Horizon Zero Dawn May Have Spoiled Monster Hunter Wilds Big Twist

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Spoiler warning for both Monster Hunter Wilds and Horizon Zero Dawn

In a notable shift from the traditional style of the Monster Hunter series by Capcom, Monster Hunter Wilds significantly emphasizes its narrative. Although Monster Hunter has previously featured a plot, it was primarily a backdrop for hunting and collecting various animal species. However, in Monster Hunter Wilds, there is a clear effort to flesh out characters, create immersive worlds, and weave an engaging storyline, which is less common in the Monster Hunter series.

I find it quite fascinating how Wilds’ narrative delves deeper into the mythology of the Monster Hunter universe, uncovering mysteries that have been subtly suggested in previous installments, yet never fully explored until now. It’s a thrilling development for dedicated fans, and it seems as though Capcom has been meticulously planning this for quite some time. However, Horizon Zero Dawn, released in 2017, got there first.

Prehistoric Monsters And Primitive Weapons, Where Have I Seen That Before?

It’s quite apparent that the worlds and combat styles of Monster Hunter and Guerrilla Games’ Horizon series share many similarities. In Monster Hunter World, this overlap is even more literal as players can transform their hunter into Aloy and customize their palico to resemble a watcher. It seems Guerrilla drew inspiration for the world and combat mechanics of Horizon from Monster Hunter, which Capcom acknowledged in World’s in-game Horizon event. This isn’t about stealing ideas; it’s a natural progression of art, and it’s truly fascinating to see.

In fact, it’s been unveiled by Wilds that Monster Hunter and Horizon have a greater connection than previously thought. The resemblance isn’t limited to gameplay and setting; surprisingly, their backstories also follow almost the same pattern.

Wilds Brings Us Closer To The Ancient Civilization

In the grand tale that unfolds across the Monster Hunter series, there’s a recurring theme about an ancient civilization known as Wyveria. Various tidbits about this advanced, long-lost society have been revealed in other games, notably through the Artian armor set, which seems oddly futuristic and appears frequently in each game. Many fans have pondered whether Monster Hunter is set in a post-apocalyptic world, and with the introduction of Wilds, we now grasp how this world reached its current state.

In the realm of Monster Hunter, there exists an ancient civilization, as yet undiscovered and unnamed. Despite residing within Wyveria, the inhabitants known as the Wyverians, or the First Wyverians, are a distinct species of non-human characters that belong to a different race altogether.

Throughout Wilds campaign, you’ll encounter numerous intricate details that are truly worth experiencing firsthand. To keep it concise, let me summarize by stating that this ancient civilization maintained a powerful bond with monsters, even teaching them to safeguard their vital structures. Similar to how we utilize monsters in crafting weapons and armor, they employed the remains of powerful creatures to construct their empire. Over time, the relationship between these people and monsters deteriorated.

Over time, they managed to invent a type of creature, modeled after actual monsters, but without the ability to reproduce or die. These beings didn’t need food and instead drew power from the earth through an artifact known as the Dragontorch. The people referred to these creations as guardians. However, creating them involved the loss of numerous real monsters, which understandably caused distress among the monstrous population.

Over time, this situation culminated in the catastrophic Dragon War involving Fatalis, the strongest elder dragon, which ultimately brought about the demise of the human empire. Information regarding the ancient civilization and how their advanced technology was lost to us has been revealed primarily in Wilds. As some had speculated, Monster Hunter unfolds within a post-apocalyptic landscape.

Fatalis? More Like Faro Plague

If you’re familiar with Horizon Zero Dawn, many of its narrative elements might resonate with you. Unlike Monster Hunter, its plot is intricately layered; however, at its core, it revolves around an advanced civilization that had constructed a vast empire by taming animals. Over time, they mastered the technology to create their own mechanical animal-like beings, which they called chariots, primarily for warfare purposes – similar to how constructs were utilized in Monster Hunter’s ancient civilization.

In contrast to Monster Hunter, instead of monsters attacking humans, it was the machines that rebelled against humanity due to the Faro Plague. As human extinction became imminent, Project Zero Dawn was initiated to rebuild the world post-plague destruction, mainly using robot constructs modeled after living creatures. A significant plot twist in Horizon Zero Dawn is unveiling that this story takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, as it follows a primitive society that developed centuries after the collapse of mankind – similar to Monster Hunter’s premise.

It’s fascinating that the Monster Hunter series is delving into rich backstory now, and what Capcom has created seems both fresh and fitting for the Monster Hunter universe. However, it’s hard not to notice some similarities between this new storyline and Horizon Zero Dawn’s – especially when you consider how intricate and thoughtfully structured Horizon’s narrative is. It’s almost as if Capcom has been preparing the stage for Wilds’ tale for many years, but it’s a bit disheartening to acknowledge that Guerrilla Games may have paved the way for this storyline a full eight years ago.

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2025-03-12 06:06