Monster Hunter Wilds Review: Don’t Think, Just Hunt

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In Monster Hunter World, I’ve invested approximately 60 hours up until now, and I’d like to share an exciting moment that lasted just seven seconds with you. I’m pursuing an Alpha Doshaguma, a new bear-like creature you’ll come across early in the game on the Winward Plains. After chasing it across the landscape and engaging in skirmishes throughout, I’ve managed to corner it in a narrow rock formation. As we face each other for our climactic confrontation, my eyes catch sight of a sharp rock perched dangerously above its head. I swiftly aim my hook slinger at this rock, hoping to dislodge it and crush the Alpha Doshaguma if it falls.

In a rather unfortunate turn of events, the monstrous Doshaguma decided to attack at the most inconvenient moment, as if timing its move with the falling rocks. It lunged at me, snarling and baring its fangs in a last-ditch effort. I swiftly countered, driving my great sword into its jaws just as it leaped, then tossed the creature away with an impressive display of power. Seizing the opportunity, I whistled for my Seikret to carry me, climbing onto its back and charging towards the beast at top speed. As the Doshaguma rose on its hind legs to attack, I leapt off the Seikret and clung onto its head. It struggled violently to dislodge me, but I held on tight as I scrambled down its back. I plunged my sword into the Doshaguma’s wound, eliciting a deafening cry of agony from the creature. With one final, piercing wail, the Doshaguma fell lifeless to the ground. All this happened in just seven seconds – can you imagine how the remaining 59 hours, 59 minutes, and 53 seconds have passed?

Monster Hunter Evolved

If you’ve been a fan of the Monster Hunter series for years, you’ll undoubtedly recognize experiences similar to these. The thrilling, grandiose battle sequences are what have kept this series by Capcom going strong for so long. Wilds enhances these types of engaging interchanges, making everyday gameplay feel like carefully crafted fight scenes. Despite all the attention given to the new features in Wilds, its standout qualities come from how it has perfected what made Monster Hunter great in the first place.

Instead of trivializing the new elements, it’s important to note that World doesn’t simply revisit the old Monster Hunter setting (even if many fans might have been pleased with that). Instead, the goal of Wilds is to create a vibrant, dynamic world that feels alive and real. All the fresh aspects of this release are designed to boost immersion by either introducing more realistic elements or removing confusing systems that might otherwise break the illusion of being in Monster Hunter’s universe and transport you to menus instead. While some complexity has been sacrificed in the process, the overall outcome is impressive, ranging from good to excellent. However, this also means that Wilds represents the most accessible and inviting Monster Hunter experience yet.

Living And Hunting In The Forbidden Lands

In contrast to what many have been discussing, Wilds’ innovative map design and gameplay mechanism abandon the conventional hub town setup, instead offering a continuous landscape of interconnected biomes that keep you immersed within your hunting environment. Although it’s sometimes referred to as open-world-like, it bears more resemblance to familiar Monster Hunter experiences than you might initially think. You’ll still pick hunts from a menu, quickly travel to the hunt location, and return to town once the battle is over. The map arrangement isn’t radically unique as one might anticipate, but it effectively maintains the sensation of being deeply immersed in the game world, making it feel less like jumping between distinct areas and more like exploring a living, breathing environment. This enhancement is certainly noteworthy, yet it falls short of Wilds’ most significant improvements.

The maps are significantly larger and boast more interactive elements. The Crimson Forest, in particular, is exceptional due to its expansive size and dramatic climate changes. Its rivers and wetlands turn shallow and arid during Fallow, characterized by reddish riverbeds and aggressive animals seeking sustenance. In contrast, during the Plenty season, it transforms into a vibrant green landscape teeming with activity, thanks to the life-giving waters flowing through its rivers.

As the weather shifts, fresh hunting chances arise, and as you familiarize yourself with the behavior and habitats of each new beast, you simultaneously learn the rhythms of each ecosystem. Each biome seems like a distinct map based on your visits, which significantly contributes to maintaining a sense of novelty during the late-game struggle.

A Harsh World, But A Forgiving One

In the vast expanse of Wilds, the Seikret stands out as a potential game-changer. This new riding companion offers numerous advantages that will significantly simplify your monster-hunting endeavors. With the Seikret by your side, you’ll find it less necessary to halt your progress in Wilds. The need to interrupt combat for tasks like drinking a Mega Potion or sharpening your weapons becomes obsolete because you can summon your mount and execute evasive maneuvers whenever you need to access your menus or flee from danger.

1. If you find yourself knocked down, the Seikret rushes over to pick you up before any punishment occurs.

2. In case you run out of supplies, the Seikret has an additional stockpile of whatever you need at that very instant.

3. If you’ve brought the wrong equipment for a hunt, simply exchange it with another one stored in your Seikret.

4. This mount not only alters the tempo of a hunt but also presents numerous opportunities to engage with both the environment and your targets in innovative ways.

In summary, Wilds sets itself apart from previous games with its fresh elements or elimination of old ones, resulting in a more lenient gaming experience. Unlike before, being ill-prepared for a hunt wouldn’t lead to harsh consequences. For instance, if you forget your deodorant during a hunt for the flatulent Congalala, it’s no problem because your Palico just happens to have some on hand.

Instead of fretting about examining your target’s vulnerable spots and brittle areas with the local researcher, feel free to explore your field guide from the start menu whenever needed. And should you encounter difficulty during a fight – an occurrence that will be uncommon – there are three extremely powerful NPC assistants at your disposal, ready to handle the monster for you when summoned.

As someone who’s been following the series for a long time, it’s tough to criticize these changes because they could potentially attract new fans, but it seems like with Wilds, the series has possibly hit a limit in terms of accessibility. Making it any simpler might take away something fundamental that adds depth to the hunting experience and makes it satisfying. Some might argue we’ve already surpassed that point.

Is Less More?

Since I’ve started playing Monster Hunter Wilds, I’ve been constantly searching for features that were absent. Each Monster Hunter game has its unique systems and mechanics, so it’s not just about finding World’s Botanical Farm or Rise’s Buddy Dojo. Instead, I’m looking for similar features in Wilds. However, upon investigation, it seems that such equivalents are not present in the game. One of Wilds’ strengths lies in its seamless transition from one hunt to another without any traditional hunter management in between. This is advantageous until you start feeling that something essential is missing.

This game is a sleek, condensed version of Monster Hunter, designed to bypass the intricate (and sometimes perplexing) mechanics the franchise is recognized for. Achieving this aim was admirable and provided a refreshing experience overall; however, in its quest for simplicity, it inevitably diminishes some captivating layers of complexity.

Ponder on how this small instance mirrors Wild’s entire change in perspective: In the traditional gameplay, if your character acquires an unfavorable condition, you might have to rummage through your inventory to locate the appropriate cure. However, with the new system, simply hit the quick-select wheel and choose ‘best healing option’, instantly using the required medicine. Many players may appreciate this simplification, but when all actions become this streamlined, it could result in a more automated, less thoughtful Monster Hunter experience.

Yet, if something extraordinary unfolds approximately every seven seconds, isn’t a bit of absent-mindedness trivial by comparison?

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2025-02-24 18:06