Grappling onto a monster’s back and spinning down it like a buzz saw with my dual blades, I couldn’t help but cackle with glee. There’s a real, pure, form of joy that only a Monster Hunter game can hit – a kind of David and Goliath feeling as your tiny hunter with a couple of knives brings down a Godzilla creature that can shoot lightning bolts.
Monster Hunter Wilds deliberately builds on the overhaul brought by 2018’s Monster Hunter World, doubling down on a lot of what that game did well, while also branching out in some wild new directions. It’s a seismic shift for the franchise that gives Monster Hunter something it’s never had before, a real narrative. Everything in Wilds is built around that narrative experience, while streamlining some of the rougher elements the series has been known for. This deliberate shift in focus may not be for everyone, but one thing is clear – this is the boldest Monster Hunter game yet, and the absolute best place for newcomers to start.
