Monster Hunter Wilds Review – COOKIN’ UP A STORM!

The hype for Monster Hunter Wilds makes a lot of sense. Not only is it made in the style of Monster Hunter Worlds, but it comes at at time where universal acclaim for the series has never been higher. And if player counts are anything to go by, it seems like Capcom has nailed it on the head. Although, is it all sunshine and rainbows for the series? Let’s take a closer look.

A New Era of Hunting

Even though the Monster Hunter brand started out on the PS2, many dedicated fans have stayed with the series throughout its rising popularity due to its progressively challenging gameplay. However, it’s clear that Monster Hunter Wilds has made things more approachable for new players, with several adjustments to the UI, less grinding, auto-riding to destinations and more.

While its focus on being more accessible does make the game noticeably easier—which may scare away ol’ fossils of the franchise—I found it a cinch to pick up and play different weapon types that I wouldn’t normally use like the insect glaive and heavy bowgun. Being able to switch between two of them while mounted essentially lets your party of four work with eight different weapon types at once.

Well, that’s if you can get past the finicky as fudge multiplayer setup. Didn’t know I needed a PhD in rocket science to get friends together, but here we are. I honestly don’t even know how to explain it properly—just try your best. Thankfully, the performance was relatively smooth both online and off with my base PS5. Playing on performance mode, the frame rate would consistently stick around 55-60FPS with no major dips when things get wild—pun intended. The frame rate option will stay at 30FPS and below, unfortunately. However, Capcom does offer a setting that sits around 40FPS, featuring a balanced blend of visuals and performance.

Aiming For Glory

Capcom definitely took some time and effort to spruce up the story. While it may be pretty straightforward compared to other games, the characters are decently fleshed out enough with solid voice-acting in tow. In fact, your custom-created hunter actually speaks and impacts the plot outside of awkwardly smiling at random NPCs! I mean, I’ll take what I can get, considering the Monster Hunter series has never been known for stories that are anything but bare bones affairs. So, there’s some improvement for ya narratively.

On the other side of things, I had a lot of fun targeting a wounded monster’s red weak spots with focus mode attacks for those crunchy, big damage numbers, and just messing around with the changing environment; seeing what would happen in certain contexts. Moving about and scaling walls on your mount feels silky smooth too, and there are some solid set pieces whilst riding that keep things fresh. Just don’t forget to pull out the BBQ and soak in the sights. Don’t even worry if you’re cookin’ in the middle of a hunt, because it’s always a good laugh—and worth the effort.

Despite being ‘easier’ than other Monster Hunter titles, the endgame content of Wilds is still a significant challenge. The dev team also made a bunch of quality-of-life improvements like more dramatic hit stop, an ‘End Quest Immediately’ button after a successful hunt, an SOS Flare to fill empty slots with AI/player-controlled hunters and WAY more changes than I could feasibly list here. Let’s just say Capcom’s dev team were clearly listening to feedback. Not something I can reliably say about other companies.

Decision

Monster Hunter Wilds has made the series more accessible with UI improvements, reduced grinding and new mechanics like focus mode, though longtime fans might find it easier than previous entries. While the multiplayer setup is frustrating, performance is smooth on PS5, and the story—while still simple—feels more fleshed out with voice acting and an actual speaking protagonist. The endgame remains a real challenge and Capcom has clearly listened to fan feedback with tons of major/minor improvements, making this entry a strong yet still approachable addition to the franchise.

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PS5

Excellent

It may not be the best one yet, but that doesn’t mean Monster Hunter Wilds isn’t awesome! This new release balances accessibility with deep endgame challenges, featuring smoother gameplay, quality-of-life upgrades and a more engaging than usual story, even if veterans may find it less taxing than previous entries.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by Capcom. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.