In recent years, it seems like Capcom can't do any wrong, and after the beta test for Monster Hunter Wilds, it looks like the streak of great games will continue. Yes, there were some performance issues in the beta, which should be expected for a test, but for the most part, MH Wilds is shaping up to be another worthy successor in the storied series. With the sheer number of players that tried the beta and the popularity of the Monster Hunter franchise since World, Wilds could be the biggest game in the franchise yet.

Although it is yet another one of Capcom's long-running franchises, Monster Hunter didn't find mainstream recognition as early as other games like Street Fighter or Resident Evil. It was only after Monster Hunter World that the series began to become wildly popular, with MH Rise helping in continuing that popularity, yet these newer titles show a trend that veterans might not be happy with. The newer games are getting easier, especially when comparing the base games of the early Monster Hunter titles, which longtime fans will probably have grown up playing.

Monster Hunter Wilds Might Not Be Hard Enough For Veterans

The Beta Maintained World's Level Of Difficulty

The first beta test for Monster Hunter Wilds allowed players to play the opening of the game, letting them customize their Hunter and Palico, before exploring the open world. While the player had access to a bunch of gear right from the start, since the Smithy wasn't functional, none of the gear seemed to be massively better than what Hunters could have gotten if the Smithy was operable. The difficulty of the beta was likely representative of the final product's early stages, and even the Rey Dau (apex monster of the Windward Plains) wasn't particularly tough to beat.

There will be another round of beta testing for Monster Hunter Wilds before its release, from February 7–10, then from February 14-17.

The Rey Dau is comparable in status to the Rathalos or Diabolos from Monster Hunter World, since all three are the natural, apex monsters of their respective areas, and the Thunder Wyvern is of roughly the same difficulty, but Wilds has a few mechanics that tend to make hunting easier in general. The Seikret mounts offer a quick getaway when needed, Hunters can call upon NPC allies in a hunt, and players can cycle between different weapons during a fight, depending on the circumstances. There seems to be a lot more help and tools at the player's disposal.

Then again, it isn't known how much difficulty the new herd mechanic will add to Wilds. Participating in Wilds' first beta test only allowed players to fight the Doshaguma in a group, which was relatively harmless as monsters in the franchise go. The difficulty could spike when facing something like a pack of Odegaron, with their ferocity and speed, or a group of Rathian, with their poison and fire breath, but this remains to be seen. The truly difficult parts of Wilds will probably come either in the late game or the expansion, if Capcom follows World and Rise's formula.

Monster Hunter Games Have Gotten Easier Recently

This Was A Common Complaint With World And Rise

Monster Hunter is one of the more difficult action series around, even today, but the base games for both World and Rise don't quite hold a candle to how tricky the older games could be. This is partly due to all the quality of life changes the modern games introduced, such as having a more useful Palico, being able to restock at a campsite, and making tracking easier. The modern games also benefit from better hitboxes, since the older titles' hitboxes weren't exactly the most accurate around. The hope is that Wilds continues the trend of improving the hitboxes.

MH World seems to be where the decrease in difficulty began, and Rise is even easier thanks to its general speed and Palamutes who will help in a fight alongside Palicos. Wilds seems to be harder than Rise, at least, thanks to the more methodical, slower-paced combat expected of the main titles in the series, but it won't go back to the difficulty of the older games before World. It might be impossible to do this, given all the quality of life changes since then, and if players want that same difficulty again, they may have to wait for the expansion.

Players can set up mobile campsites to rest and eat in MW Wilds' massive open world.

With World and Rise, Capcom has made a habit of releasing massive expansions, such as Monster Hunter World's Iceborne, and the expansions are where the difficulty really spikes. Yes, the end-game of World packed a punch with the Elder Dragons, but they didn't hold a candle to the likes of the Rajang, Alatreon, and Fatalis, which is a level of difficulty veterans once expected out of the base game of World. Since this expansion formula has been so successful, it will probably be used again for MH Wilds, and veterans looking for a truly tough time will have to wait.

Wilds Could Be The Best MH Game For Newcomers

The Lower Difficulty Has Its Perks

Although a complaint by veterans, there's no denying that the lower difficulty of the modern Monster Hunter games does help endear it to new players. There's a reason why MH World was the game that helped the franchise explode, and while veterans may not like many of the quality of life changes introduced in the modern games, casual players are thankful for them. After the numbers seen playing the first open beta test and how approachable Wilds seems to be, it could bring the series to even greater heights.

It's a similar case to something like FromSoftware's Elden Ring, which is easier than the Dark Souls series by nature, due to its open-world structure and build variety, and that helped make it more popular than the other Soulsborne games. Yes, veterans may have to wait for an expansion to get their true Monster Hunter difficulty fix, but Wilds will still be challenging for newcomers without being frustratingly out of reach for most. Like World, it will probably find a decent balance between challenge and approachability, allowing it to be widely popular.

For veterans who want Monster Hunter to be as difficult as it used to be, they are fighting a losing battle. The current difficulty of World and what was displayed in the first beta for Wilds is the perfect level to get as many people playing it as possible. With an open world, great visuals, and the renown that the franchise now has, Monster Hunter Wilds has everything it needs to be the best title for newcomers, and the lower difficulty compared to the classic titles is just a sacrifice Capcom seems willing to make for this.