Is Monster Hunter Wilds the Game-Changer Fans Have Been Waiting For?

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2018’s “Monster Hunter World” ranks among my most frequently played video games from the last generation. I invested countless hours battling its remarkable beasts, creating top-tier equipment, and teaming up with friends for cooperative hunts. Given my enthusiasm, it’s no surprise that I’ve been eagerly awaiting “Monster Hunter Wilds” since its announcement. The upcoming game assures us that it will maintain the essence of “Monster Hunter,” while also venturing into fresh and daring territories. Not every new feature in “Monster Hunter Wilds” may appeal to dedicated fans, but overall, the experience is largely fulfilling.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, what was once a complex and challenging series has been streamlined and made more accessible than ever before. Developers at Capcom have made significant quality-of-life improvements throughout the game, starting with the Secret mounts. These Secret mounts not only allow players to move faster than on foot, but they can also be set to autopilot to take players directly to their objective. This feature effectively eliminates the frustration of getting lost while chasing fleeing monsters in previous Monster Hunter games and helps save valuable hunt time.

Players of Monster Hunter Wilds don’t just sit back while riding on their Seikrets; they can command these creatures to carry them to their upcoming goal, and at the same time, employ their reliable slinger to collect resources. While pursuing monsters that are running away, players have an opportunity to heal themselves and sharpen their blades using the Seikrets’ chase time.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, the creatures take center stage, boasting designs that span from fear-inducing to jaw-dropping to downright absurd. From the formidable flagship monster Arkveld to the recurring Congalala, a hybrid of pink hippo and ape that emits poisonous gas, these beasts are a spectacle to behold. Monster Hunter Wilds swiftly immerses players into its familiar gameplay rhythm, which involves battling these monsters, collecting their resources, and subsequently crafting superior equipment and weapons to tackle even more challenging creatures.

Monster Hunter Wilds is All About the Hunt

Monster fights in Monster Hunter Wilds remain as thrilling and cinematic as before. During one chase, a monster I was pursuing climbed up a waterfall and ended up beneath loose rocks. Using my slinger, I caused a rockslide that crushed the beast, rendering it unconscious and sending it drifting downstream. Moments like this are common in Monster Hunter Wilds, making every hunt an exciting, action-packed adventure from beginning to end.

In the updated version, monsters now sport specific areas that players can zero in on with the newly introduced targeting crosshair, enhancing the accuracy of where shots hit these creatures. There are 14 different weapon options available for players to pick from, each tailored to diverse playstyles. A notable improvement is the ability for players to carry two weapons during any hunt, promoting experimentation. I primarily used a Great Sword, but I also carried a Heavy Bowgun as an alternative when long-range attacks seemed more strategic. Additional weapons are kept in the Seikret and switching between them is effortless.

Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous strengths, yet it has its setbacks as well. For instance, the visuals in Monster Hunter Wilds present a varied picture. Although numerous monsters appear stunningly realistic, human character models can seem outdated at times. On Xbox, I encountered occasional issues with flickering and blurry textures, along with some lag. One aspect often highlighted about the game is its expansive open zones for players to traverse, which resemble mini-open worlds. While the continuous exploration of these areas is awe-inspiring, there are moments when they appear less than appealing.

The narrative of Monster Hunter Wilds falters compared to other main series games. This game emphasizes “story” more than any previous Monster Hunter game, but this just leads to more frequent cutscenes and dialogue. Unfortunately, the human characters are not engaging or likable, and the plot is uninteresting and predictable. The story of Monster Hunter Wilds does not add to the gaming experience; instead, it distracts from the monster hunting.

Use SOS Flares Sparingly to Keep the Game Challenging

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players can now concentrate solely on hunting monsters either individually or with their friends. The game allows for teams of four during hunts, a common feature in this series, but it has done away with the outdated system from Monster Hunter World. Solo adventurers still have the assistance of their customizable Palico friend, and there’s a fresh addition that adds both convenience and complexity to the experience. The SOS flares in Monster Hunter Wilds can now attract NPC allies if no friends are available for a hunt. These NPCs make the game less challenging overall, sometimes even making certain hunts too straightforward. While this ensures that solo players won’t face the insurmountable obstacles they might have encountered in previous versions, it also seems like these NPCs may be overpowered, taking away some of the game’s difficulty.

It seems to me that there could have been a balance in the SOS flare NPCs of the Monster Hunter Wilds game. Currently, these NPCs cannot die, and using them doesn’t seem to have any negative effects. In my experience, I receive the same rewards whether I hunt alone or play with others, except that when playing co-op, the financial reward decreases as more players join the party. This means that players of Monster Hunter Wilds have two options: they can either play by themselves or with real people who might not be as skilled, making it harder to catch monsters for fewer rewards, or they can summon powerful NPC allies and breeze through every hunt for greater benefits.

As an avid fan, I can’t help but express how remarkably simple and game-changing the NPC companions have made “Monster Hunter Wilds” for me. They fundamentally alter the game, to the point where players barely need to delve into the grinding or crafting aspects in any substantial way. In contrast, “Monster Hunter World” presented a tough but rewarding challenge that I consistently faced. However, “Wilds” felt more like a leisurely stroll whenever I activated SOS flares. I never failed a single hunt in the game, and the rare instances where I fainted were easily avoidable. Consequently, I didn’t feel the need to grind extensively during my initial playthrough, although I did revisit one specific hunt to gather materials for a sword with enhanced attack power – a choice driven by desire, not necessity, which is a stark contrast to my experiences with other “Monster Hunter” games throughout the years.

It might be more advantageous for seasoned Monster Hunter players to view SOS flare NPCs as a simpler setting, resorting to them when the game’s difficulty interferes with enjoyment. Although I believe they make the game overly simple, I must acknowledge that they are preferable to inept NPCs. However, adjustments could potentially be made to Monster Hunter Wilds to strike a balance between challenge and user-friendliness.

We’re in the Endgame Now

In approximately 11 hours, I completed the game ‘Monster Hunter Wilds’ for the first time with my hunter, using SOS flares for assistance and limiting myself to a few optional missions and side quests. This is remarkably quick for a Monster Hunter title, but playing it conventionally will likely extend that playtime by at least double. It’s worth noting that the real game doesn’t commence until after the main story concludes. However, I won’t reveal specifics to avoid spoilers. Just know that, like other games in the series, ‘Monster Hunter Wilds’ offers additional quests post-main story, tougher monsters to hunt, and plenty more to explore in its endgame.

Looking forward, there’s even more excitement to come for Monster Hunter Wilds, with the game expected to grow and improve even further. In fact, Capcom has announced that Monster Hunter Wilds will be expanding its roster of monsters through free content updates following the launch, ensuring that fans continue to return.

Although it might not surpass its previous version, Monster Hunter Wilds maintains a high standard and boasts numerous quality-of-life enhancements that positively shake up the gameplay. However, Capcom may have overstepped in their attempts to make the game more inclusive, potentially losing some of its diehard fans. Despite this, it offers an engaging experience that satisfies Monster Hunter cravings, as long as players don’t overly rely on the SOS flare assistance from other hunters.

On February 28th, the game “Monster Hunter Wilds” will be released for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. For this review, we were given an Xbox Series X code by Game Rant.

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2025-02-24 18:16