Monster Hunter Wilds excited fans and critics alike when it was revealed at The Game Awards in 2023. I must admit that I didn’t quite understand the hype then because I never played any of the games in the series. I did however know that the game was special after seeing an impressive hands-off demo for it during Summer Game Fest 2024.
Fast-forward to earlier this month when I finally got to play through the upcoming action RPG and I can honestly say that all the hype is 1000% justified. Monster Hunter Wilds is an exhilarating experience and undoubtedly a definitive GOTY contender in every sense of the word. Here are more thoughts on this juggernaut title and why fans and newcomers to the series are in for a treat.
A Thrilling Adventure
Monster Hunter Wilds is the ambitious next installment in Capcom’s popular hunting game series. Players become professional monster hunters roaming a massive world filled with ever-changing harsh environments, endless resources, exotic wildlife, and new larger-than-life creatures. You can play online crossplay cooperatively with three friends or explore everything solo.
The story is set in the Forbidden Lands, a mysterious unexplored region where the White Wraith has been spotted. As part of the Research Commission, your job is to work alongside your team to explore this region, uncover secrets, and eliminate any hostile threat that comes your way.
When you pick up the game for the first time, you’ll get a brief introductory story on Nata, a young boy who becomes an integral part of your expedition. From there, you can create your Hunter and Palico, a Felyne who doubles as your hunting sidekick and support friend on every mission.
There are plenty of preset models to choose from as a base that can be renamed and further edited to your heart’s content. After that, you’re ready to dive deep into a thrilling adventure where there is no turning back.
The Right Tools For The Job
As you get into these story-based investigation missions, you’ll be introduced to other guild members and teammates essential to the storyline. In addition to Nata and Palico, you’ll receive mission briefings from your Guild Leader (Fabius) and work closely with your Handler (Alma) and Smitty (Gemma).
Alma is an anthropology specialist responsible for accompanying you on missions and helping you manage your monster hunter requests. Gemma is a skilled blacksmith who helps improve your weapons and craft armor. Lastly, another fellow Hunter named Olivia will also be on hand to offer additional support.
Combat should be an important part of every action role-playing game and Monster Hunter Wilds delivers flawlessly on this front. From the beginning, there are 14 weapons to choose from including the following:
- Greatsword
- Sword & Shield
- Hammer
- Lance
- Switch Axe
- Insect Glaive
- Heavy Bowgun
- Long Sword
- Dual Blade
- Hunting Horn
- Gunlance
- Charge Blade
- Light Bowgun
- Bow
Each weapon has unique attacks and can be upgraded based on the resources and materials you find while exploring the world. I suggest trying out every primary and secondary weapon to better educate yourself on the pros and cons. You’ll be fascinated by how these weapons can evolve as you get deeper into the game.
A full weapon tree, forge, and upgrade list are accessible during your interactions with Gemma. She also recommends which weapons and armor are worth upgrading as you continue playing.
Remember to be mindful that you are making improvements for yourself and Palisco. Successful resource management is an ongoing theme throughout this game and this particular feature is a smart addition for players who have questions about what to upgrade first.
The Great Hunt
Great preparation is key before starting a new monster investigation mission. Your base camp serves as your primary place of operations where you can manage your resources, upgrade your tools, rest, train, fish, gather rations, seek support from other players, and talk with other guild members.
You can explore side quests and other activities before continuing your mission. As you explore new areas, you’ll find new base camps and create pop-up camps that can be repaired and moved. These camps also serve as recovery areas if you run out of health after losing a battle.
Addictive, pulse-pounding monster battles are at the forefront of this beloved series. Every mission starts with you getting intel before venturing out and locating your target. Once you find the monster, I recommend paying close attention to your surroundings and strategizing an attack plan.
If the creature is an alpha surrounded by other betas then it probably wouldn’t be smart to go into the battle alone swinging your long sword in every direction. There are also some instances where the monsters will spot you first too which is why you must stay alert. While Palisco offers support, these memorable creature encounters are even better when played with friends. I participated in a few multiplayer sessions without any issues. I expect the same results once more players get access.
As you keep fighting each monster, vulnerable wounds appear on their bodies. Attacking these sensitive areas knocks them down temporarily and allows you to inflict even more damage. When they recover, they may retreat to another nearby area to lick their wounds. You can then hop on your Seikret to hunt down your target and finish the fight.
Finding and defeating these massive monsters is the most satisfying feeling you’ll get out of this game. While there are plenty of new monsters to fight alongside your friends, there are also some returning creatures to deal with. This continuous gameplay loop of completing quests is an insane amount of fun and there is more than enough story to keep you busy for a very long time.
An Immersive World
Built on the RE engine, Monster Hunter Wilds is nothing short of breathtaking. As you explore various parts of this world under varying weather conditions, you’ll see the vibrant textures, contrasting lights and darks, and rich level of detail in the environments, creatures, and every character you meet. Capcom has worked hard to create a world filled with life and personality. The result is an experience guaranteed to keep players emotionally invested from start to finish.
Playing on a base PS5 console, I didn’t experience any glitches or performance issues. If you own a high-end PC or PS5 Pro, you’ll most likely have the best experience possible based on your specs. This Capcom benchmark tool is worth checking out if you plan to play on PC. Regardless of where you play, you’ll be pleased with what Capcom has created here.
An Outstanding Soundtrack
I thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack for Monster Hunter Wilds. The theme and music throughout the campaign perfectly set the tone for the events ahead and serve as the perfect adrenaline rush when facing monsters. Good music and captivating voice acting make for a remarkable title deserving of the praise it will get.
As mentioned above, Monster Hunter Wilds is a massive game that takes time to explore. Despite being sent this review code early, I feel like I have only scratched the surface of this adventure. I’m looking forward to exploring more of the endgame content with friends and defeating every monster on my list.
Final Verdict
Monster Hunter Wilds is an incredibly addictive action RPG that deserves your undivided attention. With so much to explore and a wide array of epic monster hunts to experience alone or with friends, Wilds is the real deal and the most fun you’ll have with any game so far this year.
This review was written based on a digital review copy of Monster Hunter Wilds for PlayStation 5 provided by Capcom.
