Action RPG

Monster Hunter Wilds reviews roundup: Either ‘a new peak for the series,’ or ‘may have lost its soul,’ depending on who you talk to

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The restrictions on reviews for Monster Hunter Wilds have been removed before its launch on February 27, and the overall sentiment is quite favorable. Wilds is approaching a 90% rating on both Metacritic and Open Critic, although some critics suggest that it might be too streamlined compared to previous games in the series – this was the main criticism voiced by PC Gamer’s Lincoln Carpenter in his otherwise highly positive Monster Hunter Wilds review. Here is a general summary of the scores:

  • Metacritic: 88% (PC), “Universal acclaim.”
  • OpenCritic: 89%
  • PC Gamer (Hey, that’s us!): 85%, “Hitting dinosaurs with hammers never felt so good.”
  • TechRadar: 4.5/5, “A mighty evolution that ushers in a new era for the Monster Hunter series.”
  • VGC: 5/5, “The sequel to Capcom’s best-selling game is mightier in every way.”
  • IGN: 8/10, “Continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”
  • Gamespot: 8/10, “It has issues, but Monster Hunter Wilds iterates on a winning formula with another captivating collection of monsters to slay”
  • Eurogamer: 4/5, “The most exhilarating and refined Monster Hunter yet, even if its attempts to balance the old and new don’t always quite coalesce in its ongoing quest to please all audiences.”
  • Kotaku: “Beautiful, refined, and more familiar than ever”
  • Rock Paper Shotgun: “Will devour your time if it gets its claws in. But an overbearing story might make you impatient to ride straight to the moreish endgame.”

“The new peak of the series and an early contender for game of the year”

GamesRadar+, 4.5/5

It’s widely agreed that Wilds stands out as the most inviting and user-friendly game within the series to date. This accessibility is complemented by enhancements to Monster Hunter as an action-packed gaming experience, which should resonate with longtime fans of the series. Austin Wood from GamesRadar described it as “the most rewarding combat playground in Monster Hunter’s 20-year journey,” and noted that out of its 14 weapons, each with unique build paths and a wealth of customizable options, nothing felt weaker. So, what sets Wilds apart in the series? According to Austin:

Monster Hunter Wilds continues to be a remarkable Action Role-Playing Game within its series, boasting the most refined gameplay experience, although it occasionally encounters minor glitches and some wandering aspects. I’m hopeful that these issues will be rectified in future updates, and I’m optimistic about Wilds because what it offers is truly exceptional. I foresee myself investing numerous hours into this game. It has now become my preferred Monster Hunter title and a strong candidate for Game of the Year.

At VGC, Jordan Middler humorously commented that Wilds is a seamless experience, especially for fans of Monster Hunter, as he appreciates the streamlined menus and controls compared to Monster Hunter World. According to Middler, this makes the game less demanding, making it easier to start and keep playing repeatedly due to its reduced complexity. In summary, Middler finds that Wilds offers a smoother gaming experience compared to previous Monster Hunters.

Monster Hunter World has become Capcom’s top-selling game. Compared to Monster Hunter World, Wilds is nearly superior in every aspect. Enhancing the strides made in playability and visual presentation, this release seems like a triumphant finale for Capcom. It’s hard for me to identify significant flaws in it as a game.

“So streamlined, it may have lost its soul“

Polygon, unscored

While Rock Paper Shotgun’s Brendan Caldwell found Wild’s controls still somewhat cumbersome, many reviews share Lincoln’s view that the game has streamlined the series’ hunting mechanics too extensively. Going a step further, Kazuma Hashimoto from Polygon contends that in doing so, Wild might have stripped away an integral aspect of the series – the sense of challenge, preparation, community, and the unique friction that characterized earlier games. Here are some additional insights from Hashimoto on this perceived absence of difficulty:

During battles, I’d frequently find myself in a state of detachment, giving me ample opportunity to dodge skillfully, sometimes even enhancing my movements with a power boost from well-timed evasive attacks. This would result in a whirlwind of spins and blade strikes, inflicting additional damage. Growing tired of this pattern, I opted to switch weapons to the Hunting Horn, hoping for a change in difficulty. However, my journey remained largely unaltered.

Despite battling formidable foes like top-tier hunts and toughened monsters, the challenge still seemed a bit simplistic. After investing approximately 60 hours, completing the entire main storyline and all available endgame material, I was left with an unsettled feeling of dissatisfaction.

Eurogamer’s Matt Wales shared similar sentiments as Hashimoto regarding the relatively low difficulty of Monster Hunter Rise compared to previous games. This, he contended, diminishes the motivation to participate in the series’ signature gear-grinding aspect. Additionally, Wales expressed critical opinions about the storytelling in Monster Hunter Rise, a viewpoint he also shared with Hashimoto. Here’s how Wales put it regarding the narrative:

[Wales’ thoughts on the storytelling in Monster Hunter Rise]

The series pushes its newfound love for cinematic storytelling to almost overwhelming limits, choking the action-packed fights with excessive cutscenes and guided exploration. Even the most open-minded beginners (and veterans who’ve been through this routine multiple times) might find themselves yearning for Capcom to just move on. Furthermore, don’t anticipate the cautious metering of familiar elements to cease once you reach High Rank, as it takes a surprising amount of time for Wilds to calm down.

Despite some criticism, the overall opinion on Monster Hunter Wilds remains highly favorable, suggesting it could challenge World to become Capcom’s top-selling game yet. It has been consistently popular among Steam preorders, demonstrating its strong appeal. Monster Hunter has undeniably evolved significantly from its days as a PSP and 3DS exclusive.

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Comprehensive Guide

– Monster Hunter Wilds Arsenal: Explore Your Weapons
– Monster Hunter Wilds Bestiary: Which Creatures Return?
– Monster Hunter Wilds Co-op Mode: How to Hunt Together
– Monster Hunter Wilds Pro Tips: Start Your Hunting Expedition

Read More

2025-02-25 00:48

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