Capcom was gracious enough to invite us to a “behind closed doors” look at Monster Hunter Wilds at Summer Game Fest Play Days, and I walked out even more confident in this statement than I did walking in: Capcom is simply on another level.
While it was probably disappointing to a few people that the game wasn’t playable at SGF Play Days, at least creators at my level, I had absolutely no problem just watching because it’s almost more enjoyable watching someone place Monster Hunter, especially since I suck at it. What follows is a summary of what transpired in the development demo, confirming various rumors that fans have been talking about since the game was first announced. Keep in mind that we weren’t allowed to record or take a picture of anything we saw in the room. All we had were our notes.
It’s absolutely insane seeing how Monster Hunter has grown not only with its fandom, but simply how its evolved as a franchise really taking advantage of the hardware its put on. When the developers began to show the game off, they went into the map to shut just how expansive the world they were in was. Windward Plains was huge, and at first glance it looked like there were at least 12 very sizable zones to explore on the plains.
Veterans of the series should feel right at home with the game’s traversal. The game has always been about collecting parts, and there are resources littered throughout the land. You can even grab resources that are out of reach with a new hookshot tool you have that’s used for more than just an assist to climb.
Because of the game’s sheer size, without the need for load screens, another new feature is the ability to set up mobile base camps where hunters can do things they normally would in their camp like cook and set up their loadout. While this is useful, you have to be mindful about where you put them, because monsters of all shapes and sizes can actually destroy your mobile basecamp. It’s an unfortunate but understandable touch.
Eventually, the developer decided to on his first hunt–the search for a big hairy woolly mammoth-like monster called the Alpha Doshaguma, one of the newly unveiled monsters, had begun. After running through the sands picking up various resources along the way, we came into a cave that had three Alpha Doshagumas. The target had different hair, on its back, which the team easily identified.
This fight ended up being more than just a fight. It was a way to show off just how different Monster Hunter Wilds is from every game in the series before it. The fight with the Alpha Doshaguma ended up being too big for the cave the hunter was in, so the devs lured it out of the cave and continuing running across the sandy planes leaving various traps for the Alpha to get inflicted by, while also hurting itself as it ran through various natural hazards, such as sharp fallen branches and pits made by other monsters. We even got some help from other players (they were bots of course), as this has become a popular mainstay in the game, especially to those who lack skill like myself.
Nope, that doesn’t look the least bit safe or promising.
We also got a good look at why it’s called Monster Hunter Wilds; it’s more than just about the monsters out there. Weather is constantly changing, and that also affects the way you should think about the hunt. With a storm coming in, lighting randomly hit places and things of interest, including both the Alpha and the hunter.
Knowing that more damage had to be put on the Alpha, as it cornered the hunter, the hunter used the grapping hook to swing up a branch and mount it and get as much damage in as possible. Before long, the Alpha was giving chase again, and the hunter did things like lead the Alpha through fallen stalagmites and vine trees set up by the hunter breaking trees along the way. The battle also got so intense that the level’s flying apex predator got involved in the fight, softening the Doshaguma for us.
A few moments later, as the Doshaguma tried to escape, the hunter caught it sleeping and went for the kill to show what happens when hunt is finished. In previous Monster Hunter games, it’s back to the lobby. In Monster Hunter Wilds, you can keep exploring the wilds.
Again, I suck at Monster Hunter, but I love the game for what it is and have tried to play every game I can since the release of Monster Hunter World. This was easily the best demo I’ve ever seen behind closed doors, scripted or not. I came away very impressed with the progress made so far, and I can only imagine how much fun the game is going to be when it comes out next year.
Capcom was gracious enough to invite us to a “behind closed doors” look at Monster Hunter Wilds at Summer Game Fest Play Days, and I walked out even more confident in this statement than I did walking in: Capcom is…
Capcom was gracious enough to invite us to a “behind closed doors” look at Monster Hunter Wilds at Summer Game Fest Play Days, and I walked out even more confident in this statement than I did walking in: Capcom is simply on another level.
While it was probably disappointing to a few people that the game wasn’t playable at SGF Play Days, at least creators at my level, I had absolutely no problem just watching because it’s almost more enjoyable watching someone place Monster Hunter, especially since I suck at it. What follows is a summary of what transpired in the development demo, confirming various rumors that fans have been talking about since the game was first announced. Keep in mind that we weren’t allowed to record or take a picture of anything we saw in the room. All we had were our notes.
It’s absolutely insane seeing how Monster Hunter has grown not only with its fandom, but simply how its evolved as a franchise really taking advantage of the hardware its put on. When the developers began to show the game off, they went into the map to shut just how expansive the world they were in was. Windward Plains was huge, and at first glance it looked like there were at least 12 very sizable zones to explore on the plains.
Veterans of the series should feel right at home with the game’s traversal. The game has always been about collecting parts, and there are resources littered throughout the land. You can even grab resources that are out of reach with a new hookshot tool you have that’s used for more than just an assist to climb.
Because of the game’s sheer size, without the need for load screens, another new feature is the ability to set up mobile base camps where hunters can do things they normally would in their camp like cook and set up their loadout. While this is useful, you have to be mindful about where you put them, because monsters of all shapes and sizes can actually destroy your mobile basecamp. It’s an unfortunate but understandable touch.
Eventually, the developer decided to on his first hunt–the search for a big hairy woolly mammoth-like monster called the Alpha Doshaguma, one of the newly unveiled monsters, had begun. After running through the sands picking up various resources along the way, we came into a cave that had three Alpha Doshagumas. The target had different hair, on its back, which the team easily identified.
This fight ended up being more than just a fight. It was a way to show off just how different Monster Hunter Wilds is from every game in the series before it. The fight with the Alpha Doshaguma ended up being too big for the cave the hunter was in, so the devs lured it out of the cave and continuing running across the sandy planes leaving various traps for the Alpha to get inflicted by, while also hurting itself as it ran through various natural hazards, such as sharp fallen branches and pits made by other monsters. We even got some help from other players (they were bots of course), as this has become a popular mainstay in the game, especially to those who lack skill like myself.
Nope, that doesn’t look the least bit safe or promising.
We also got a good look at why it’s called Monster Hunter Wilds; it’s more than just about the monsters out there. Weather is constantly changing, and that also affects the way you should think about the hunt. With a storm coming in, lighting randomly hit places and things of interest, including both the Alpha and the hunter.
Knowing that more damage had to be put on the Alpha, as it cornered the hunter, the hunter used the grapping hook to swing up a branch and mount it and get as much damage in as possible. Before long, the Alpha was giving chase again, and the hunter did things like lead the Alpha through fallen stalagmites and vine trees set up by the hunter breaking trees along the way. The battle also got so intense that the level’s flying apex predator got involved in the fight, softening the Doshaguma for us.
A few moments later, as the Doshaguma tried to escape, the hunter caught it sleeping and went for the kill to show what happens when hunt is finished. In previous Monster Hunter games, it’s back to the lobby. In Monster Hunter Wilds, you can keep exploring the wilds.
Again, I suck at Monster Hunter, but I love the game for what it is and have tried to play every game I can since the release of Monster Hunter World. This was easily the best demo I’ve ever seen behind closed doors, scripted or not. I came away very impressed with the progress made so far, and I can only imagine how much fun the game is going to be when it comes out next year.
by Danreb Victorio
