It’s been a great week to be a Monster Hunter fan. First, we got the release date trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds at PlayStation’s State of Play, which announced that the game would launch on February 27th next year (it’s so close that I can taste it). Then, we got a beginner’s guide to the game during the Tokyo Game Show, which gave tips for newcomers and showcased some interesting new features. Finally, we got 40-odd minutes of gameplay showcasing the new area, the Scarlet Forest (including a bunch of new monsters). Now, if this has you a lil overwhelmed, don’t worry any longer because Couch Soup is here to summarise all this new info!
The trailer from the State of Play gave us the release date and a new look at the game’s story. The plot of Monster Hunter games has never been overly important and has mostly been just an excuse to hunt monsters. Even in Monster Hunter: World, that wasn’t much different. However, Monster Hunter Rise leaned into the idea that the plot is important, and it looks like Wilds is doing the same.
The trailer highlights the player character and their crew finding a boy in the middle of the Windward Plains (the first area of this game). The area that was thought to be devoid of human life is now filled with mysteries that you’ll need to solve. And with a dangerous monster known as “The White Wraith”, it looks like this story might be something special.
Speaking of the locales, the trailer and subsequent gameplay demo at TGS showcased a new area, the Scarlet Forest. This area looks to have a similar vibe to the Flooded Forest from Monster Hunter Tri, with a little bit of the Ancient Forest from World thrown in for good measure. The main schtick of this area is the torrential rainfall, leading to flooding and completely transforming some environments.
Similarly, the Windward Plains will also feature similar events, such as sandstorms and areas becoming electrically charged. These dynamic events will make every hunt feel that much more unique because one minute you could be fighting a monster, and the next, you’re being washed away. The gameplay opportunities are endless.
The beginners guide video held some fun new information for both returning players and newcomers alike. For newbies, it gave a basic rundown of what to expect from a Monster Hunter game. Things like crafting, item management, weapon types, etc., got brief overviews. The interesting part, though, comes with the new additions. The biggest is, without a doubt, the portable camps. This new item lets you set up a camp wherever you want on the map where you can restock items, change weapons, and use it as a fast travel point. These can be destroyed by monsters, so you’ll have to be careful where you place them.
Another big change is being able to cook meals out in the field. Previously, you’d have to eat before the quest began to get buffs, but now you can do that in the field. I’m assuming the effects won’t be as good as if you make it at base camp, but it’ll still be useful.
Wilds is also introducing some interesting changes that will help new players yet keep returning hunters on their toes. The first is that you can now throw barrel bombs at monsters. No more waiting for the monster to fall asleep and planting a hydrogen bomb on its head. Now, you can just throw it at them when they’re charging at you or if they’re running away. I’m just imagining all the combos you’ll be able to do with this addition, like with one player throwing the bomb and another firing an arrow to blow it up mid-roll. The anarchy that this could cause will be fun as all hell.
Speaking of teamwork, a new feature has been added for players who may need help with quests but don’t want to deal with random people online. Support hunters are NPC companions that will assist you if you’re playing offline, which is also handy for anti-social folk.
Some quality-of-life improvements have also been made, such as the health bar now shaking to warn you if the next hit will take you out. This is helpful for those who forget that health is a thing and just go full steam ahead against a monster only to end up carting two seconds later (totally not what I’ve done before). For newcomers, the handler will also suggest weapons for you if you are unsure what weapon will fit your playstyle. With all these new tools, tips, and tricks at your disposal, those monsters aren’t gonna stand a chance… maybe.
One of the most exciting parts of any new Monster Hunter game is the plethora of new monsters that get introduced. We’ve already seen most of these monsters in previous trailers; however, there are three massive new additions to the roster that already have me salivating to fight them. They are the Apex monsters Uth Duna and Rey Dau and the flagship monster for this game, Arkveld (aka The White Wraith). These three are massive, ferocious, and look like a ton of fun to fight.
Uth Duna is a Leviathan that rules over the Scarlet Forrest and thrives in the water. It’s mostly sighted during the heavy rain and will make excellent use of the extra water. We got a taste of this fight in the gameplay livestream, and it looked intense, to say the least. My favourite moment was when Uth Duna caused a mini-tsunami to wash away the player, which will never get annoying during repeat hunts.
Rey Dau is a wyvern that rules over the Windward Plains and is basically a flying railgun. This monster has adapted to the many thunderstorms in the area and uses that power against its foes, including us. This guy looks like a blast to fight, especially with all those beautiful electrical particle effects that will cover the screen during every fight. I also think he’ll make the coolest-looking armour sets, so I’m gonna be hunting this one a lot.
And lastly, there’s the flagship monster for this game, Arkveld. This once-thought-extinct monster has returned and is causing quite a bit of trouble. With wings that double as rock whips and a very aggressive disposition, anything that gets in this guy’s way is sure to end up dead. I’m curious to learn more about this guy because if the previous games are anything to go by, a bigger, scarier monster will eat this guy for breakfast.
And that is the gist of all the Monster Hunter Wilds news we’ve been bombarded with over the past week. My excitement levels continue to rise for this game, and I can barely wait for its February 27th launch date. If you also can’t wait, consider staying here on Couch Soup because more Monster Hunter content will be coming your way soon.
Are you excited for Monster Hunter Wilds? Have you played the games before? What monster do you hope returns? Let us know in the comments where we can talk all things Monster Hunter.
