Monster Hunter Wilds Review – The Perfect Hunt

There’s always an eager sense of thrill as each fresh mainline Monster Hunter game releases. What are the new creatures? Will there be a novel weapon? Which monster will be the star? These queries ignite the intense enthusiasm among fans, making it understandable that Capcom has been tirelessly working to offer an exceptional Monster Hunter experience in this latest release.

Monster Hunter Wilds represents a significant challenge for Capcom. They understand the responsibility to exceed expectations and demonstrate to both loyal fans and new consumers that they can raise the bar even higher for this well-known series, possibly outperforming the record-setting success of Monster Hunter: World.

The positive aspect is they’re already moving towards the correct path with Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. It represents an outstanding development in the series – a synthesis of the franchise’s top features since its initial mainline release, making World a captivating action RPG that continues to be as engrossing as before.

A JRPG Story

Similar to past Monster Hunter games, Wilds doesn’t adhere to a rigid storyline continuity. Each new installment usually occurs in a different region within the same universe.

Typically, in Monster Hunter games, the focus has been more on hunting monsters rather than the storyline. Consequently, it’s common for players to have lower expectations regarding the narrative, as it often features simple tasks like fetch quests or delivering Wyvern Eggs, or the standard request to hunt a specific monster.

To my delight, the narrative in Monster Hunter Wilds proves to be both competent and captivating, outperforming its earlier versions significantly.

In this rephrased version, Wild’s story appears more organized compared to previous Monster Hunter installments. While it occasionally veers into the absurd, the narrative flow is surprisingly smooth. The adventure resembles a role-playing game journey, where my Hunter, my Palico, Gemma the Blacksmith, Alma the Caretaker, and Nata the Lost Boy undertake an extended expedition. They complete missions, interact with village elders, and tackle the ominous dangers lurking in each of the game’s varied environments.

In a more natural and easy-to-understand way, Now, we don’t hunt just for the fun of it. There’s a definite purpose behind every hunt. What makes Wilds stand out is its exploration of a question that Monster Hunter players have debated for a long time: “Are we really the villains?” Without revealing the game’s plot, this is one aspect I found particularly engaging in Wilds.

The quality of its writing has noticeably enhanced. It’s comforting that we no longer find ourselves calling out “Zorah Magdaros” and “Dragonator” back and forth. I must admit, the moment when Alma allows my Hunter to pursue a monster for Guild purposes, legitimizing each fight, was quite engaging. Admittedly, I’m still a bit resentful towards Monster Hunter: World for requiring me to eliminate the innocent Dodogama.

A Focused Hunt

As a devoted Monster Hunter fan, I can attest that the essence of the game lies within its core hunting experience, and Wilds truly excels at keeping the gameplay loop exciting yet comfortably familiar. Gone are the days when Iceborne’s Clutch Claw felt broken – Wilds brings us the innovative Focus System, a significant improvement that fundamentally alters combat. This new feature is an evolution of the ‘free camera’ system, granting players the ability to manually control their weapon’s attack point. The result? A far more immersive and engaging combat experience! No longer will Greatsword users grumble about missed True Charge Slashes with their fifth strike.

The Focus System in Monster Hunter Wilds motivates continuous action, requiring players to regularly evaluate which section of a monster is ready for a Wound Attack – one of the game’s latest features. When a monster shows a glowing red vulnerable spot, simultaneously pressing L2 and R1 (on PlayStation 5) triggers a potent blow, causing monsters like Rompopolo to stumble and recoil.

In every weapon of this game, there’s a unique Focus Mode Ability to inflict damage on monsters’ weaknesses. Capcom has revamped each move set, introducing new moves for a more dynamic hunting adventure. Excitedly, as a previous Bow user, I can now apply unlimited coatings without the continuous crafting hassle.

In my opinion, the Focus Feature is a significant innovation that can drastically alter gameplay; however, it does have one potential drawback: it may simplify combat encounters. When I manage to inflict damage on an enemy, it results in a guaranteed stagger, making the monster vulnerable for several seconds. This opens up an opportunity for my hammer to execute a powerful Big Bang Combo. Nevertheless, enemies with protective layers, like the Uth Duna’s watery shield, are harder to wound, thus posing a more demanding challenge for players who heavily rely on this system.

I find the Focus System more appealing than Iceborne’s Clutch Claw or Rise’s Wirebugs. To me, the Wound mechanic offers a more realistic approach to hunting and eliminates the idea of traversing the map with a bug’s wire.

As a newcomer to this game, I’ve found the Focus System a bit tricky to master, particularly when I’m also trying to wrap my head around the intricacies of Seikret riding. At times, it feels like my trusty mount decides to take an unscheduled break, making it challenging to locate him when I need him most. There have been instances where he seems to be MIA for a while before finally showing up and joining me, which can definitely be frustrating.

I also found the Scoutflies’ tracking unreliable — it wasn’t always clear where they led me.

In terms of game difficulty, I encountered just one instance where I failed a quest, which was primarily because I wasn’t well-versed with the particular mechanics of a monster. The battle was challenging, but I found the struggle rewarding. (I believe gamers will understand my experience when they reach that point.)

It’s important to mention that the majority of my time playing Wilds has been spent on single-player missions, as I’ve only dabbled in multiplayer a handful of times.

A Prepared Hunter

In a streamlined improvement for gameplay, Wilds has simplified its hunting process, eliminating concerns about going hungry or searching for Spiribugs. Now, your character comes equipped with a portable BBQ grill for easy cooking of Food Buffs. The ingredients can be collected through side missions and monster hunts. Occasionally, villagers will invite you to join them for a delicious meal, offering extra benefits like Insurance and Moxie.

An additional weapon slot is also available for customizing your Secret, enabling effortless switching between weapons whenever you wish to experiment with a new one. Why not equip two Longswords with distinct elemental abilities, or perhaps two Hammers instead?

Improvements in game design empower players with more control during their hunting adventures. Although replenishing supplies at the camp remains important, tasks like preparing meals can now be done instantly, regardless of location.

Watching my culinary creations animated in the game always makes me hungry.

In the wilderness, it’s crucial to deal with the persistent problem of forgetting cold and hot beverages during my hunting expeditions, as weather conditions can drastically change. I appreciate how the Wilds offers unique native life forms that offer similar drink effects. Therefore, in case I overlook a drink, the innovative grappling hook comes in handy, enabling me to gather these useful endemic life from afar, minimizing the danger of being surprised by wildlife.

As a gamer, I’ve found that the game environment is my secret weapon against monsters. It offers me plenty of strategic advantages, allowing me to respond to a monster’s moves at just the right moment. Falling boulders, Paratoads, and other Endemic Life, with their peculiar quirks, can turn the tide in my favor when I need it most.

The Inclements

One notable aspect of Wild is its advanced and responsive weather system, a testament to the versatility that RE Engine truly embodies, demonstrating Capcom’s skill at work.

Each biome features three cycles: Fallow, Inclemency, and Plenty.

Extreme weather situations draw powerful predators, similar to the Fated Four in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, whom we can call “The Inclement Four”. These top-tier creatures rule their territories, resulting in intense and spectacular fights during thunderstorms or heavy rainfall.

In these challenging encounters, I experienced my initial defeat, followed by a particularly unexpected clash with the Uth Duna that viciously rammed its form against my defenseless Hunter.

Or, more casually:
I suffered my first loss in these tough battles, and it was an unwelcome surprise when the Uth Duna charged at my hapless Hunter during our fight.

Performance & Optimization

Despite finding Monster Hunter Wilds an impressive technological feat due to its stunning weather system and excellent art direction, I’ve encountered occasional performance problems. It appears that Capcom has stretched the RE Engine to its maximum for a semi-open-world game like Monster Hunter Wilds, which may explain these minor performance glitches.

I experienced playing the game on a PlayStation 5 with Balanced Mode active, which keeps the frame rate at a steady 40fps but enhances the picture clarity. Occasionally, though, it briefly drops to around 30fps, noticeably after monster scenes and transitioning into new locations. Although these dips don’t significantly affect gameplay, they can be somewhat annoying, especially after dramatic cutscenes.

It’s great to note that the current version of the game outperforms both its initial and second open beta stages noticeably. In the review build I’ve been testing, Wilds runs more smoothly overall, though there are some occasional hiccups I’ve pointed out.

Endgame

In Monster Hunter, the main adventure is merely a beginning rather than an ending. Once you’ve completed the primary narrative, there’s still plenty more to explore and conquer!

In essence, the ultimate goal in Monster Hunter is all about customizing your character’s appearance—or, as some might say, improving your Decoration Farming skills. This aspect remains vital to the game, bearing a resemblance to what we experienced in Monster Hunter World and Rise, but with a more forgiving take on Random Number Generation (RNG). Rest assured, it’s no longer as challenging as the system in Monster Hunter World.

As you advance through the tale and achieve High Rank, the game becomes ripe for further discovery and investigation. This is your cue to tackle stronger creatures, like Tempered and Frenzied versions, which were showcased at Capcom’s Play!Play!Play! Event. Overcoming these adversaries yields substantial benefits in the form of improved Decorations and hard-to-find monster resources.

A captivating aspect of the endgame, particularly for buildcrafting aficionados, is the Artisan Weapons. This feature allows players to customize their own ideal weapon, akin to personalizing a toy at a “build-a-bear” workshop but for your preferred weapon type. This option becomes accessible later in the game and demands Artisan parts of matching rarity level, which can only be obtained from Tempered Monsters. These are the game’s most sought-after weapons, with players likely dedicating a significant portion of their gaming time to them.

Once I completed the main story mission and reached Hunter Rank 42, I’ve barely touched the depth of Wilds’ endgame material. Being a player who prefers to take things at a leisurely pace, I dabbled in some additional content like battling Tempered Monsters and side missions. I also collected my Mantles, captured native wildlife, and now have a fair amount of experience with the Wilds. However, I can’t wait to jump back in when the game officially launches this Friday so I can team up with my friends for some exciting adventures!

In summary, Monster Hunter Wilds is Capcom’s top Monster Hunter game so far, pushing the series ahead by incorporating fresh mechanics and user-friendly enhancements that elevate the hunting experience without disrupting the fundamental gameplay. Some minor performance problems can be rectified in upcoming updates, and additional improvements are on the horizon.

It’s the same Monster Hunter you fell in love with, but bigger and better.

The action-adventure game titled “Monster Hunter Wilds” is set to launch on February 28, 2025, available for PlayStation 5, personal computers via Steam, as well as the Xbox Series X/S platform.

2025-02-24 18:15