I recently got to try the second open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds alongside hundreds of thousands of other players. This is my fourth time trying to get invested in a Monster Hunter game, as I previously played Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on the PSP, Monster Hunter World on PS4 - and later on PC - and Monster Hunter Rise on the Nintendo Switch. I've also played plenty of Monster Hunter clones, like the ill-fated yet nevertheless creative Wild Hearts, all to little success. As hard as I've tried to get into the series and genre as a whole, I've really struggled.

I had hoped that Monster Hunter Wilds' crucial changes to the series' formula would pull me back in. So much of the promotional material suggested that this would be the first time that I'd get Monster Hunter and that I could dedicate myself to its complex systems wholeheartedly. I do genuinely want to love this series more than I have any other unbelievably popular-yet-somehow-still-considered-niche series. I mean, what's there not to love about smashing hulking monsters with giant swords? However, as hard as I tried, Monster Hunter Wilds and I struggled to get along. Fortunately, that's probably a good thing.

Monster Hunter Wilds Adds Everything I've Ever Wanted

AI Companions & Larger Environments

I love a lot about the Monster Hunter games, from its occasional enjoyable story moments to its well-realized world, great armor and weapon designs, and genuinely terrifying monsters that are a thrill to go up against. However, despite the good, I find there is often too much that I don't gel with, which ultimately prevents me from properly engaging. For example, as someone who typically prefers to play games alone, hunts can grow tedious as I chip away at my target's enormous and invisible health bar. Fortunately, Monster Hunter Wilds' many improvements have seen a lot of my issues fixed.

It has NPC Hunters, which players can call down to help during difficult fights. The open world, which initially divided Monster Hunter fans, is more dynamic now than ever before, allowing for more monsters to roam around. The dynamic weather effects and interactable open-world elements also contribute to more lively and engaging exploration, which in turn makes hunts feel more rewarding. Hunting for materials, a chore I hated in past Monster Hunter games, is also far less annoying thanks to the seamless environments allowing me to go from the hub area to the open world without a loading screen between.

It is also meant to be more story-heavy, which is something I got a flavor for in the unfortunately interrupted Wilds' open beta. All of this and more rectifies many problems I've had with the series so far. While World and Rise to a greater extent - it had a worse version of NPC Hunters in the DLC - have made Monster Hunter increasingly accessible to newcomers or those who struggle to enjoy it, Wilds really is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. That's why it's such a shame that I still can't get into it, despite the many vast improvements.

Monster Hunter Wilds Still Isn't For Me

I Can't Quite Come To With Its Combat

I think that the increased freedom in Wilds and the aforementioned improvements have revealed to me, once and for all, that Monster Hunter is not for me. The fact that everything I've ever wanted out of the series has come together in this one entry, and I still can't enjoy it is illustrative that, despite their best efforts, Capcom has failed to cater to my ridiculously specific and unreasonable requests; not that it should, of course. My biggest issue with Monster Hunter, as I suspect is the same for many others, is the complexity of the combat.

I genuinely believe that Monster Hunter's combat has always been technically incredible, and only continues to evolve in impressive ways. It's varied and fluid, allowing for a plethora of builds that lead to some truly astounding combos being pulled off. Watching players far better than I leap off a monster's back, twirl in the air, and land with a crushing blow simply never gets old. The sheer amount of effort that has gone into making Monster Hunter Wilds' animations pop and combat feel fluid, makes it, at least in my opinion, better than Monster Hunter World.

However, despite all of that, I cannot wrap my head around it. There's so much that goes into perfecting any Monster Hunter game's combat, from learning how to use and then properly understand its many multifaceted weapons, to the best approach for the each monster. Monster Hunter Wilds' weapons are adding even more depth and systems that I have struggled to truly master. Of course, dedicating a lot of time to properly learning even one weapon would see me finally understand and likely enjoy Monster Hunter, but I don't have the time nor patience for that type of investment.

Monster Hunter Wilds Will Be The Perfect MH Game

It's The Most Accessible Game Yet

However, I think that the fact that I haven't - at least during the open betas - enjoyed Monster Hunter Wilds is a good thing. The many changes make Wilds the most accessible Monster Hunter game, allowing those who perhaps have the time to invest in learning its combat, or those just keen on trying it for the first time, but had previously felt intimidated, to truly get stuck in. Its open-world gameplay will appeal to a wider audience, its NPC Hunters will allow solo players to get involved, and its more dynamic world will help better immerse players.

However, perhaps more importantly, the fact that I continue to struggle to grasp Monster Hunter's complex combat in Wilds is indicative that hardcore veterans are still being catered to. Monster Hunter hasn't gone the way of other legacy franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Dragon Age and stripped away the foundations that made it such an iconic and beloved series in the first place. Rather, it has doubled down on its best and most fundamental aspects while introducing more and more features to broaden its pool of players.

That's important if it wants to maintain the impressive 100-player lobbies. I think that's why, despite my tame frustrations, I still enjoyed the Monster Hunter Wilds second open beta. Don't get me wrong, I'm unlikely to pre-order the game. However, the fact that Capcom has made such an incredible game that manages to avoid sacrificing its legacy while garnering a new audience is a testament to its ion for the Monster Hunter franchise. I may not have loved the Monster Hunter Wilds open beta, but it is clear to me that it will be the greatest game in the series.

Source: Monster Hunter/YouTube