{"id":51046,"date":"2024-06-12T18:01:05","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T17:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/monster-hunter-wilds-the-first-preview\/"},"modified":"2024-06-12T18:01:05","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T17:01:05","slug":"monster-hunter-wilds-the-first-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/monster-hunter-wilds-the-first-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Monster Hunter Wilds: The First Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If Monster Hunter World was the first huge, noticeable evolution of the long-running series, Wilds is shaping up to be a clear, exciting progression that takes many of World\u2019s surprising change-ups a step further. Where World disposed of individual zones in each region, Wilds removes loading screens between each region and its home-base town, now located right on the map itself; where World allowed you to eat and change equipment at camp, Wilds additionally lets you pop up a portable tent; and where World introduced voiceovers to its human companions, Wilds gives voices to the Felyne Palicos. I learned all of this and more in a closed-door, hands-off demo and interview with the Monster Hunter Wilds developers<\/a> at Summer Game Fest. <\/p>\n

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As is tradition, the hunt I watched started off in town, where you can eat, manage your inventory, and craft weapons and armor with the encouraging new smithy, Gemma<\/a>. However, this village was established within<\/em> the Windswept Plains hunting locale with no loading screens separating it from the action. In fact, the entire 30-minute demo, from preparing in town to taking down a monster and exploring, was completely seamless. <\/p>\n

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While still in town, the hunter mounted their Seikret \u2013 a new small bird wyvern type mount that the presenter mentioned is especially useful because the maps in Wilds are two times the size compared to previous games. Considering how vast the locales in World<\/a> felt, this sounds massive to me.
The hunter then headed off to another small settlement in the Plains. The people here specialized in cultivating cheese and raising herbivores for livestock, and among them was a cheesemonger. After purchasing some of her wares, the NPC said \u201cThis will see gouda<\/em> use.\u201d Personally, I\u2019m happy to see classic Monster Hunter puns still in the dialogue rotation, though I understand some may find it a bit cheesy. <\/p>\n

…maps in Wilds are two times the size compared to previous games.<\/section>\n

Ingredients in hand, next up was to find the monster to hunt. The map in the menu now shows the area’s elevation in a sort-of 3D render rather than the flat illustrated maps we\u2019re used to, and while looking through it, our hunter chose a target for their Seikret to find and follow by way of scent. This is a more automatic approach and didn\u2019t seem to require much action on the hunter\u2019s part. The Seikret can even avoid monster herds on its own as it travels. <\/p>\n

During those travels, the hunter showed off a new portable tent. The temporary structure allows you to change your equipment and eat just like in the regular tents dotted scarcely on the map. He also cooked a custom meal in the field, using the cheese purchased earlier along with some meat. Ready for a hunt, he continued on his way. <\/p>\n

The hunter targeted an Alpha Doshaguma within a herd of the beasts. The Alpha\u2019s larger size and redder fur differentiated it from the rest, and the hunter donned a Ghillie Mantle to approach unnoticed and initiate battle with a sneak attack. (So, mantles<\/a> are back \u2013 at least this one!) Striking the monster a few times automatically triggered the start of a quest to defeat it.<\/p>\n

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Trying to fight one large monster amongst a herd looked a little chaotic but also cool, and the Seikret made it possible for the hunter to lure the crowd to a nearby narrow ravine. There, a Bahalara\u2019s quicksand trap quickly took care of the filler Doshagumas, sucking them down into a presumably sandy grave. Unpredictably, once the clashing hunter and Doshaguma were back out in the open, a new monster appeared to shake things up. This was the \u201cApex\u201d of the plains \u2013 the new wyvern shown in the most recent trailer at Summer Game Fest<\/a>. Usually, this lightning-wielding Flying Wyvern (presumably) shows up with <\/em>a storm, but the presenter said this time it appeared a little early. To attack, this yet-to-be-named wyvern braces itself on the ground and \u201ccloses\u201d its plate-like horns into a pointed formation to aim a beam of electricity. It\u2019s an attack that requires some build-up and looks especially impressive, and though it didn\u2019t happen in my demo, I heard it had the ability to one-shot an unsuspecting (or careless) hunter. <\/p>\n

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The thunderstorm that followed impressed me \u2014 the visuals of lightning crashing down onto the sands and flashing in the background were mesmerizing. At one moment, the hunter called back to a tent on a cliff and looked off into the distance, where the storm rumbled amongst a peculiar environmental structure. <\/p>\n

Eventually, the hunter was able to escape the new threat and tackle the alpha Doshaguma with the help of some NPCs called upon by an SOS Flare, a mechanic that allows you to \u201csummon\u201d other hunters seamlessly at will into your current hunt. When online, these would be other players, of course.
Though the Monster Hunter series played with getting more cinematic with World and even Rise, Wilds really takes advantage of the effect the field of view the camera can have to create additional drama and tension to battles. Upon a Power Clash, where the hunter fought off the Doshaguma with a Great Sword rammed in its mouth, the camera zoomed in so that the hunter and monster\u2019s ferocious jaws encompassed most of the screen, adding stress to the moment. <\/p>\n

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Executive director and art director Kaname Fujioka said while they\u2019re not trying to make Monster Hunter Wilds like a movie, they are working on utilizing the camera work to \u201cservice what we want players to focus on visually and to increase their immersion.\u201d <\/p>\n

Here are some more key moments and details from the demo: <\/p>\n