Monster Hunteris over twenty years old now as it made its grand debut in 2004 on the PS2. While an instant hit in Japan, it wouldn’t be until 2018’sMonster Hunter: Worldthat changed the opinion of many Western players. While still not an easy game, modern players of this era were more accustomed to difficulty and seemingly obtuse mechanics thanks to the rise ofthe Soulslike genre.
The latest entry,Monster Hunter Wilds, doesn’t change things as dramatically asMonster Hunter: Worlddid for the franchise, but there are still a key set of differences that will make it an easier experience for beginners. Let’s run down the biggest changes.
6A Bigger Story
And You Can Talk
The story has never been a big part of these games but it is much more integrated into Monster Hunter Wilds. Every monster hunt has an intro directly tied to the mystery of Nata’s village, The White Wraith, and the Forbidden Lands. The best thing that helps this time around is that players can speak.
It’s more than just saying a few key phrases like “Right” or “Let’s Go” this time around. The others still refer to them as Hunter as Capcom rightfully doesn’t have the technology to fully voice every possible name out there but it’s still a big improvement.Palicos also get more of a voice in the seriesfor better or worse.
5Wounds And Focus Mode
Weaken Monsters Quicker
There still aren’t health bars for enemies in this game but there is something that will aid players more: Wounds. Capcom is not shy about putting glowing points of weakness on enemies fromResident EviltoLost Planet.Monster Hunter Wildsis the latest addition to this tradition via this new Woundsystem.
Continually attacking a monster will open up a Wound that players can directly attack using a mechanic called Focus Mode. The result is critical damage and parts will often be automatically collected too. This also means it’s easier to harvest monsters on a hunt meaning that players shouldn’t have to repeat a fight too often to max out gear for a particular monster. The Wound system then helps in both dealing damage and collecting materials.
4Your Seikret
Is That A Chocobo?
Mounts weren’t a big thing until Monster Hunter Rise which introduced dog-like companions called Palamutes. They aided players in battle like Palicos with the benefit of being rideable, making traversal a cinch. InMonster Hunter Wilds, Capcom replaced Palamutes with a new creature called a Seikret.
It looks somewhere in-between a lizard and a Chocobo from theFinal Fantasyseries. While they aren’t as cute as Palamutes, Seikrets are faster and come with the benefit of their side bag. Players can switch out items or even swap out a weapon on a Seikret, adding more strategies to combat without having to waste time back at camp.
3Getting Help From Fellow Camp Hunters
No Longer A Need To Rely On Others
Besides the Wound system, the biggest improvement introduced in the game is A.I. companions. There are fellow Hunters who can join the fight after players fire an SOS Flare. They are better than Palicos as they seemingly do more damage, can distract monsters, and can support the player with buffs or healing.
Co-op is one of the best features of the l series but for those without a good internet connection, this A.I. system is a nice alternative. Some could argue that solo play with the aid of A.I. companions isbetter than co-op inMonster Hunter Wilds. However veterans or beginners feel about this new system is irrelevant because, at the end of the day, more options never hurt anybody.
2You Can Grill Your Own Food
The Palico Chefs Take A Break
Palicos have played an important role in the series beyond being companions to Hunters whenever they can’t go online. They manned various stations at home base, the most important of which being the various cafes. Watching master chefs cook up delicious treats inMonster Hunter: Worldwas a highlight for some.
While Palicos are still around inMonster Hunter Wilds, cooking dutiesnow belong to the player. They can cook meals in their tents to gain various bonuses before a hunt. While it’s not as adorable to watch, it is a time saver that isn’t as costly. Technically, it is an improvement then, and at least players can still customize their Palico buddies.
1More Customization Options
From Your Armor To Your Camps
Customization, as a whole, is more widespread than ever before. Players have the usual Hunter and Palico options but it goes beyond the initial startup. Players can take off pieces of armor beyond helmets while retaining armor bonuses. They can craft layered pieces of armor to createa transmogrification effect inMonster Hunter Wildswhich is a big leap forward to look fashionable while monster hunting.
Players can discover pop-up tent locations in areas to create fast travel points like the previous few titles. These locations can be custom-made with different tent colors and even furniture which is a new feature. It’s not as vast as other RPGs with sim-like features includingFallout, but every customization option added or tweaked inMonster Hunter Wildsis a win for fans everywhere.
