Onimusha Is An Obvious Choice For Monster Hunter Wilds’ First Capcom Collab

by

I just can’t resist collaborations involving Monster Hunter! It’s not that I want to brag, but when two things I adore come together, it’s like a symphony to my ears – or in this case, it makes me ‘seal-clap’ excited. As you gaze upon my wall where a comic book featuring Mickey Mouse as Iron Man shares space with my unique Kingdom Hearts Pokemon card collection, it becomes clear that I have a soft spot for intellectual properties (IP).

What stands out most to me is the exceptional quality of the Monster Hunter collaborations. Previously, I’ve praised the Witcher 3 and Final Fantasy 16 collaborations for their brilliance, but what sets Monster Hunter World and Rise apart is that very few of the numerous collaborations miss the mark.

Typically, many collaborations for Monster Hunter involve other games from Capcom, and they’re all top-notch. The crossovers with Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, Okami, as well as Street Fighter and Mega Man, were nothing short of exceptional. Regarding the Monster Hunter movie, even critics agree that the collaboration with Milla Jovovich was exceptionally well executed.

Or don’t say anything about the movie, because it’s a masterpiece, actually.

During this week’s Monster Hunter Wilds exhibition, Capcom hinted at an upcoming collaboration within the game, set for release in May. Though there is much conjecture about what this crossover might entail, I believe it’s quite clear which game Capcom intends to highlight.

Fighting Monsters With The Power Of The Oni

The collection of games from Capcom has already been extensively drawn upon, so unless they’re considering remakes, the pool of potential titles for collaboration is quite limited. Given that a new version of Monster Hunter likely won’t start with another Street Fighter collaboration, I believe it’s highly probable that the initial collaboration between Capcom and Monster Hunter Wilds will be Onimusha.

Even though Onimusha has been less prominent over the years, it remains among Capcom’s top ten most prosperous game franchises. This samurai counterpart to Resident Evil produced four games that were both critically and financially successful, along with numerous spin-offs, but never made an appearance in Monster Hunter. With Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny remastered soon to release, and a fresh new installment on the horizon, this presents an ideal opportunity to introduce the series to the Forbidden Lands.

In simpler terms, Onimusha and Monster Hunter seem to complement each other well. The weapon types in Onimusha – like its long swords, great swords, and insect glaives – align nicely with those found in Monster Hunter. Additionally, the elemental system from Onimusha could easily fit into Monster Hunter’s system as well. If Capcom were to fully embrace this collaboration, they could introduce Genma monsters into the Wilds, but even just adding some Onimusha weapons would make for a cool crossover.

If Not Onimusha, Then What?

As a gamer, I can see where the case is strong for Capcom to delay Onimusha until next year’s expected Monster Hunter Wilds expansion upgrade, aligning it more smoothly with the new game. However, this decision might leave us gamers without many other exciting crossover opportunities in Wilds’ first phase.

I’d jump for joy if Viewtiful Joe ever collaborated with anything, and there are whispers of a remake in the works. So, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if a Palico outfit appeared in Wilds someday. If that day comes, I’ll be shouting “Henshin-a-go-go!” for sure!

It’s possible that lesser-known Capcom series like Darkstalkers, Breath of Fire, and the enigmatic Dino Crisis might make an appearance. Additionally, there are numerous Mega Man variations not yet integrated into Monster Hunter, such as Legends, Battle Network, and Mega Man X.

Whatever collaborations Capcom plans for Wilds, I’m confident they will be fantastic. It may not be Onimusha that kicks off these collaborations initially, but it will certainly join the roster in Wilds eventually. The possibilities for Wilds crossovers are endless, and who knows what exciting combinations we might see? However, Capcom, I’m not just wishing for Expedition 33 or Death Stranding 2 collaborations – I’m insisting on them!

Read More

2025-04-03 00:06