So the new Monster Hunter trailer dropped and holy crap - it looks INSANE. I've been playing this series since the PSP days, and Wilds might be the biggest leap forward I've seen yet. Tracking monsters through sandstorms? A mount that looks like it came straight out of Avatar? Sign me up! This game has me more hyped than I've been for anything in ages.
How Wilds Looks Different From Other Monster Hunter Games
I've sunk probably 1000+ hours into the Monster Hunter franchise (my wife is not thrilled about this), and Wilds seems to be doing some pretty wild stuff compared to the older games.
The Environment Actually Does Stuff Now
Anyone who played World or Rise knows the environments were pretty, but mostly static. From what the trailers show, Wilds is changing that in a big way:
- Weather that actually messes with your hunt (like that crazy sandstorm)
- Terrain that gets destroyed or altered during fights
- Day/night cycles that seem to affect monster behavior
- Seasonal changes that supposedly mix things up
There's this part in the trailer where you can barely see through a sandstorm, and it looks like the hunter is genuinely struggling to track the monster. That's a huge change from just running around the same static areas we're used to.
That New Mount System Looks Bonkers
The new riding system looks WAY beyond the dog riding in Rise:
- The mount seems to have multiple forms or states
- It looks like you can customize it with different gear
- That jumping attack move they showed looks insane
- Seems like it'll work in multiplayer too
I'm getting serious "fantasy dragon horse" vibes from the mount. It clearly isn't just for getting around - it looks like a combat partner. This could make Wilds feel like a totally different online game compared to previous Monster Hunters.
Weapons and Combat: What We Can Guess
They haven't shown much combat yet, but there are some things we can piece together from the footage.
Weapon Changes and Potentially New Types
All the standard weapons will probably return (if they removed Charge Blade I'd riot), but there are hints at some new stuff:
- More counter/parry moves (building on what Rise started)
- New combo routes that seem more fluid
- Some weird new weapon that kinda looked like a transforming spear?
- Maybe crafting stuff mid-hunt without having to use the menu?
The combat itself looks faster than World but maybe a bit more grounded than Rise? Hard to tell from just trailers. What I do know is that the game seems to be building on the good parts of both those games.
The Monsters Look Way Smarter
The monsters have always been the stars, but they're looking ridiculously good in Wilds:
- They seem to interact with each other more naturally
- That one scene showed a monster actually changing tactics after getting hit
- They look like they actually belong in their habitats
- The damage modeling looks more detailed than just the usual limping
One clip showed a monster actually retreating and using the sandstorm as cover. If that's actual gameplay and not just a scripted event, that's a huge step up in monster AI.
Playing With Friends: The Online Stuff
Monster Hunter is always better with friends (except that ONE friend who keeps carting... you know who you are, Kevin).
How Multiplayer Seems to be Evolving
The online game aspects look improved:
- Seems like you can join hunts more seamlessly
- Difficulty might adjust on the fly as people join/leave
- Cross-play is rumored but not confirmed (please let it be true!)
- The communication system looks more robust
I'm really hoping the online is stable at launch. World had some issues, and Rise was better but not perfect. With Wilds being such a big step up graphically, I'm a bit concerned about how it'll handle four players fighting a massive monster in a sandstorm.
The Social Hub Looks Massive
The brief glimpse of what looks like a hub area suggests something way bigger than previous games:
- Seems like a proper town rather than just a gathering hub
- Looked like there were crafting stations everywhere
- Some kind of guild system maybe?
- Possibly rankings between different groups of hunters?
If they can make the hub feel like a living place rather than just a menu disguised as a town, that would be amazing.
The Good and Potentially Not-So-Good
Based on what little we've seen, here are my totally biased thoughts:
Why I'm Stupidly Excited
- Those dynamic environments could make every hunt feel different
- Finally a mount system that doesn't look tacked on
- Cross-play would be HUGE if they actually do it
- It's freaking gorgeous - those monsters look incredible
- A proper ecosystem rather than monsters just randomly wandering around
Why I'm Slightly Nervous
- It might be even MORE complicated (and Monster Hunter already isn't beginner-friendly)
- Online could be a mess at launch (it usually is)
- All these new systems could make balancing a nightmare
- The open-world approach might make it feel less focused
- My PC is getting old and this game looks demanding as hell
These are just concerns though - overall I'm way more excited than worried.
How to Get Ready for Monster Hunter Wilds
If you're hyped like me, here's what I'm doing to prepare:
- Replaying World and Rise to shake off the rust
- Trying weapons I normally ignore (looking at you, Hunting Horn)
- Joined a couple Discord servers to find people to play with at launch
- Watching all the dev updates like a hawk
- Saving up for potential PC upgrades because this game looks demanding
I've found that being good with at least 2-3 weapon types helps a lot in any Monster Hunter online game. Different monsters are easier with different weapons.
Questions Everyone's Asking
When is this actually coming out?
Looks like we're looking at Q2 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. No last-gen versions, which makes sense given how it looks.
Will there be a proper single-player story?
There should be. Every Monster Hunter has had one, though sometimes they're pretty thin. The devs mentioned a "substantial" campaign.
Can I bring my character over from Rise or World?
Probably not the actual character, but maybe there'll be bonuses for having save data. They did something similar between World and Rise.
Will my PC explode trying to run this?
They haven't announced system requirements, but based on how it looks... yeah, possibly. I'm guessing it'll need at least an RTX 2070 and 16GB RAM to run well.
Will there be free updates after launch?
Almost certainly. Both World and Rise had tons of free monsters and events added after launch. Expect at least 2 years of updates.
Can I make my character look less goofy this time?
The character creator looks way better than previous games. And it seems like you can change your appearance after creation this time!
Don't Miss Out When Monster Hunter Wilds Drops
Monster Hunter Wilds is shaping up to be the biggest evolution in the series yet. With those crazy dynamic environments, the new mount system, and what looks like much improved online game features, it's definitely one to watch. For veterans like me, it seems to be building on everything great about previous games while adding tons of new stuff. For newcomers... well, it still probably won't be the easiest series to get into, but it'll be the prettiest one to try!
Pre-orders will probably start about 6 months before release, and there's bound to be some kind of beta test for pre-orders or deluxe edition buyers. If you're on the fence, wait for the beta impressions. But if you've enjoyed any previous Monster Hunter, this is looking like the ultimate version of the formula.
Time to start practicing my dodges and saving for upgrades! See you all in the hunting grounds when Wilds finally drops in 2025. And remember - it's not about if you cart, it's about if you cart three times.
