I Don’t Know What Capcom Is Trying to Do Here, but It Looks Bad. I Played Monster Hunter: Wilds

As a seasoned Monster Hunter fan who has spent countless hours hunting and slaying colossal beasts since the series’ inception, I must admit that my initial impressions of the latest installment at gamescom were less than favorable. While the gameplay remains as enthralling as ever, the blurry, unrefined visuals left me questioning whether this was a time capsule from 2010 rather than a showcase for a game slated for release in 2025.


Due to the brief demo of Monster Hunter at gamescom, I’ll be providing a concise review. It seems that this game series is not designed for quick presentations as there’s a lot to grasp and understand, especially considering the background noise and movement during the show. This complexity makes it difficult to appreciate without investing some time in the game. Keep this in mind while reading my brief impressions, as they might focus on the game’s surface-level aspects due to its fast-paced nature at events like these. Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen so far, it doesn’t seem to present itself favorably.

Blurred, ugly, frivolous

In the scene you’re referring to, I showcased a portion that might be familiar from the internet – it begins with a pursuit across a barren desert landscape, where we’re trying to evade “worms”. At this point, it struck me as if something had gone amiss, for such a scene should not appear so poor quality in the year 2024. The desert is devoid of life, it looks unappealing, there’s no background activity, the sand appears as a yellow-tinted texture, and to add insult to injury – even with few polygons visible on the screen, the image was disconcertingly blurry.

Capcom

In this rephrased version, I aim to maintain the original meaning while making it more accessible and engaging for readers:

The colors are faded and burnt out. I’ve seen trailers from later stages and I’m glad that apparently it won’t always look as if we were watching a retrospective of someone’s funeral. So why was this particular stage chosen to present the gameplay to the press and players who came to the gamescom? Who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to make a fragment that seems to suggest that it was designed LONG before Monster Hunter: World was released playable? And Monster Hunter: World was released in 2018…

It seems strange that after possessing all necessary resources – expertise, personnel, funds – and having proven their ability to create quality games like Monster Hunter: World, which continues to look impressive, Capcom opted for a decision that can only be described as a step back in terms of graphics quality in 2018. This choice, I must say, may not appeal to fans.

Okay, it’s ugly, but is it cool?

Indeed, Monster Hunter is quite engaging since anyone who’s delved into this series finds themselves captivated by the task of pursuing and vanquishing enormous beasts, discovering new territories, gathering resources, and fabricating novel gear. The battle system shares a resemblance to that of 2018’s Monster Hunter World, offering a sense of weightiness, suggesting that mastery of the combos and weapon dynamics will require significant playtime – there are 14 distinct types of weapons within the game.

Capcom

Although I couldn’t personally explore the open world in this game, I’m confident that it will deliver, given that we’re talking about Monster Hunter. It’s known for its expansive maps, diverse biomes, colossal monsters, and stunning wildlife. In the demo version that was released, I did get to battle one of the massive beasts, and let me tell you, it feels just like classic Monster Hunter gameplay.

One way of paraphrasing the given sentence is: This series consistently maintains a unique visual style that I find captivating, and it’s evident that we can expect extravagant, high-definition armor designs and weaponry once more. However, it would be even more impressive if the graphics were further improved.

Perhaps the initial version of the game is outdated, or maybe its early stages were intentionally challenging only for hardcore fans to enjoy… But the new trailer from gamescom has been visually appealing, so I’m hoping for a positive change after the release. Yet, I still harbor skepticism and even disappointment. I won’t invest in a game set to launch… let me correct that, due out in 2025 if it looks as unappealing as it does now. Graphics aren’t everything, of course, but even basic visuals should be inviting, not off-putting. Let this be a misunderstanding or a dark jest – just ensure the game doesn’t launch looking this way, because the series could face failure if that happens.

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2024-08-26 12:02