As a newcomer in the Monster Hunter franchise, I approached Monster Hunter Wild with a passion for understanding the phenomenon that has captivated players for 20 years.
Although the game was not disappointed that it offered epic battles and immersive lore, some aspects prevented it from achieving true perfection. I couldn’t help but feel the hunting, crafting, eating, going home, repetitive hunting, crafting, eating, going home, repetitive repetition that I had never expected from this game. That being said, it was still an incredibly satisfying experience.
It was also an easy way to franchise for me, easy to grab, fused some really scary creatures, and hunted with some exceptional gameplay and satisfying mechanics.
A solid gateway to the Monster Hunter Universe
The Monster Hunter Wilds should be praised as the most accessible entry in the series, making it an ideal starting point for newcomers. The game’s 20-hour story-driven campaign serves as a great kind of tutorial, gradually introducing players to take advantage of weapons and a variety of weapons with unique playstyles. But after talking to the franchise veteran veteran, I can finally understand how existing fans find this approach a bit boring.
When I see my friend playing previous titles in a franchise on handheld systems like PSP or Nintendo Switch, it’s easy to assume that it’s not a cute collection, but a Pokemon style game for adults. That being said, these recent iterations focus on realistic tones based on finding and killing different monsters in the end. Wild feels like an overhaul of this system, expanding the world with the narrative story. If you’re interested in this franchise and have never made a leap before, it’s almost the perfect entry point.
This game will meet how to not make your movements stand out and collect different ingredients to collect and build armor, upgrade weapons, and create recipes.
Hunting we go
The Monster Hunter Wiles gameplay loop is at its heart, watching you hunt, craft, eat and go home. Regardless of how it sounds, it is very addictive. To protect the village and its inhabitants, you will be able to track down and defeat giant monsters and collect materials to upgrade weapons and armor. The attention to detail in the design of the monsters and the diversity of the environment is praiseworthy, and the fight is challenging and rewarding. Each of the 14 weapon types offers a unique playstyle, with my personal favorite being the sword and shield for balanced attack and defense.
However, I played with a variety of weapon types and overall playstyles. Unfortunately, the bow and arrows were a little slower and that wasn’t my favorite gameplay style. I’m a more Charge-In, All Guns-like player and I was delighted to have this playstyle housed. This was a point that was really important to make sure your group had different team members with different abilities that could counter your abilities and provide time to heal when a particular monster beats you.
Here you will find the weapon progression system. This allows you to upgrade your primary and secondary options along with armor pieces. There are no traditional statistics, but the overall rank increases in conjunction with armor and weapons.
Each monster has a specific element that challenges them. Understanding their main attacks, how they move, and their weaknesses is important to succeed in defeating them. Some move around, so you’ll need a nearby mount to chase them in order to continue the fight. If you’re really stuck defeating monsters, your cat companions can often lead you in the right direction.
A world of endless possibilities
After completing the story, the game opens up to a virtually endless online experience where true skills (and perseverance) begin. This post-campaign grind is a place where veteran players will certainly thrive, fighting more horrifying monsters and improving both strategy and gear. Cooperative gameplay adds another layer of excitement, but navigating the lobby can sometimes be a bit tedious. The lobby can hold up to 100 players, while the private lobby can hold up to 16 people for the fierneds to jump.
Once this level is reached, monster battles can last for 10-15 minutes, depending on the loadout and the type of beast. Fighting and exploring feels less and more about what the game is. If you’re under ranked or need a break from Monster Smashing, there are plenty of side quests with villagers that will help you get items. Beyond this, you can also engage in fishing. This will result in a difference in strength and provide balance when combat becomes too boring.
Visual splendor with performance hiccups
Visually, the Monster Hunter Wilds is undoubtedly amazing, with vast environments and spectacular monster designs. However, performance issues on the PlayStation 5 Pro were a nuisance to the overall experience. Three graphical modes (fidelity, performance, balance) between frame rate and visual quality offer different trade-offs. I settled in balanced mode for that 40fps compromise, but the pop-in and framerate drops sometimes ruined that immersion.
I had upscaling using PSSR technology, which worked well. In a crowded market with busy online communities that rely on the number of characters on screen and rely on the number of characters that are on the screen, these were moments when things were soaked.
One outstanding moment was his battle with Uth Duna, a water-inhabiting Titan. It is the first monster to reach that name. You need to use your grapple to find something to hold, as the monsters create waves of tide that push you away. These film encounters introduce the possibilities of a game of adorable behavior and compensate for some technical shortcomings.
This was the first time I’ve really seen and felt the power of the PS5 Pro with this title. Teaming up online with other players is a big part of what makes this game work really well. It’s a lot of fun to be here with friends and strangers, especially if you have a different style of play and can use this for your benefit. We found the story part of this game to work best in single player and best when online co-ops get difficult.
Final Thoughts
The truly impressive follow-up to Monster Hunter: World, Monster Hunter Wilds has managed to bridge the gap between accessibility and depth. It may test the patience of long-standing fans by reducing the extensive tutorials and early difficulty through the 20-hour campaign of the game, but it caters to both newcomers and veterans.
With some performance patches along the way and additional content, this game could be a true masterpiece. It packs in some truly memorable experiences that solidified my newfound love for this franchise.
4 stars (out of 5)
Highlights: Incredibly satisfying gameplay. A solid world building. How to play with various monsters hunting
Low light: Consistent performance issues can sometimes make you feel a little uncomfortable
Developer: Capcom
Publishers: Capcom, Capcom USA, Inc.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
Available: Now
Reviews conducted on the PlayStation 5 Pro are done using pre-release code provided by the publisher.
