Since the initial trailer of Monster Hunter Wilds was unveiled, there’s been a noticeable buzz about the potential graphical enhancements it could deliver. Although Monster Hunter Rise looked decent when it transitioned to PC, Xbox, and PlayStation from the Nintendo Switch, it was still not up to the quality that World provided. It appeared that Monster Hunter Wilds was on track to make that significant advancement, that legendary step into the next generation.
And then the first open beta hit.
To put it simply, my high expectations took a hit real quick after playing Wilds. The game’s performance on every platform was less than ideal, and the graphics, particularly in Performance Mode on consoles, left much to be desired. And let’s not forget about those low-poly monsters! They started off as peculiar but quickly grew on me. It seems clear that Wilds could have used a bit more time in the workshop for a thorough polish.
In the second beta phase, the changes made by the development team didn’t persist, but they did make significant adjustments elsewhere. They lowered the minimum system requirements on PC and replaced Checkerboard Rendering with AMD FSR upscaling. Additionally, Prioritize Framerate mode experienced performance improvements due to a fix for a rendering issue.
Of course, everything sounds great so far, but what about the overall experience when Monster Hunter Wilds launches? Will its technical abilities live up to its grand ambitions? Time to discover the answer.
Changes From Monster Hunter World
In “Monster Hunter World,” we see the final game in the series to be built using the MT Framework before the company shifted to RE Engine for future projects. This technology brings some remarkable new capabilities to the table, as previously mentioned, that first trailer hinted at the developer’s evolution based on the core principles of “World.
As a captivated player, I must say, the locales have transcended mere expansion; they’ve transformed into immersive, intricately designed regions that rival standalone worlds. Previously, World hinted at such expansiveness, but nothing on this grand scale. The seamless transition from my homebase to the vast world outside, without a single load screen, is nothing short of impressive. Add to that the dynamic day/night cycle, and it’s no wonder I find myself awestruck. But what truly takes my breath away are the endemic creatures – the herds roaming freely, and the delicate interactions between plants and tiny birds, adding a layer of life and realism to this extraordinary world.
General Graphical Analysis
In certain locations, the weather can become the main attraction. The initial setting, the Windward Plains, is a perfect illustration. When a sandstorm approaches, it’s like watching a natural spectacle from afar as it sweeps across the landscape, obscuring monsters in its path and washing away their traces if they enter water bodies. Even rocks and other environmental elements seem to shimmer with dust particles as they dance with the wind. Additionally, you may encounter lightning storms where bolts strike the ground, and there are even instances of them gathering near stone lightning rods.
This text maintains the original meaning while providing a more descriptive and engaging explanation of the weather conditions in the game.
The Crimson Woods are truly a sight to see. When it rains, the cascade is breathtaking as it gracefully flows down hills or taps rhythmically against leaves. In combat with Uth Duna, it becomes tumultuous in certain water sources, capable of causing quite the commotion, even disrupting your movements.
The authenticity in the character designs, whether human or beast-like, is equally noticeable. Characters move more realistically, and this is particularly evident during combat. Witnessing a weak hunt clumsily attack a monster as it struggles to rise, or observing them collide with the environment, is nothing short of astonishing.
The facial expressions seem incredibly lifelike, particularly the eyes, and the intricate details on both fabrics and metal are impressive. This becomes even more noticeable during battles with monsters, such as Doshaguma’s fur rippling realistically as it walks, or Chatacabra’s skin remaining unsettlingly damp, regardless of the gaming platform used.
Although it’s not always a perfect, colorful experience, I must admit that the game’s overall color palette on PS5 can be quite muted at times. Initially, I found the colors to be rather desaturated and greyish. However, adjusting the HDR settings did help somewhat, though there were still areas where it felt a bit off. Interestingly, in the Windward Plains when the sky was clear and the sun was shining, the scenery seemed more vivid.
PC Specs and Graphics Settings
The PC edition of Monster Hunter Wilds offers a plethora of customization options, catering to popular upscaling technologies such as DLSS 3.5, FSR 3, and XeSS 1.3. It additionally features Frame Generation, allowing you to modify various quality settings like texture quality, texture filtering, mesh details, fur quality, foliage, and more. You can also fine-tune the frame rate of cutscenes and backgrounds. This version includes advanced features such as variable rate shading, screen-space reflections, ambient occlusion, among others.
For our PC edition’s testing setup, we utilized an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X CPU paired with a top-tier Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and equipped with 32 GB of memory. We ran DLSS in Quality Mode at a resolution of 4K, with all settings cranked up to their highest levels.
PC Performance
In line with anticipation, considering that achieving 4K/60 FPS at Ultra settings necessitates an RTX 4070 Ti (12 GB VRAM) or an RTX 4070 Ti Super (16 GB VRAM), our testing system generally maintained a frame rate of around 38 to 40 frames per second. However, it frequently dropped to 30 FPS in visually crowded situations such as expansive open areas teeming with herds and clear skies. The frame rate showed improvement during sandstorms, consistently reaching up to 45 frames per second.
Despite some minor issues like pop-in and occasional asset loading, the PC version’s graphics are quite impressive with clear image quality and extended draw distances. These issues aren’t severe enough to go unnoticed occasionally.
PS5 Performance and Resolution
Absolutely, the PS5 version comes with a unique feature that includes three different modes: Graphics Priority, Framerate Priority, and Balanced. The Graphics Priority mode displays at approximately 1728p resolution while aiming for 30 frames per second, whereas the Framerate Priority mode renders at 1080p resolution with a target of 60 frames per second. Both modes output at 4K (2160p) through upscaling, but the results can vary significantly.
In Performance Mode, image quality and aliasing are extremely poor, almost unacceptable. For a clear demonstration, traverse the Windward Plains during a storm, where it’s most noticeable. The draw distance suffers significantly with frequent texture pop-in and asset loading issues, particularly in the environment. However, things seem somewhat better when you approach closely, though exploring the Scarlet Forest might reveal some aliasing within the foliage.
A more harmonious and strategically arranged approach performs well in all aspects, but there’s still room for improvement regarding aliasing. The Performance setting generally maintains around 60 frames per second, however, you might encounter significant dips, particularly when reentering the base from an expedition in a distinct region, especially during loading times.
In addition to adjusting frame caps, you can either keep them active or disable them entirely, the latter being necessary for 120 Hz mode. I discovered this configuration offered a satisfactory performance, averaging approximately 40 FPS. It also enhanced the smoothness of Performance Mode and provided a decent experience in Balanced Mode. Resolution Mode is the most stable, but it still experiences occasional drops. Regardless of the mode you choose, be prepared to notice characters and monsters moving at lower frame rates from a distance.
PC vs. PS5 Quality Mode
It’s quite evident, but I’ll make it clearer: The PC version outshines the PS5 version, particularly in Quality Mode, due to superior image quality and reduced aliasing. Additionally, the PC version often offers higher frame rates, though these can sometimes dip. Since this depends on your system setup, achieving more consistent frame rates by adjusting a few settings isn’t difficult.
Conclusion
Monster Hunter Wilds demonstrates a grand scope, which puts RE Engine to the test in managing these expansive landscapes. The PC version manages well despite not adhering strictly to Ultra settings, delivering decent performance at maximum graphics. Conversely, the PS5 version performs optimally when set to Balanced Mode with the 120 Hz mode activated, striking a balance between frame rate and resolution. While it’s an advancement from the beta, it falls short of reaching its full potential.
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2025-03-02 11:46