As the highly - anticipated release of "Monster Hunter Wilds" approaches on February 28, 2025, game director Yuya Tokuda has shared some fascinating insights into the game's design philosophy. Tokuda reveals his intention to strike a balance between guiding players through essential gameplay elements and leaving room for them to unearth some of the game's best - kept secrets on their own.
Guiding the Player Experience
In past "Monster Hunter" games, players often had to figure out many aspects of the game independently. However, for "Monster Hunter Wilds," the development team has taken a different approach. When playing through the opening hours of the game at Capcom's London headquarters, it was evident that more care has been put into explaining the basics. From the intricacies of weapon crafting to the significance of having a pre - hunt meal, these fundamental aspects are now more clearly communicated. This ensures that both returning and new players can smoothly enter the game world and understand the core mechanics.
The Allure of Discovery
Despite the enhanced guidance, Tokuda emphasizes that there are still plenty of techniques, tricks, and secrets for players to discover organically. One such example is the "superman dive." By pressing the dodge button while running away from a monster with the weapon sheathed, the player's character will perform a forward dive, landing on the ground. This move grants an extended period of complete invulnerability, much longer than the standard dodge's limited invincibility frames. This technique was crucial in battles against powerful monsters like Nergigante in previous games and remains equally important in "Monster Hunter Wilds," as seen in the beta when facing Rey Dau and Chained Ark Veld.
Another interesting trick is the ability to stay safe after being knocked down. By refraining from pressing any buttons or moving the stick, the character remains on the ground, avoiding follow - up attacks from monsters. Many creatures in past "Monster Hunter" games have had attacks specifically designed to target players who quickly get up, making this a valuable technique to master.
Dividing the Approach
Tokuda explains his approach to guiding players and leaving room for discovery. He differentiates between two types of knowledge: the essential information needed to play, complete, and enjoy the game, and the additional techniques that, while not necessary for progress, add an extra layer of fun. Basics like the importance of weapon upgrades and food buffs are too crucial to be left to chance discovery. Players need to understand these aspects to fully engage with the game. However, techniques like the "superman dive" or the ability to stay safe when knocked down are more about the joy of discovery. Players can progress without knowing these, but uncovering them provides an exciting and rewarding experience.
This philosophy also extends to the game's roster of monsters. In the early stages, players will have in - depth conversations with NPCs about upcoming monsters and strategies to face them. As the game progresses, players will be given more freedom to develop their own strategies, fostering a sense of exploration and experimentation.
Encouraging Player Interaction
Tokuda also believes that leaving these secrets and techniques for players to discover encourages communication between them. When players share their newfound knowledge, asking each other, "Did you know about this or that?" it creates a sense of community. This approach has been successful for games like those from FromSoftware, such as "Dark Souls" and "Elden Ring," which have a strong community - driven exploration aspect. Even in the "Monster Hunter Wilds" beta, players in the training room have already started sharing new techniques, indicating that this philosophy is already bearing fruit.
As "Monster Hunter Wilds" prepares to launch, players can look forward to a game that combines clear guidance with the thrill of discovery, promising an engaging and immersive monster - hunting experience.
