding a charge with the weapon out.

[Bobucles]

The skill ceiling in monster hunter is definitely there. Play poorly, and you'll get hit a dozen times every minute. Play well, you'll never get hit. The difference between being good and being bad is a mountain, but most of the game is beatable by ordinary folks going unga bunga.

[AurumHawke]

Originally posted by Mr. September:

The direction of your attack is based on three factors. The direction your character is facing, the direction your camera is facing, and whether you are holding W (forward) or not. Usually, you have to pay attention to all three of them to attack in a precise manner.

PS: Forgot to mention. You can only turn slightly during certain attacks/charging animations. Once an attack is executed, you are locked in place and direction until the animation is finished.

Any directional input (W/A/S/D) determines which direction is forward, or which direction and what amount to turn during or between attacks.
Whether it uses the camera depends on control Type setting, or a few exceptions:
Type 1 is based on your camera's facing when figuring out which direction your input means.
Type 2 is based on your character's facing.
SnS and DB have 360-rotation attacks and will use Type 1 for most attacks regardless of your setting.
Aiming a ranged weapon follows the camera, while using a ranged weapon without aiming follows the character.