Monster Hunter Wilds takes players to the Forbidden Plains in its next entry. It promises a dynamic, living world where its population, monsters, and locations are all interconnected. At Summer Game Fest, I had the chance to attend a behind-closed-doors gameplay demonstration of Monster Hunter Wilds. The developers walked me through their overall vision as well as the new additions to the game.
Exploring the Forbidden Plains: A Closer Look at the Windward Plains
I got a look at the Windward Plains, the first locale in Monster Hunter Wilds. Starting from the basecamp, players can explore various shops and take on quests. Assisting in the world traversal are Seikrets, a new mount type that allows navigation of the Forbidden Plains with an auto-pilot feature. This opens up a new layer with additional gameplay mechanics, such as the Hook Slinger, allowing players to pick up items from the Seikret, switch between primary and secondary weapons, and sharpen weapons on the fly – all without returning to base. Players can also utilize Focus Mode, which provides more control in aiming and targeting a monster’s weakness for big damage.
Dynamic Weather Conditions and Monster Interactions
The demo showcased a diversity of biomes and verticality that offer more scale for exploration and discovery. It also featured extreme weather conditions like sandstorms and lightning storms, which can alter the environment, causing new threats and endemic wildlife to appear. These weather conditions can also change how monsters interact, as demonstrated during a hunt when an Alpha Doshaguma was struck by lightning and engaged in a turf war with the Balahara Levithan. The Hunter reduced its health by leading it into traps and environmental hazards like thorns. What’s fascinating is that all this happens seamlessly in the world, with each interaction playing out differently depending on the player’s approach and the variables at play.
Gameplay Integration and Quality of Life Upgrades in Monster Hunter Wilds
Story integration with gameplay appears more substantial in Monster Hunter Wilds, with quests being triggered as you start your attack on a hunted monster and no loading screens when going from the basecamp to the world. As seen in the first gameplay trailer, the Hunter protagonist is fully voiced, marking a first in the Monster Hunter franchise. There is a mysterious child who serves as a key character in uncovering the mystery and intrigue of the Forbidden Lands. Overall, this feels like the next step for the Monster Hunter franchise, with its quality of life and accessibility upgrades making it easier for new players to join the hunt. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the game in the coming months.
Monster Hunter Wilds will support crossplay across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and special items are available for returning players with save data from Monster Hunter World and Iceborne. Capcom promises the next trailer and the first playable hands-on at Gamescom 2024 leading up to its 2025 release.
