Bustos goes on to confirm that the “iconic” 14 weapon types from past titles will make a return, but “there’s plenty of new actions for each weapon type that will take your hunt to the next level”. One of these new gameplay additions is the so-called “Focus Mode”, which gives players “more precise control over how they guard, aim, and attack in order to target a monster’s weak points for big damage”.
It’s a little bit vague, but this sounds like a fairly significant adjustment: “Focus Mode makes it easier to adjust your distance to the monster and aim your attacks, making the distinctive Monster Hunter hunting action more accessible to a wider variety of players. Some weapons will also feature distinctive moves that can only be used in this mode.”
Oh, and you can switch weapons mid-hunt now! Sharp-eyed viewers may have noticed this in the trailer, but you’re able to pack a second weapon on your mount — a bipedal, feathered, raptor-like monster called a Seikret. This should add some nice variety when you’re out in the field.
Speaking of fields, it sounds like Wilds isn’t totally open world, as was previously speculated. Capcom is still referring to the shown environments as “locales”, and there’s no mention of one massive map or anything like that.
“In Monster Hunter Wilds, locales are dense, deep, and three-dimensional,” writes the developer. And, as showcased in the trailer, these locations can become rather intense through things like hazardous weather effects. “In Monster Hunter Wilds, environments will change drastically. Monsters and organisms will change and adapt according to changes in the environment, resulting in a world that feels truly alive.”
Wilds also seems to be pushing a more in-depth story, with more prominent characters. Case in point: your own hunter — who’s still completely customisable — is now fully voiced, so you’ll hear them speak in cutscenes and the like. To be totally honest, we’re not really playing Monster Hunter for the story — but if it can add something to the experience without getting in the way of that sweet, sweet gameplay, then we’re up for it.
How do you feel about Monster Hunter Wilds at this early stage? Prepare to lose thousands of hours in the comments section below.
[source blog.playstation.com]
