There's a contest on Twitter linked to the MH Gen demo. Tweet a photo of your demo hunter standing over a defeated Great Maccao with the hashtags #MHGen and #QuestComplete and you could win a New 3DS XL with Fire Emblem Fates Birthright and Conquest, YoKai Watch, Bravely Second End Layer and Monster Hinter Generations. Only 3 winners (one of which damn well better be me) but worth a shot. Killing the beast isn't all that difficult, but getting a decent photo is. The demo cuts out a few seconds after you deal the killing blow so there's almost no time at all to get your camera and take the shot. Closing date's the 11th. Best of luck, assuming you don't rob me of a much needed win of course, 'cause then I'd have to hunt you instead
And yes, MH Gen is the western port of X. It's kind of a celebration of the series with a lot of older monsters and areas returning, but with all new mechanics and a lot of things made simpler. Probably the best place to start with the series to be honest.