Summary
After being hinted at by Capcom throughout much of 2023, the reveal ofMonster Hunter Wildsat The Game Awards was a welcome surprise. As the true successor toMonster Hunter World,Monster Hunter Wildslooks to provide players with an expanded open-world sandbox as well as the ability for more monsters to appear on-screen at one time than ever before. However, that’s not all that the reveal trailer hints at, as the footage’s main conflict happens to take place within the whirling debris of a sandstorm. For the first time in the series,Monster Huntermay be incorporating weather events into the planning, preparation, and execution phases of hunts.
TheMonster Hunterseriesis predicated around the gameplay loops that occur both prior to and during each game’s titular hunts, with players that take the time to learn about their prey and prepare accordingly typically receiving the greatest rewards. Elemental weaknesses and resistances factor just as heavily into the pre-hunt preparations as weapon and armor selection do, and the planning and strategy for a hunt are as critical to player success as the actual hunting and slaying of monsters. Throwing climactic weather events into the mix could add both an extra layer of strategy and ratchet up the tension to makeMonster Hunter Wildsthe most exciting game in the series.
How Weather Events Could Dramatically Shake Up Monster Hunter Wilds
Weather Could Impact Environments in Monster Hunter Wilds
Before even getting into the gameplay implications ofMonster Hunter Wildsfeaturing the addition of weather events, the sheer potential for what their incorporation could mean regarding the game’s structure is massive. FollowingMonster Hunter World’s semi-open zones,Monster Hunter Risereturned to the traditional self-contained maps that the series is mostly known for.
In terms of what the proper sequel toMonster Hunter Worldmight entail, many fans speculated that the game might finally become a fully open-world title. The focus on dynamic weather events in theMonster Hunter Wildstrailer essentially means that the pendulum could swing either way regardingMonster Hunter Wilds' eventual structure.
On one hand, the potential for weather events to disrupt a hunt could mean thatMonster Hunter Wildsis indeed thefirst fully open-worldMonster Huntergame, allowing players to lure monsters into new areas away from natural disasters or weather events that disrupt the flow of combat. Alternately, the incorporation of severe weather could also indicate thatWildsis doubling down onWorld’s semi-open zones, only increasing the density and detail that each one contains.
This might make more sense than the game being fully open-world, especially considering both the structure of past games and the propensity of certain biomes to feature specific types of weather to contend with.
How Weather May Affect Gameplay in Monster Hunter Wilds
TheMonster Hunter Wildstrailer’s focus on severe weather, as well as the game’s title, seems to point to a pattern of weather-related events being the new unique feature that it brings to the series. As far as what this could mean regarding the hunts themselves, the possibilities are nearly limitless. In just an isolated example, rain could impact certain weapon types' effectiveness or, conversely, render the flame attacks of certain monsters less dangerous with a naturally occurring downpour to quickly extinguish the Fireblight status effect. Then, there are more severe natural disasters that could be at play.
Sandstorms, like the one in theMonster Hunter Wildstrailer, could both affect player visibility and cause other wildlife in the area to react, introducing several new variables to an already intense hunt. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, or other natural disasters could trigger at any time, creating a continual sense of underlying danger to every hunt that the player embarks on. TheMonster Hunterseries has enjoyed plenty of success in the West sincethe release ofMonster Hunter World, and the new wrinkles to the franchise’s gameplay thatMonster Hunter Wildsseems to provide could help elevate it to its greatest prominence yet.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
