Monster Hunter Wilds Story And Cross-Play Brought Success, Says Producer

by

Recently, Monster Hunter series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto shared his insights on why Monster Hunter Rise (or Monster Hunter Wilds as some may call it) became an enormous hit.

The extent of Wilds’ achievements is challenging to fully emphasize. As TheGamer notes, Wilds boasted more than 1.3 million simultaneous players at its zenith – and this figure only accounts for Steam, with the possibility that other platforms were available for playing Monster Hunter, which had performance issues on Steam specifically.

The kind of success you see didn’t just happen out of thin air. If you ask Tsujimoto, there were several factors at play that shaped what we’re witnessing now. Leading the list was a deep sense of immersion, which was intensified by the game’s heightened emphasis on story.

The success didn’t come randomly. When asked about it, Tsujimoto mentioned several factors, but the most important one was creating an immersive experience, made stronger by focusing more on the game’s narrative.

Monster Hunter has consistently prioritized creating an immersive experience, often relying on aspects such as ecological systems for this purpose. However, the latest iteration of the game takes it a step further by featuring fully-voiced dialogue – one method among several that underscores the game’s increased focus on storytelling to captivate its audience.

Next, Tsujimoto greatly enjoyed the game’s ability to connect players regardless of their console type, allowing hunters to join forces.

Among these two options, the initial one is bound to catch the attention of Monster Hunter enthusiasts significantly more. Cross-play, in general, is appealing due to the increased player liberty it offers. However, the transition towards a narrative-focused gameplay experience is quite unprecedented for Monster Hunter, making it an exciting development for fans.

Monster Hunter Wilds Embraces A New Direction

Throughout their history, the Monster Hunter series has primarily focused on gameplay. Although its storyline is significant, it hasn’t prioritized gameplay over narrative explicitly; instead, the game’s environment has served as an underlying backdrop.

The background is exceptionally detailed, boasting quality that would leave many story-driven games envious, yet fundamentally, it remains a backdrop. However, now, it’s not just a backdrop; even the cats engage in conversation with you.

It’s important to acknowledge that the shift towards narrative is evident, yet the impact of this story hasn’t been particularly memorable. In our critique of the game, we initially highlight the story, but ultimately label it as “solid, but not extraordinarily innovative”.

On the Steam review platform, the general opinion about Monster Hunter Wilds leans more towards appreciation rather than criticism when it comes to its narrative. Frequent praise for this game is not as common as negative remarks about the story are rare.

In this context, Tsujimoto’s remarks appear somewhat unusual. It’s undeniable that a story enhances immersive experiences. However, it’s yet unclear if the story had a greater impact on immersion than aspects like the game’s voice acting. The latter point still needs to be determined.

Despite any criticisms, the overwhelmingly positive emotions surrounding Monster Hunter Wilds and the passionate sentiments from its creators suggest that future installments in the Monster Hunter series will probably place greater emphasis on storytelling. After all, every tale must begin somewhere, even if there’s still room for improvement.

Read More

2025-03-11 21:08