Monster Hunter Wilds’ story is as divisive as expected: some players hate the “relentless on rails handholding,” others love the build-up to “the best scene in Monster Hunter history”

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In my gaming experience, I can confidently say that Monster Hunter Wilds has earned top scores for its exceptional combat system, vibrant monster roster, and some thoughtful improvements in quality-of-life features. However, it’s the narrative that truly sets this game apart within the series, a point I firmly believe.

That being said, the delivery of this narrative can feel clunky, predictable, and downright confusing at times. Yet, despite these hiccups, I found myself drawn in by the visual spectacle and the recurring theme of man versus nature. It’s a stark departure from Monster Hunter’s traditionally hands-off approach, which is why it comes as no surprise to see opinions divided among players now that the game has been released, and we’re all wrapping up the campaign.

For the past few days, I’ve been observing conversations among reviewers and gaming communities about Monster Hunter Rise, and it appears that opinions on the game’s narrative have largely fallen into two categories. Some players find the narrative engaging, as it offers a more hands-on exploration of the Hunter’s Guild, giving our protagonist a sense of power and individuality within the story. On the other hand, some consider the narrative to be an unnecessary hindrance that distracts from the primary reason for playing the game. However, opinions on this matter span a spectrum, with these two perspectives representing the extremes of the spectrum. I’m interested in exploring the range of opinions and understanding why some players find the narrative engaging while others view it as a nuisance.

For instance: This Reddit post by Ruminatingsoule, titled “ridiculous” handholding in the story mode, highlights that the game (Wilds) forces players through certain sections, limiting exploration and introducing new areas only with a group of NPCs. The author claims that while these sections help guide players, it can sometimes feel like the game is pulling you back just as you’re about to discover something interesting, preventing the appearance of monsters or environmental elements at the wrong time. Although there may be valid reasons for this approach, it can lead to a feeling of being tethered and restrict your freedom to explore freely.

According to Ruminatingsoule, it seems that the developers underestimated the intelligence of players by releasing this game. He expresses his frustration and demands, “Please let me play the game without unnecessary restrictions!

Tazmaniandevil1210 concurs, “There have been instances where I couldn’t help but roll my eyes because, after taking just a few steps off the designated path, the game pulled me back to the intended route or refused to let me hunt the monster I desired.

“Rockstar vibes,” says Kourtos, in one of the most incisive critiques in the thread.

Chimwizlet brings up an interesting observation: “It’s puzzling to me how a game series that was once criticized for lacking guidance has now shifted to overly restrictive play, hardly allowing players to enjoy the game freely.” (It’s surprising that after two decades, this cooperative game continues to struggle with cooperative mechanics, but here we are.)

In simpler terms, several users have shared similar sentiments and found these games to be social hotspots. Cannibal_Yak argues that while the game director intended to concentrate on an ecosystem, it should be the players who explore and uncover this world, not have NPCs acting as guides pointing out things as if we’re young explorers on a safari. minev1128 echoes these thoughts, stating the narrative restricts the gaming experience. Additionally, another player voices their frustration about spending extended periods navigating environments, only to engage in brief battles with new creatures.

It’s clear that many people have expressed their appreciation for the storyline of Monster Hunter Wilds. A user named Monkey_With_Tankard, who appears to be a Congalala, posted in a thread with over 8,900 upvotes praising the game. They appreciated the emphasis on real threats and local issues, the abundance of new lore filling gaps in the Monster Hunter universe, the eye-catching cutscenes, and the balanced mix of humorous and serious moments. Characters like Alma and Gemma were particularly well-received (even more so than the Handler from Monster Hunter World), while side characters such as Rove and Olivia often steal the spotlight. The main character’s influence on the story is also noticeable, although some fans may criticize it for being too linear or forced.

Many people, including myself, have appreciated the captivating charm of the player character. Bwub2 praises the unique “Him” vibe that Wilds brings to your character. Evelynn_cretoxyrhina describes the lower-rank final scene as incredibly challenging, while kennydevin calls it the best moment in Monster Hunter history. The community is filled with similar positive sentiments. At the very least, everyone seems to concur that Wilds has an impressive finale.

After Monster Hunter World’s launch, I delved into conversations similar to that, and based on both critical acclaim and community feedback, my overall assessment of Wilds’ narrative response is: quite good yet somewhat clumsy. It surpasses World, likely the best in the series, and consistently boasts stunning visuals, but sometimes it seems like gameplay and storytelling clash rather than reinforcing each other.

As a gamer, I used to grunt out “We just hunt monsters, right?” when discussing the narrative of a Monster Hunter game. But now, it’s refreshing to engage in meaningful conversations about the storyline in Wilds. This shift indicates that the series has made significant strides.

It seems increasingly likely that a Master Rank expansion for Wilds, reminiscent of Iceborne, will occur. This is due to the game surpassing a Capcom record by selling 8 million copies within just three days. If the campaign in this expansion can effectively blend the outstanding gameplay, endearing characters, stunning landscapes, and intriguing themes that Wilds offers, the upcoming narrative could garner widespread praise.

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2025-03-06 00:23