Monster Hunter Wilds: Big Changes Make it Noob Friendly

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The developers of Monster Hunter Worlds have shared with TopMob that they’re aiming to attract new players by making the upcoming action RPG the most user-friendly game in the series yet.

Monster Hunter Worlds, launched back in 2018, is actually the sixth installment of a series that originated way back in 2004. Despite its popularity, it’s often perceived as challenging for beginners to dive into.

Lately, initiatives such as Capcom’s “#ReturntoWorld” campaign and popular streaming sessions by personalities like Asmongold could draw in new players to the game Wilds, which Capcom understands very well.

At a Monster Hunter Wilds preview event, we had a chat with Executive Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and Director Yuya Tokuda about their strategies for making the upcoming game more accessible to first-time players. To verify if their efforts were successful, we tried the game out on someone new to the series.

Devs have prioritized accessibility for new players

For those new to the Monster Hunter Wilds series, the developers have devoted significant effort to making the game’s introduction user-friendly and accessible.

Tsujimoto emphasized that they prioritize and cater to first-time players, especially in Monster Hunter Wilds. They’ve always kept this in mind. Their strategy for making the game more accessible to newcomers is by using a data-driven methodology.

Tsujimoto shared that by examining the data from Monster Hunter World, we were able to identify areas where players often struggled and even considered quitting due to extreme difficulty. Our primary goal in Monster Hunter Wilds has been to address these issues and ensure a user-friendly experience.

In the world of Monster Hunter, the concept of a steep learning curve, or “drop-off,” is well-known among players. Particularly in Monster Hunter World, the game is renowned for its minimal guidance and the importance it places on player discovery. However, Director Yuya Tokuda aimed to ensure that this process of learning didn’t discourage newcomers to the game.

In essence, what makes Monster Hunter captivating is the battle against gigantic creatures, where you engage in intricate fight sequences. This involves understanding its patterns, evading its attacks, and locating opportunities to strike. It was observed that those who found Monster Hunter World challenging often didn’t reach this point because they were quitting prematurely.

To ensure people can fully appreciate the core experience of Monster Hunter, we’ve concentrated on methods to help them access that part with minimal pressure.

One effective method they’ve employed is streamlining the initial stages of the game, removing compulsory Small Monster hunts to minimize repetition and boredom. Additionally, they’ve introduced a more comprehensive system for explaining the selection of 14 available weapons, making it easier for players to understand their choices.

Where Monster Hunter World just tells you to pick one without any context, Monster Hunter Wilds offers a survey courtesy of your Handler Alma. Identifying which weapons are fast, which ones are slow, and which have the simplest combos helps to offer new hunters a comfortable playstyle from the get-go without so much trial and error.

In Monster Hunter, when you come across a big monster for the first time, you might feel unsure about how to battle it and be a bit overwhelmed. To assist, we’ve included new hints for sending SOS flares and our Hunting Companions as support. These changes were made based on an analysis of Monster Hunter World data, as explained by Tokuda.

A first-timer’s perspective on Monster Hunter Wilds

At the identical preview function where TopMob conversed with the game creators, one of our team members who was entirely new to the series embarked on Monster Hunter Wilds. Even though they were a novice in the hunting world, they managed to advance as far as the Oilwell basin and confront the formidable Rompompolo.

After trying hunting for the first time, they shared their thoughts, mentioning that understanding the fundamental aspects of the hunt and tackling big creatures seemed manageable. However, they added that Monster Hunter’s complex network of menus, crafting, and preparations might initially appear a bit intimidating.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve found that diving into this game and its previous versions demands a significant time commitment and a lot of self-taught learning along the way. With previews having time constraints, it’s not hard to imagine parts of the rich gaming experience getting overshadowed or overlooked entirely.

At a minimum, while it may not offer all aspects of mechanical interaction, Monster Hunter Wilds still provides a more accessible introduction to the fundamental Monster Hunter gameplay, which seems to be the developers’ intention. However, whether this experience appeals to you personally is something else entirely.

Monster Hunter, as a series, shares some similarities with FromSoftware’s distinctive approach to action role-playing games (RPGs). The primary focus is on battling tough opponents and defeating them through understanding their unique behaviors and vulnerabilities. Mastery of the game’s battle mechanics and other features also plays a crucial role in your success.

Putting it simply, Monster Hunter Rise could be likened to the “Elden Ring” for the Monster Hunter series in terms of its ability to attract new gamers with its gameplay style. Its semi-open world design offers flexibility for players to progress at their own speed, and the inclusion of AI companions to aid in battles resembles the Spirit Ash Summons from another game.

Using these novel tools, beginners to the series can progress beyond where they’ve been in past games. However, as time goes on, it’s essential to tackle the more complex elements related to preparation and equipment handling, which might initially seem daunting.

2025 can’t come soon enough! On February 28, I’ll finally get my hands on Monster Hunter Wilds and discover if its thrilling world of hunts and beasts is meant for a dedicated fan like me.

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2025-02-11 16:54