Monster Hunter Wilds Review

Monster Hunter Wilds is Capcom's return to the Monster Hunter franchise, where every hunt tests your skills, patience, and creativity. If you don't know by now, Monster Hunter Wilds is an action role-playing game that builds on the foundations of its predecessor in Monster Hunter: World, a memorable title that has haunted and enticed gamers with its relentless and intense quests and challenges. 

I sort of have this love-hate relationship with the Monster Hunter franchise because of its grueling Siege quests, brutal encounters with monsters like Fatalis, and hundreds of hours of grinding. And the game does a pretty decent job at keeping you coming back for more.

Monster Hunter Wilds tries to capture the same addictive essence that gives you something both familiar and refreshingly new. It's an evolution of the classic Monster formula: track, battle, gather, and craft, but where does it stand in the series?

The story of Monster Hunter Wilds has a similar premise, your guild ventures into uncharted lands to investigate mysterious phenomena, only to face dangerous monsters. And as the story goes on, you realize that there's more happening than you once thought. 

The plot revolves around Nata, a young survivor that you discovered near the Forbidden Lands, whose tale of the "White Wraith" sets the stage for an expedition led by you and the new Handle. The overall plot does tread towards well-worn tropes; it injects some freshness into the formula. 

Without spoiling too much, what stood out to me about the story is Nata's character development; his journey of trauma to understanding the world around him and gaining perspective feels well-earned and paced. That plot goes well with Monster Hunter Wilds exploration and its delicate balance between nature and humanity. 

There are other cool characters as well, like Gemma, the blacksmith, Olivia, the fellow hunter, and Erik, the curious biologist, who add layers to the story, though their storyline isn't as deep or as nuanced as Nata's. The villagers that you meet along the way provide you with a cultural context for the Forbidden Lands, but their characters still remain somewhat shallow.

Monster Hunter Wild's quest structure, while engaging, can feel repetitive at times. However, the game did reduce its reliance on gimmicky set pieces seen in Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise. I wasn't really a fan of the game's pacing, though. A lot of the time, the dialogues felt excessively long, and some of the choices felt inconsequential.

With that out of the way, I really enjoyed how visually impressive the game's cutscenes were. They did a great job of hyping up many of the major battles. As you progress, the story opens up, and the game lets you explore the Forbidden Lands more freely, and that is when I started having the most fun.

Monster Hunter Wilds gives you various fun regions to explore, from the flat, wind-swept plains of Windward to the sandy dunes. Each of these regions offers you unique challenges and opportunities. 

The Scarlet Forest, which reminded me of the World's Ancient Forest, features open spaces and water bodies that have overhead routes for you to traverse. Monsters like Uth Duna take advantage of these water-heavy sections, adding nuances to strategy during hunts.

The game's attention to detail is awe-inducing, given the environment's liveliness, the changing water, and the dynamic day-night cycles that affect the environment. Monster Hunter Wilds also has Environmental hazards, such as sand tides and thunderstorms. 

This adds a little zest to the hunt without being something to dread. Using the environment as leverage, whether it's hanging rocks or vine traps, remains a vital part of the gameplay, keeping the hunts engaging and dynamic.

Monster Hunter Wilds has pretty robust character customization that allows you to tweak your hunter's physique, facial features, hair, bone structure, and even your posture. While it doesn't rival the depth of other RPGs, it's definitely an improvement over previous iterations in the series; you can finally create a character that feels uniquely yours.

When the game starts, it begins with a tutorial that introduces you to the basics of hunting, from weapon combos to how you can track monsters. The initial training center allows you to experiment with each of the weapon types that Monster Hunter Wilds has to offer. Whether you're wielding a massive greatsword or a nimble insect glaive, the game makes sure that you're well-prepared for the challenges you'll face. 

Each of the weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds requires a specific monster part to make an upgrade with the purpose of ensuring that you go out and about to hunt a variety of monsters. The armor sets also come with their own stats, resistance, and skills, which allow you to customize what you decide to wear. For example, some sets will boost your attack affinity while others will give you elemental resistance or give you various bonuses like faster healing or extended evade windows.

Monster Hunter Wilds introduces a new added layer of strategy where the game now allows you to carry two weapons at a time that you can swap during your hunt through your mounts. I'm a big fan of this, as it adds fresh flexibility to your playstyle, allowing you to adapt to different situations on the go. 

The mount itself is a versatile tool that serves as both a transportation method and a mobile supply cache. You can customize how it looks and use it to store a bunch of various items, making it an important tool in your hunting tool kit.

The game also features new, unique weapons that bring in their own flair. The Insect Gaive lets you command insects to help you out in battle, while the Switch Axe seamlessly transitions between axe and sword modes. The Gunlance combines the power of a lance with explosive selling, and the hunting horn lets you buff your allies whilst dealing damage.

The weapons are also unique in that they have their own rhythm and timing, from the slow, devastating hammer to the more refined Great sword. No matter what you decide to pick, mastering each and every one of them feels satisfying and rewarding; Monster Hunter Wilds gives you ample time to experiment to find your preferred playstyle and niche.

As you delve deeper into the game, you're met with more advanced mechanics, such as Focus Mode. This feature allows you to zoom into the monster's weak zones, allowing you to deliver precise strikes that deal a lot of damage. 

Focus Strikes are pretty handy when you aim at existing wounds, and when you get it right, you can also potentially stun the monster; while this mode does give you greater control, it also limits your field of view, adding a sort of risk-reward element to its use.

With your tools at hand, you can also interact with the environment. Using your slingshot, you can gather items like flash bombs, which you can use to blind or stun enemies, while certain plants can help you out with health restoration. These are cool elements that add depth to combat, even small skirmishes.

Monster Hunter Wilds features multiplayer as well, which is as chaotic as it is fun, although it can be a bit tedious to set up. But once you're in, the experience is worth the effort. It's always fun teaming up and strategizing with your friends to take down massive monsters in a beautifully crafted fantasy world.

Visually, Monster Hunter Wilds looks amazing. The new monsters are beautifully made, and the world is really fun to explore. From ancient walkways to precarious cliffs, the environment feels alive and, most importantly, dangerous. That said, there are, at times, some texture quality issues and noticeable frame drops, especially in demanding areas, that can detract from the experience.

The sound design is also great, with full-throated explosions and immersive 3D audio that makes the battles feel surreal and intense. I loved the battle music themes; the soaring orchestral tracks elevated the tension during major encounters. 

The music has tonal shifts, from eerie and melancholic during character creation to triumphant during battles, which amplifies the overall experience. The voice acting, on the other hand, does its job. It doesn't stand out, with most characters delivering lines that are more functional than memorable.

In terms of how difficult Monster Hunter Wilds is compared to the other titles of the series, it's arguably the most accessible out of the lot. Veterans of Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Rise may even find it to be too easy; the game gradually ramps up in difficulty as you progress. However, the lack of a significant difficulty spike in the early game can make the experience feel less rewarding for seasoned players. 

Despite this, Monster Hunter Wilds excels when it comes to delivering a satisfying monster-hunting experience. The refined mechanics, the new and expansive world, and the customization options make it one of the standout entries of the series. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it polishes the formula that worked, giving veterans and newcomers a thrilling adventure in the Forbidden Lands.

Monster Hunter Wilds is a worthy addition to the franchise that blends the best elements of its predecessors and perfects them. Whether you are a seasoned hunter or someone who is just getting into the series, Wilds offers a rich and immersive experience that is hard to put down.