[quote=@BangoSkank]That makes me want to try it, but I might be spoiled from having MHW be my first MH game.

I may be the Monster Hunter equivalent of the "Fallout 1 and 2 are too old" or "Morrowind looks too janky" folks.[/quote]
If the Generations demo is still available, I recommend trying it before diving in. Generations is very much in the older style of games as far as the control schemes, and some other mechanics go. It's a gen 4 game, and World is gen 5 - the big overhaul gen. Even I who had played the games for years before World, after going back to Generations afterward I had a hard time readjusting.

It's not bad by any means, just different. Also the way skills/decorations/charms work is a bit different. It will take some getting used to. If you can handle the older playstyles and want to experience as many of the series' mainline monsters hands on as possible, then definitely check it out. As far as I remember there are only a handful of monsters that aren't added, most of which are Elder Dragons and the mostly aquatic ones from gen 3.