Monster Hunter Wilds Isn’t Too Easy, It’s Too Forgiving

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I had the pleasure of reviewing Monster Hunter Wilds here at top-mob.com, so I knew exactly what the inevitable discourse would be a few weeks before anyone else did. I knew that long-time Monster Hunter fans were going to complain that Wilds was too easy, and I also knew newcomers and anyone who was put off by older Monster Hunter games would be grateful to have a more approachable, and indeed easier monster-hunting experience.

The discussion since the release of Wilds has centered around whether it disregards long-time fans by creating a less demanding experience to appeal to a broader audience. However, this viewpoint overlooks an essential truth. The main issue with Wilds isn’t that it’s overly simple for seasoned hunters; rather, it’s too lenient for all.

It’s Easy To Call It Easy

To set the record straight, Monster Hunter Wilds seemed relatively simple compared to my past experiences. Given my extensive playtime and preference for the glaive weapon, I sailed through the campaign without much trouble. It wasn’t until the double Ajarakan fight necessary for unlocking the powercharm that I had any difficulties. In instances where I encountered a battle beyond my capabilities, I could always rely on the SOS system to summon backup hunters and tackle the monster together.

For me, the latest updates in Monster Hunter have significantly simplified the gameplay. The new focus and wound systems enable repeated interruptions of monster attacks, almost rendering a monster immobile due to constant staggering. With some practice, you can even keep a monster stunned while your allies or Palico gradually reduce its health. Additionally, innovative techniques such as offset attacks and power clashes provide extra defense mechanisms for weapons, allowing for longer periods of knocking monsters over and inflicting additional damage. Master these strategies, and most battles become a breeze.

Is it too simple now that these latest mechanics have been introduced in Wilds? This could be a challenging question to address, and perhaps an insoluble issue. If you’ve been deeply involved with Monster Hunter for quite some time, then yes, the gameplay in Wilds might seem easier. However, isn’t it inevitable that this should happen? If you’ve invested countless hours honing your skills against arch-tempered elder dragons to collect decos, naturally, the base game campaign of Wilds will appear simpler. This is just a natural progression of mastery in the game.

The challenge of maintaining a player base for games like Monster Hunter, which have been around for so long, lies in the fact that it’s tough to match their growing skill level. The initial Rathalos encounter is particularly daunting – it zips about, raining fireballs that can instantly defeat you. It seems almost impossible to conquer. However, once you figure out how to handle Rathalos, it becomes less of a hurdle. This skillset remains consistent across different generations of Monster Hunter games. If you introduce someone new to the Wilds version of Monster Hunter and ask if Rathalos is easy, they might think you’re insensitive, as they’re likely still struggling with this formidable foe.

What Monster Hunter Wilds Is Really Missing

In simpler terms, ‘Wilds’ might not be flawed in terms of difficulty level, but rather, it seems to lack the necessary resistance or challenge that makes progress feel meaningful. The game doesn’t seem to reward effort, making it appear easier than it actually is for both seasoned players and newcomers.

Monster Hunter is often perceived as complex and obscure, but with Monster Hunter World, Capcom has been diligently simplifying the gameplay to make it smoother. The success of World, which has sold over 30 million copies, demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach. By reducing intricacies, Monster Hunter has become more inviting and successful for a wider audience.

In Wilds, Capcom appears to have over-simplified Monster Hunter, stripping it down to a less challenging, more automated version of its original self. Numerous features and systems have been streamlined in Wilds, resulting in an experience that is more lenient and less mentally engaging, which is disheartening for longtime fans and misleading for newcomers.

In Monster Hunter World, before you can confront your chosen monster, there’s a strategic planning phase. This could involve consulting with the Chief Ecologist for insights into the monster’s characteristics, such as its strengths and weaknesses. You might also tailor your weapons, armor, and decorations to give yourself an advantage. The culinary expert will be visited next, where you’ll prepare a meal by combining specific ingredients to acquire the resistances and abilities that suit your needs. After carefully selecting the appropriate consumables from your inventory, considering both the environment of the hunt and the unique traits of your target monster, you’re finally prepared for the expedition and ready to embark on the thrilling pursuit.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, there’s no need for extensive preparation before each hunt. You can simply choose a monster and set out to defeat it. If hunger strikes mid-battle, you can prepare a meal right in the field. If you need information about a particular monster, you can easily access its details through the menu. Even if you forget an antidote for poisonous monsters or run low on potions, your Palico companion and Seikret have got you covered. Essentially, Monster Hunter Wilds is designed to make sure you’re well-equipped for every fight, reducing the need for strategic planning, and increasing the chances of success.

Monster Hunter Is Losing Its Identity

This discussion isn’t about mastering skills or gaining character strength from facing challenges. I’m not trying to argue that the difficulty in Dark Souls makes beating it more rewarding. I understand Capcom wants a smoother and more accessible experience, and that’s not necessarily a negative. However, by simplifying the hunter experience, Monster Hunter has significantly diminished a key aspect of its unique character.

Preparation in this context isn’t merely a time-consuming obstacle. It involves crafting narratives and constructing the game’s world, which helps immerse you in its reality. This process encourages contemplation of your targets’ biology and the environment they inhabit. By learning about these creatures, you forge connections with them, an aspect you might miss if you blindly attack through Wilds’ bestiary without thought. The more you neglect thinking about the hunting process itself, the shallower the experience becomes.

It’s disheartening to observe numerous players eager for the mod that displays monsters’ health bars. This isn’t due to the game becoming simpler, but because it removes the necessity to observe their injuries, interpret their movements, and listen to their sounds to determine how near they are to death. Essentially, this is what set Monster Hunter apart. The more elements like these that Monster Hunter sheds, the more it transforms into an ordinary action game. Granted, Wilds may be easier, but what’s crucial is that the features removed to make it easier were the very aspects that defined Monster Hunter as unique.

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2025-03-08 10:36