Summary
With each new reveal, Capcom’sMonster Hunter Wildsis looking increasingly ambitious. For the most part, theMonster Hunterfranchise has remained true to its guns, offering fans everything they’ve come to expect from aMonster Huntergame, with a few innovations here and there.Monster Hunter Wilds, on the other hand, seems to be a completely different story. While not everything in the nextMonster Huntertitle is entirely new, Capcom seems to have taken the series' beloved formula and bent the rules enough to make this particular installment feel like a brand-new experience that still ultimately relies on its well-established roots.
Monster Hunter Wildsis far from the firstMonster Huntertitle to expand on the franchise’s formula, as installments likeMonster Hunter: World, for instance, even took things a little too far for longtime fans of the series to get behind. Its successor,Monster Hunter Rise, then reined things in a bit — likely as an appeal toMonster Hunterveterans — and nowMonster Hunter Wildsis splashing onto the scene with what seems to be the largest set of changes and additions ever made between two of the series' installments. Whether this proves to be an acceptable move remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Capcom wantsMonster Hunter Wildsto be the talk of the town when it comes out in 2025.
Monster Hunter Wilds Seems to Be the Most Ambitious Installment Yet
Monster Hunter Wilds' New Seikret Mount Is a Game Changer
The foundation for some of thegame-changing features inMonster Hunter Wildsis the new Seikret mount. Firstly, as they could withMonster Hunter: World’s Raider Ride feature, players can ride their Seikret and have it automatically take them to a monster while they prepare for the fight ahead of them. The most significant change, however, is the Seikret’s weapon sling, which allows players to change their weapon during a hunt without going back to base first. It’s unclear whether the Seikret will function as a free-roaming mount, but sinceMonster Hunter Wildsalso allows players to fight while on their Seikret, it can be assumed they will have full control of the mount.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Breaks Two Major Character Traditions
Another ofMonster Hunter Wilds' most noticeable changes comes with its characters. Firstly,Monster Hunter Wildshas already introduced several named NPCs, which implies a much deeper narrative than the series is known for. Secondly,Monster Hunter Wilds' protagonist is fully voiced, which is something even theMonster Hunter Storiesspin-off games have never done. Even after breaking some of the series' most stubborn traditions, this particularMonster Hunterinstallment isn’t quite finished yet.
Monster Hunter Wilds Features a Dynamic Weather System Unlike Anything Before It
TheMonster Hunterfranchise has featured weather effects like rain in the past, but never before has a weather system been as dynamic as whatMonster Hunter Wilds' weatherappears to be. It seems as though its weather system will directly affect hunts, so there may be even more to it than meets the eye. Finally,Monster Hunter Wildsalso appears to feature a pack system in which monsters travel in packs rather than alone. This could increase its difficulty considerably, but more on that remains to be seen.
Ambition is a bit of a double-edged sword for longstandingfranchises likeMonster Hunter, as it can prove to draw in newcomers but simultaneously drive away veteran fans. Whether these changes accomplish the former, the latter, or both will only be revealed with time, but that still won’t stopMonster Hunter Wildsfrom being the most distinctiveMonster Hunterinstallment yet.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
