Omega Force and EA Originals’ new action RPGWild Heartsis a debut title within the monster-hunting genre. Set in the feudal Japan-inspired world of Azuma, players are tasked with hunting down nature-infused monsters called Kemono and slaying them, with the help of anancient technology known as Karikuri.
In the midst of their quest to track down fearsome Kemono and defeat them, players will need to navigate the complex and beautifully designed world of the game.Wild Heartsis full of unexpected and interesting gameplay elements and can be a challenging play for both newcomers and veterans of the genre, so there are a lot of mistakes players can make if they’re not careful.
1Missing Crucial Tutorial Information
Much likeother monster hunting games,Wild Heartsdoesn’t coddle its players when they first begin. Though players will be thrown directly into a tutorial mission that goes through most of the basics, many of the more important elements aren’t emphasized heavily. Players with a tendency to skip through dialogue and cutscenes should hold off on that habit at the start.
Paying close attention to the information provided in the tutorial is key for success, as otherwise players might miss essential game functions.Wild Heartsalso provides players with a training dummy, and skipping over this is a mistake. Training with this dummy with help players learn weapon combos and other combat fundamentals that they will struggle without.
2Ignoring Food Buffs
Some beginner gamers find that food systems within games are too confusing and extensive to try to make the most of. But players ofWild Heartswould do well to avoid making this mistake. The food system in the game can be a little difficult to understand, but once players go through a little trial and error, it becomes essential for success.
RELATED:Skyrim: The Best Cooked Foods
There are five main food types: grains, meats, vegetables, fish, and seasonings.Combining these food typesand processing them in different ways has a unique effect and outcome. The kinds of buffs that players can expect from the food system are healing, defensive, attack, stamina, and various kinds of base level health buffs.
3Neglecting The Tsukumo
Throughout the world ofWild Hearts,players will find many rolling, clanking, ball-shapedrobots known as Tsukumo. Though they populate every region in the game, one main Tsukumo will accompany the protagonist and become their main battlefield assistant. They might seem small and unassuming, but the Tsukumo are essential to a successfulWild Heartsexperience.
RELATED:Pro Tips For Wild Hearts
The main Tsukumo can be upgraded at a hearth to add various capabilities to its repertoire. Finding additional Tsukumo hidden around the map will provide players with the old cogs necessary to perform these upgrades. It might seem like a chore that some players will want to avoid, but ignoring this feature prevent players from unlocking key abilities.
4Killing Everything In Sight
Wild Heartsis a monster hunting game, but that doesn’t mean that players should hack and slash at every beast they come across. Sometimes,choosing a more peaceful interactioncan reap an even larger reward. In addition to the more hostile Kemono, there are many Kemono that are passive and smaller. If players creep up to them undetected, they’ll be given the option to pet the animal as well as slay it. Petting a Kemono will result in it dropping materials for the player to collect. For some materials, this is the only way to acquire them.
There are many other creatures in the game that might seem like decorative, world-building additions, but are actually another way to obtain materials. The small mammals, bugs, and birds that roam Azuma can be picked up by players as they explore. Once they have unlocked the cage Karikuri, players can keep these critters as pets within their campsites. Caged critters will drop materials at regular intervals, allowing players to farm materials with little effort.
5Burning Through Thread
Essential to the success of the Karikuri system is Celestial Thread, the primary resource that players will use to build Karikuri. Any build that players make will use Thread to execute and, as such, it’s aprecious commodity within the game. Players will begin with a maximum Thread capacity of 12, and will need to harvest Thread from the world or the Kemono when they’re running low.
RELATED:Games Where You Manage Resources
Due to the importance of Celestial Thread, players should avoid burning through it too quickly. Building only the essential Karikuri needed, and demolishing old Karikuri to reclaim Thread, are great ways to do this. Thread capacity can, of course, be upgraded through leveling up the Threader Form of players’ main Tsukumo. Doing this early on and keeping a close eye on Thread levels are essential to successful gameplay.
6Avoiding Map Exploration
Sometimes, beginner players can feel a little overwhelmed with the size of a game’s world when it comes to exploration.Open-world gamesare known for hiding countless secrets and resources in every nook and cranny. As a result, some players might be daunted by the size ofWild Hearts’map and resistant to the idea of exploration. However, exploring the world of Azuma is crucial.
Unlocking new regions of the map brings with it many key gameplay opportunities. From finding more Tsukumo, to learning more about the world of Azuma, exploration is integral to players’ success. Moreover, different regions will yield different resources for players to collect, so failing to explore can be limiting. Placing Hunter’s Tents will allow players to fast travel, which can help to make the map feel more accessible.
Wild Heartsis available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Awesome Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Wild Hearts
