Capcom’s latest entry in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Wilds, takes the franchise into new territory—literally.
With a more open world, revamped traversal, and a more cinematic approach, it’s trying to balance accessibility for newcomers while keeping veterans engaged. But does it hit the mark, or does it feel like an easier hunt?
A More Streamlined Hunt
One of the first things you’ll notice is how Wilds is much more structured than previous games. There’s an actual story-driven introduction, which lasts around 15–20 hours before you get into the meat of the game: the hunt-grind-upgrade-repeat loop that Monster Hunter fans know and love. This makes it way easier for newcomers to jump in, but longtime players might feel it drags a bit.
Combat-wise, you still get 14 weapon types, each with its own feel, but Capcom made some tweaks. There’s now a Wound mechanic, which lets you deal more damage by focusing on specific weak points—great for strategy, but it might make fights a bit easier than before. And if you hated Rise’s Wirebug system, good news: it’s gone. Instead, we get the Seikret Mount system, which makes getting around the world feel smoother.
Performance: A Bit Rough on the Edges
Visually, Wilds looks fantastic. The Forbidden Lands are a stunning new setting, and the character customization is deeper than ever (yes, you can tweak base colors, accents, gradients—the whole shebang). But there’s a catch—performance issues, especially during cutscenes. Even on a still slightly beefy RTX 3080, there were noticeable hiccups in cinematics, which Capcom will hopefully patch soon.
On the bright side, the seamless open-world design is a huge upgrade from Rise. No more waiting forever between zones—everything is out there, ready for you to explore.
During our PhilSTAR Tech live stream of Monster Hunter Wilds, we got to experience all of this firsthand. The game’s graphics and performance were put to the test, with some noticeable frame drops in cinematics but overall smooth gameplay outside of cutscenes.
Customization & Exploration: A Time Sink (in a Good Way)
If you love character creation, you’ll probably spend hours here. There’s so much detail that you can practically create your own K-pop looking Monster Hunter protagonist. Armor customization also gets a boost, with different styles that don’t just look different but actually feel like an extension of your character.
The game’s world also feels more alive than past entries, with more things to interact with, and monsters that behave more dynamically. It’s not just a monster-fighting sim anymore—there’s an actual world worth exploring.
An RPG Fan Walks Into a Monster Hunter Game…
As someone who enjoys RPGs, I never really clicked with previous Monster Hunter games because they lacked a strong narrative hook. The gameplay loop of hunting, crafting, and repeating was fun, but without a compelling story or deeper world-building, I struggled to stay engaged.
But Wilds changes that. The expanded lore, deeper NPC interactions, and cutscene-driven progression make it feel more like an RPG-hunting hybrid rather than just a boss fight simulator. The game actually gives me a reason to care about the world, rather than just throwing me into a cycle of “hunt monster, craft gear, repeat.”
This shift makes the experience feel more rewarding because it’s no longer just about improving my hunter’s stats—it’s about uncovering the mysteries of the Forbidden Lands, understanding the ancient civilizations, and seeing how my character fits into the world. It’s a welcome change for someone who enjoys lore-heavy games with structured narratives, and I can see this appealing to players who might have bounced off previous Monster Hunter titles for being too gameplay-focused.
That said, this won’t be for everyone. Some long-time players might find the extra story elements unnecessary or even intrusive, especially if they just want to jump straight into hunting. But for me? The RPG-like progression, coupled with Monster Hunter’s already satisfying combat, makes Wilds the most engaging entry in the franchise so far.
Verdict: Is It Worth the Hunt?
Monster Hunter Wilds is a gorgeous, ambitious take on the series that makes it more beginner-friendly without completely alienating veterans. But the performance issues and somewhat streamlined combat might leave hardcore players wanting more depth. If you loved World but weren’t a fan of Rise, this might be the Monster Hunter game you’ve been waiting for.
Pros:
✅ Stunning visuals and deep character customization
✅ Improved traversal and open-world exploration
✅ More story-driven than past titles
✅ Great for newcomers
Cons:
❌ Performance issues, especially in cutscenes in the PC version for now.
❌ Combat might feel too simplified for veterans
❌ The long tutorial phase may slow things down
Final Score: 8/10 – A visually stunning but slightly controversial evolution of the Monster Hunter franchise. Worth playing, but for those playing on the PC port, be prepared for some bumps along the way.
Special thanks to everyone who joined the PhilSTAR Tech live stream! If you missed it, check out our full playthrough and first impressions!
