Monster Hunter Wilds’ ghastly spider monster is actually key to the game’s more approachable design

by

Monster Hunter Wilds introduces a truly terrifying spider creature named Lala Barina. From previews and trailers, it seems this spider falls into the area where Malenia from Elden Ring and the demon spider from Hunt: Showdown overlap. If you saw “Lala Barina” without context, you might think it referred to a new model of Suzuki’s small car, the Holden Barina, rather than a massive, oily rose blossom with swift mandibles. You wouldn’t expect nests made of scarlet silk or a myriad of status effects.

Monster Hunter Wilds: 3rd Trailer | Lala Barina & Scarlet Forest Reveal

A positive aspect about the Lala Barina isn’t merely its role as a formidable spider, but rather its function as a teacher. This perspective is shared by Ryozo Tsujimoto, producer of Wilds, and director Yuya Tokuda, who have been discussing the game’s recent user-friendly updates with Polygon. Tsujimoto explained to the site that in contrast to Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Rise, their focus for Monster Hunter Wilds was on identifying where new players might leave the game and making adjustments accordingly. This analysis of player behavior served as their homework for Monster Hunter Wilds.

The results of this examination are evident in numerous ways, such as introducing support characters like Seikret, a rideable lizard that helps you locate your targets. However, they’re particularly noticeable during the game’s initial stages, which function as an extensive tutorial. During this learning phase, you’ll encounter various creatures including the toad-like Chatacabra, the bovine Doshaguma (unfortunately, my favorite), the fierce Quematrice Wyvern, a hybrid of a T-Rex and mosquito called Rompompolo, and our dear acquaintance, Lala Barina.

If these creatures initially seem repulsive, take comfort in knowing they serve to introduce the fundamentals of Monster Hunting within the game. As Tokuda explained to Polygon, you’ll first encounter Chatacabra that helps players learn evasion tactics against large attacks. The next monster, Quematrice, uses its long tail for a wide-range attack, teaching you to dodge effectively. Lala Barina follows suit with its deceptive movements; it disappears from your sight, thereby helping you master camera control. Lala Barina also imparts additional lessons to novice players: the numerous status effects it inflicts are due to its consumption of various forest mushrooms. You might find yourself learning about these mushrooms as you struggle against them.

It’s quite reminiscent, isn’t it? Halo: Combat Evolved was instrumental in teaching us the fundamentals of camera control, and they did so in an unconventional manner by having a character hold up a flashlight for us while safely enclosed in a cryopod. It feels rather tame when compared to this, but maybe Capcom could strengthen the connection by having Lala Barina carry some glowing sticks instead. This would not only help maintain the association, but also ensure that it doesn’t use its limbs to potentially harm you.

Another way to phrase it could be: Just like Bloodborne, I’m confident that it will eventually come out on PC. In Bloodborne, there’s a boss called Father Gascoigne who has an intimidating opening move where he swipes his sword across the ground, creating a shower of sparks. This attack used to frighten me until I learned that the lengthy wind-up was meant to signal when to block with a parry. Reminds me of the Wilds in this sense.

I’m composing this piece partly due to the emphasis Wilds places on integrating the simulated ecosystem with more gameplay-focused aspects, which I find an intriguing concept as it suggests that certain boss structures and actions serve as educational tools. Expanding upon my Animal Well review from last year, I believe there’s a wealth of discussion to be had about how digital interfaces can take on animalistic forms, with creatures evolving into HUD elements, and how this ties into older traditions of animal symbolism and heraldry. For those who might not share the same interest in such subjects but are more concerned about having to battle a schoolmasterly tarantula, the key point, I suppose, is that Monster Hunter Wilds offers an arachnophobia mode.

Read More

2025-02-11 20:25