Playing a near-final version of Monster Hunter: Wilds has quelled all of my fears

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With just a few days left before it becomes a reality, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, seems tantalizingly close – almost like you can feel its excitement on your tongue! This highly anticipated game is poised to rule March, not just for me but for many others, after its release on February 28. However, the journey leading up to the launch has been a bit bumpy for Capcom.

Recently, we took a look at the game a few months back, diving into its mechanics and broader updates within it. At roughly the same time, Capcom conducted an Open Beta test for Monster Hunter: Wilds. However, this beta testing was met with less than positive feedback from both fans and players. Although the fundamental gameplay remained unchanged, the open beta experienced issues due to being based on an outdated build. Consequently, Capcom has had to make adjustments and improvements in preparation for the final release version.

Wilds.

Playing Monster Hunter: Wilds with the same engine as Dragon’s Dogma 2 has brought up concerns about its performance. Given the similar issues experienced earlier, is it possible that Monster Hunter: Wilds might experience the same performance problems? Delving into a nearly final build for a two-hour session, I aimed to alleviate worries shared by myself and other dedicated monster slayers – will Capcom successfully pull off an impressive finish?

During the gaming session, I couldn’t access any online features and instead played offline on a PlayStation 5 with an emphasis on graphics, ensuring a consistent 30 frames per second. The two hunts transpired within the grimy and musty Oilwell basin, a unique twist on Monster Hunter’s typical Volcanic zones. This area showcases a vast, interconnected network of oil pits, caves, and rugged terrain instead.

At your mobile campsite, you can prepare as usual: Get ready, grab some grub for boosts before departing. I chose two weapons to carry with me, my reliable Switch Axe, paired with a Hunting Horn – both have been my go-to since Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate. My initial hunt was for the Rompopolo, a creature residing in the Oilwell Basin’s depths.

In Monster Hunter: Wilds, diving into the gameplay is quick and straightforward – all you have to do is jump onto your Seikret steed, which will effortlessly navigate you towards the beast you’re hunting. This smooth and efficient process, while undeniably appealing, leaves me with a sense that some of the charm from the older games has been lost, as they required learning the habits and layouts of each monster to successfully hunt them down. It’s possible I’m simply old-fashioned and dislike ease of use, but that might not be the whole story.

As I drew near to my objective, the elusive Rompopolo, nestled within the Oilwell basin’s confines, I was captivated by its distinctive appearance. Borrowing from the skeletal structure of a Brute Wyvern, but scaling it down compared to its kin, the Rompopolo presents a one-of-a-kind silhouette. Its dark and blue, frog-like skin, adorned with toxic sacs scattered across its head and body, gives it an otherworldly look, as if it’s a creature that shouldn’t be visible to human eyes. This mysterious beast primarily employs two strategies: environmental mastery and the use of a stinger capable of both inflating and administering venom. In addition, it can unleash a wide area-of-effect attack in front of its foe, signaled by the Wyvern digging into the ground with its head, resulting in an explosion.

The most effective tactic against the Rompopolo is to target its soft and weak sacs, containing lethal venom. By utilizing the game’s Focus Mode, you can slice these down by concentrating on inflicting wounds on your foe. Bigger, heavier weapons will allow for more precise strikes, which is quite helpful. The addition of offset attacks is a fresh advantage to your collection in Monster Hunter: Wilds, as it can throw the creature off-balance, causing significant damage. (As its name suggests, offset attacks are designed to disrupt the creature’s balance.)

After inflicting damage on the beast and successfully severing its tail with the reliable Switch Axe, I observed that each strike felt significantly more weighty and substantial. This enhancement is due to the developers adding hitstop, a feature that was absent during the beta. The powerful, satisfying impacts are back, and it seemed like my weapon regained its essential mass. Furthermore, other weapons have undergone modifications in their move sets; for instance, the Insect Glaive now boasts its aerial capabilities once more, including vaulting maneuvers.

Instead of listing each change separately, it’s evident that Capcom has made numerous adjustments based on fan feedback from the Open Beta Test. This suggests that the developer is responsive and likely to swiftly address significant problems.

In simpler terms, the Rompopolo might not be the most thrilling new monster in Wilds, but it seems like the scruffy basement-dwelling relative of the Khezu. This makes it a great addition to the roster. Additionally, Wilds also houses an old foe, the venomous spider-like Nerscylla, which some players may have encountered in past games.

In this version of Nerscylla, the moveset is quite familiar to past ones: It uses massive barbed hooks to ensnare you, while it shoots sticky webs to limit your mobility as Nerscylla pursues you relentlessly. Its poisonous threads can gradually cause harm leading to death if not attended to, and its sleep-inducing attacks can spell disaster for your health if neglected.

Initially appearing in Monster Hunter 4, Nerscylla introduced a swift moveset and elaborate arenas. Yet, it’s in Monster Hunter: Wilds that its potential is fully realized. Upon entering Nerscylla’s lair, you are confronted by numerous baby Nerscylla, diverting your attention from the monster and adding an extra layer of aggravation to the fight, trapping you within the creature’s ambush. Subtle modifications like these, coupled with its impressive 4K visuals, breathe new life into familiar monsters, keeping them captivating even after numerous hunts in the past.

In other words, since Nerscylla is prone to breaking with blunt force damage, a strategic move is to swiftly jump onto your Seikret mount and alter your weapon. This tactic also serves as an agile dodge that players might find necessary as they adapt over time.

Crushing the Nerscylla with a heavy weapon such as the Hunting Horn became effortless, thanks to the newly added focus mode that enhances precision in attacks. After mastering the use of focus mode and focus strikes (a novel type of attack), you’ll find yourself amassing a good amount of drops and materials for this technique in no time.

Despite being a seemingly straightforward hunt, I found myself thinking that the monsters fell rather swiftly. Whether it was due to the fine-tuning of these particular quests or my weapon selection, it seemed overly easy given my extensive hunting experience. As this is a pre-release version for media testing, I assume the difficulty will be adjusted in the final edition.

During my approximately two-hour playtime of Monster Hunter: Wilds, I didn’t encounter any noticeable performance issues. The game seemed to run smoothly at 30 FPS in its graphics-focused mode, but this might be due to the Oilwell Basin being less graphically demanding compared to other locations like the Windward Plains shown in other builds. Additionally, the performance mode no longer appeared blurry or pixelated on a standard PS5, although it was more challenging to identify the frame rate.

In this revised version, the game’s combat mechanics have been polished to perfection, and its performance on consoles appears robust, effectively alleviating most concerns I had prior to trying it out. The introduction of new and familiar monsters has left a lasting impact, and these initial play hours not only resolved all the problems that I identified during the weaker open beta but also convinced me that Capcom is creating another exceptional product.

The developers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a flawless launch, a level of quality I initially thought might not be achieved, but was impressed by upon working with the almost final version of the code.

Monster Hunter is so back. 

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2025-02-11 18:26