"I played the first 5 hours of Monster Hunter Wilds and I'm excited to discover more."
We played the first five hours of Monster Hunter Wilds at Capcom's offices in Japan and were impressed with the improvements in its formula.
After playing the first five hours of Monster Hunter Wilds, I can say that I’m eager to continue, something I had not experienced with previous games in the series. Despite my attempts with titles like Monster Hunter 4, Monster Hunter World, and Monster Hunter Rise, I always felt overwhelmed and quickly lost interest. The hunts turned out to be a stressful and complicated experience. However, my perspective changed after trying Monster Hunter Wilds, thanks to an invitation from Capcom to attend their headquarters in Osaka, Japan, where I had the opportunity to play and talk with the developers about the game.
From the beginning of the story, Monster Hunter Wilds captivates players. We meet Nata, a young man whose clan is annihilated by the White Wraith, a formidable monster that dwells in the Forbidden Lands. A group of hunters exploring this region finds Nata, and players must investigate this new territory, discover its culture, and unravel the mystery surrounding Nata and the White Wraith. One of the developers' most successful decisions was to give a voice to the player-created hunter and grant them an active role in the narrative, which created a stronger bond of identification with the characters and the story.
Director Yuya Tokuda explained that the inclusion of Nata as the central character reinforces the game’s thematic message. Unlike previous installments, where hunters investigated nature, Wilds aims to showcase how humans interact with the environment, featuring a non-hunter human as the central figure in the plot.
Another aspect that positively surprised me was the improvements in gameplay. While the hunting process remains intricate and requires smart strategies, Monster Hunter Wilds has managed to simplify some elements that were previously frustrating. During my first five hours, I hunted seven different types of monsters, each with unique characteristics, making the learning curve easier without being overwhelming. Additionally, a new focus system has been introduced that helps identify weak points of enemies, allowing me to enjoy prolonged hunts more.
The developers have emphasized their intention to create a smoother experience from character creation to gameplay, which allows players to explore the Forbidden Lands, which are twice as large as those in Monster Hunter World, and begin hunts amidst exploration. This approach seems aimed at improving the learning curve without interrupting the player's narrative progress, which I have felt is a great success.
As my experience with Monster Hunter Wilds progresses, I realize that it is the first game in the series that truly motivates me to play again. The combination of an engaging story, refined gameplay mechanics, and a better introduction to the hunting dynamics promises to attract both new players and fans of the saga. The release date for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S is set for February 28, 2024.
