>>20495564U was when the first introduced jumping and mounting, but for the most part only a few weapons could properly utilize the mechanic for it to be of any value.
Gen/GenU/X/XX added the different fighting styles, which allowed more weapons to utilize aerial combat.
World built on 4U by creating extremely vertical environments, but removed the fighting styles.
Rise is like a mid point between XX and MHU, but they raise the point at which you can ride a monster, so you're not riding the same monster more than 2 times per hunt.