Monster Hunter Wilds: A Deeper Dive into Hunter-Nature Symbiosis
The Monster Hunter franchise, renowned for its thrilling monster hunts, is shifting its focus in Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds). Capcom aims to highlight the crucial interplay between hunters and the natural world, enriching the series' narrative depth.
Redefining the Hunter's Role
MH Wilds will explore the complex relationship between humans, nature, and monsters. Game director Yuya Tokuda explains, "The relationship between people, nature, and monsters, and what exactly is a hunter's role in a world like that…We wanted to illustrate that not just through the gameplay, but a very deep story." This commitment to narrative is a departure from previous entries.
The game will feature significantly more dialogue, allowing for richer character development and diverse perspectives. Tokuda cites the characters Nata and Olivia as examples of individuals with contrasting backgrounds and approaches to monster conflicts. "There are many people with different perspectives living all together. And we also wanted to illustrate how the hunter would feel in a world like that," he adds.
This emphasis on narrative doesn't compromise the core gameplay. Tokuda assures players that those preferring a focus on hunting can still do so: "There may be players who prefer to skip all that and just go keep on hunting the next monster—that's possible too. The volume of the text that's available in the game will not affect the number of monsters available, so we can satisfy everybody."
This narrative expansion is just the beginning. Tokuda hints at future plans further exploring the central theme of the bond between humanity and nature. For a deeper understanding of the series' overarching themes, explore Game8's article on the true meaning of Monster Hunter.
