Monster Hunter Wilds Brings A Stunning Open World: Impressions from Summer Game Fest
Monster Hunter Wilds has already shown incredible footage of its open world in several trailers, but being able to sit in on a gameplay presentation at Summer Game Fest took it to another level.
The next game in the Monster Hunter series has looked stunning in the Game Awards reveal trailer and the more in-depth trailer shown during Sony’s State of Play last month. Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to take the franchise into an open-world experience, rather than the hubs utilized in previous entries like Monster Hunter Rise. Thanks to Capcom I had the opportunity to sit in on a hands-off gameplay presentation for this highly anticipated addition to the popular franchise.
Perhaps my most pressing question after learning about Monster Hunter Wilds’ lofty open-world ambitions was “Would there still be loading screens when choosing to set off for a hunt?” Thankfully this gameplay preview gave me the answers. The player went straight from shopping for cheese at a village into the monster-filled wilds with no transition at all. In previous Monster Hunter games the player would choose a mission to tackle before leaving the village, instead a mission begins after landing a few attacks on a monster.
Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom, 2024
The preview showed off the many ways players can get creative while on the hunt. Other monsters will lay sand traps in the desert, and of course, can be provoked into dealing some damage for you. Remember to keep in mind that they aren’t on your team, just an aggravated third party. Players can also cause rock slides to deal massive damage or lay down vines to temporarily trap the target.
As the trailers have shown, weather can be quite volatile in Monster Hunter Wilds. During this preview, a hunt of an alpha doshaguma (one of the furry, dog-like monsters from the trailer) was interrupted by a massive sandstorm, completely changing the environment both visually and otherwise. Certain plants and creatures will only appear during the right weather events, such as an intimidating dragon-like creature that could channel electricity into powerful strikes. At first, the dragon was coerced into dealing some major damage to the doshaguma, but the plan suddenly backfired when the dragon turned its attention on the player, knocking them out with a single strike. I am not sure if this is something experienced for everyone at Summer Game Fest, but it certainly didn’t feel like it was part of the presentation’s plan. While a funny happenstance, it is exciting to know that this dynamic open world won’t always go exactly as planned, even if the developer is playing.
Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom, 2024
Monster Hunter Wilds has all the same charm as its predecessors, but takes the environment to a whole new level. Not only is this vast open world constantly changing with the weather, but the developers paid great attention to even the smallest details. The preview pointed out a small family of nesting birds that, if observed closely over time, can be seen flying out to grab a passing insect and feeding it to the chirping chicks. You can also watch these baby birds grow over time if you have the patience for it. I am nearly as excited to explore the details of this world as I am to hunt monsters.
New monsters, creative options, and a vibrant open world to explore put this game on the top of my wishlist. Unfortunately, we will have to be patient because Monster Hunter Wilds does not have a specific release date yet, only a release window of some time in 2025. When it does eventually launch, it is planned to be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, and PC.
