Summary
As more is revealed about it, Capcom’sMonster Hunter Wildscontinues to chip away at the mold established by the franchise over the last two decades. Like theMonster Huntertitles before it,Monster Hunter Wildswill have an original story for players to follow, complete with a brand-new cast of characters to meet and monsters to hunt. At the same time,Monster Hunter Wildsis defying tradition with a dynamic weather system that enhances and adds challenge to exploration, a pack system to make hunting monsters more difficult, and a fully-voiced protagonist. It doesn’t seem to be stopping there either, as even more changes can be found within the footage released for the game so far.
As usual, between hunts, players will return to their base camp to perform enhancements and upgrades to their gear with the help ofMonster Hunter Wildsunique characters. Although this is nothing new to theMonster Hunterfranchise, oneMonster Hunter Wildscharacter that has already been introduced is a good omen for the changes this particular installment is bringing to the table. Alma is a new character inMonster Hunter Wildswho acts as the Hunter’s “Handler,” which means she will accompany players on their hunts and provide any information they might need. However, since everyMonster Huntertitle has a unique Handler, her name, not her role, is what makes her appearance inMonster Hunter Wildsa groundbreaking move for the series.
Named NPCs Like Alma Are a Good Sign for Monster Hunter Wilds' Story
Monster Hunter Isn’t Known for Having Memorable Stories
One ofMonster Hunter’s biggest criticisms has always been its lackluster narrative. AlmosteveryMonster Huntergameobserves a similar trope: the monsters in the region have been driven mad, and it’s up to the Hunter to bring an end to whatever monster or source is causing it. It’s not the worst storyline ever written, but it’s not the most emotionally gripping or memorable one either. That being said, some might argue thatMonster Hunterdoesn’t need a deep narrative. After all, with such engaging and rewarding gameplay, there is arguably little need for a good story to drive it home. On the contrary, a much more compelling story might be what theMonster Hunterfranchise needs to succeed in today’s market, andMonster Hunter Wildsmay be able to accomplish that.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Named Characters May Give Its Story More Depth
The heartbeat of almost any story is its characters, so the changes thatMonster Hunter Wildsis bringing to the franchise bode well for the depth of its narrative. Specifically, an often-criticizedtradition of theMonster Hunterfranchiseis to include unnamed NPCs for players to interact with. However,Monster Hunter Wildsis introducing named characters like Alma, which simultaneously implies a much more engaging story this time around. Other named characters, like a young boy named Nata and Gemma the smithy, will also be joining players on their journey through the wilds, but since Alma is the Hunter’s Handler, she will likely be one they interact with more than anyone else.
The story ofMonster Hunter Wildshas yet to be unveiled to its fullest extent, and it likely won’t be until the game’s release. Even so, named characters like Alma, Nata, and Gemma bode well forMonster Hunter Wilds' narrative, meaning it could very well end up being one of the most innovativeMonster Hunterinstallments yet. At the very least, it will be a challenge to go back to unnamed NPCs and voiceless protagonists afterMonster Hunter Wilds, so it may set a precedent for the franchise’s future.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
