Monster Hunter Wilds review

Now, let's be honest, Monster Hunter has never been renowned for its Shakespearean narratives. It’s always been more about the thrill of the hunt than the intricacies of the plot. But Wilds does attempt to weave a more compelling tale than its predecessors. You're a hunter, naturally, sent to explore a new, uncharted region teeming with colossal creatures. This region, known as the Forbidden Lands, is a place of extremes, where scorching deserts meet treacherous mountain peaks, and where the weather can change on a whim.

What’s new is the emphasis on the local tribes and their connection to the land. You'll be interacting with these communities, learning about their customs, and uncovering the secrets of the region's ancient history. It's less "go kill that thing" and more "go kill that thing, but also learn why it’s a meanie." Which is a nice change of pace.

The story isn’t going to win any Oscars, but it does ease new players into the fundamentals of Monster Hunter even though much of the menu wrestling is still left unexplained. It’s a bit like watching an action movie where the plot is just there to give the explosions context. Speaking of which…

Gameplay in Monster Hunter Wilds is where the series truly shines, and this iteration is no exception. Combat is as weighty and satisfying as ever, with each weapon feeling distinct and powerful. Whether you’re swinging a Great Sword that could double as a small car, or peppering monsters with bullets from a Light Bowgun, there’s a style to suit every hunter. All the weapons in the game are easy to pick up and play, but almost all of them have a layered mechanic that unleashes the true potential and the moveset. Mastering these weapons is honestly as satisfying as slaying the monsters.

What sets Wilds apart is the ease of getting in and finishing a hunt. It doesn’t take three working days to kill a monster now, which is intentionally done to welcome new players such as myself. I mostly avoided Monster Hunter World because it took me 40 minutes or so to kill one monster in that game. Wilds makes things easier by reducing the time spent hacking away at a monster, and most of my fights lasted around 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes even less if my weapon was overpowered, and sometimes it took more time if I was in co-op. But a monster fight never overstayed its welcome, which I enjoyed, both in single player and co-op.

The monsters themselves are more intelligent and know when to exit a losing battle, leaving you to give some chase. You'll need to adapt your strategies on the fly, using the environment to your advantage and exploiting monster weaknesses. Some alpha versions of the monsters roam in packs, which might pose a different threat. Monsters even engage in turf wars with other creatures. It’s a proper ecosystem, where you’re just another (albeit heavily armed) part of the food chain.

The new grappling hook mechanic adds a layer of verticality to combat, allowing you to swing through the environment and launch aerial attacks. It’s a bit like being Spider-Man, but instead of webs, you’re using a giant metal claw. And instead of fighting crime, you’re fighting dinosaurs.

Wounds are a new addition to the Monster Hunter system. If you keep attacking a particular spot on the monster, it will open up a wound, you can either keep attacking it for higher damage or do a flashy finisher which inflicts high damage and stuns the monster but also closes the wound. This is a very good visual system that makes you forget that there’s no health bar in this game for monsters (which was quite frustrating for new players). Monsters also show visible fatigue and tiredness through limb animations. Most of them start to limp away from you once they’re at low health, which is also a good visual indicator of the fight coming to an end, thus motivating you to hunt it down!

Monster Hunter has always been a social experience, and Wilds continues that tradition with seamless online multiplayer. Teaming up with friends to take down a particularly tough monster is one of the most rewarding experiences in gaming. Coordinating attacks, switching weapons, and celebrating a hard-earned victory is what it’s all about.

The game’s online hub is bustling with activity, making it easy to find hunting parties and join quests. The new communication tools and emote system allow for quick and easy coordination, even if you’re playing with hunters from around the globe. It's like a big, chaotic, monster-bashing party, and everyone's invited.

However, understanding how to get the multiplayer to work is the toughest monster battle you’ll face! The menu systems are still very cluttered and archaic. It makes FromSoftware’s games’ UI look good. Once you figure out the multiplayer and how to connect with friends, then it’s easy and on a technical level, the multiplayer is flawless with good connectivity to the server throughout my playtime.

You can fully customise the menu and the quick wheel to your liking, but that will take a few hours to completely understand as well if you’re a completely new player to the series.

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Visually, Monster Hunter Wilds is a stunner. The environments are lush and detailed, with indigenous flora and fauna for each biome, adding a touch of realism that’s truly impressive. From the shimmering sands of the desert to the snow-capped ruins, every location feels alive and mysterious.

The monsters themselves are a sight to behold, with intricate details and lifelike animations. You can practically see the scales on their backs and the fire in their eyes. The armour and weapons are also incredibly detailed and look very unique. They take the visual characteristics of the monster parts you use to craft them, but still have a high sense of fashion. It’s one of the few games that takes the armour set and weapon variety very seriously, both in technical gameplay level and in visual artistic detail!

The game’s performance is also rock-solid, even during the most intense battles. Frame rates are smooth, and there are minimal loading times. We played it on the PlayStation 5 in Performance Mode trying to hit 60FPS and there’s a bit of softening in the details here. On the PC, the game looks much more detailed on a high-end graphics card.

Monster Hunter Wilds is a triumph for the series, with its streamlined gameplay, stunning visuals, and seamless multiplayer. It's a game that both newcomers and veterans can enjoy, offering a thrilling monster-bashing experience that's both accessible and challenging. As a newcomer to the series, I will play Monster Hunter World after finishing this game and its future DLCs.

While the menu systems can be a bit overwhelming at times, the core gameplay loop is so addictive that you'll soon forget about any minor frustrations. Whether you're exploring the vast landscapes, crafting new gear, or taking down colossal creatures with your friends, Monster Hunter Wilds is an adventure you won't want to miss.