Very soon,Monster Hunterfans should get an in-depth look atMonster Hunter Wilds. Marking the beginning ofMonster Hunter’s sixth generation, this title has been the talk ofMonster Hunterfans since before its December 2023 announcement, asMonster Hunter WorldandRisehad already been around since early 2018 and 2021, respectively. The community was ready for something new, andMonster Hunter Wildspromises to be exactly that. Advertising a broader play space in its teaser trailer,Monster Hunter Wildsmight be the next stage in this series' evolution.
Speculation aboutWilds’ additions has run rampant in advance of a promised summer 2024 update, as its reveal trailer managed to tease much while confirming little. It looks like a return to the more grounded aesthetic and hunting approach found inMonster Hunter World, but with a new mountabsorbingMonster Hunter Rise’s high-flying movement abilities. Weather and environmental effects also seem to play a big role in exploration and combat. What hasn’t been covered yet is the framing ofMonster Hunter Wilds’ narrative, which could enter its own new frontier if it gives the player Hunter their own voice.
Why Voiced Dialogue Was A Late Addition to Monster Hunter
For a long time,Monster Hunterdidn’t have voiced dialogue. It did use a fictional gibberish language on occasion, but its text-based story didn’t want to pull attention away fromMH’s hunting. That changed withMonster Hunter World, which introduced a voiced cinematic storyline to go along with its single-player quest progression. It was a massive change, and not always for the better giventheMH WorldHandler’s mixed reception, but it has stuck with the series ever since.Monster Hunter Rise, and even the twoMonster Hunter Storiesspin-offs and their anime adaptation, all employ regular voice acting and more involved plots thanMHtitles past.
Playable Hunters Haven’t Been Treated Equally To Other Monster Hunter Characters
However, there was always one big exception to this, and it was the most notable one. The player character never speaks in cutscenes, and rarely vocalizes at all inMH World.Riseinnovated by allowing player characters to speak full sentences during gameplay, but this came off as more of a cosmetic gesture than anything else. Consequently, thesupporting cast must driveMonster Hunter’s story forward, and they’re already struggling to meet the series’ increasingly ambitious storytelling demands.
Monster Hunter Wilds Could Finally Give Player Characters A Voice
Monster Hunter Wildscould fix this, but the best way involves giving its player avatars a whole new dimension.Wilds' could finish whatRisestartedand make the playable Hunter voiced at all times, complete with their own personality and motivations. They should still be custom-made and could get away with having no name, but gone will be the days of a concerned-yet-silent avatar communicating through nods, glances, and vague gestures. Obviously, this is a big commitment for a pseudo-MMO likeMonster Hunterto make, butMH Wildsshould be the right time to finally make this jump.
Adding Player Dialogue Now Will Aid Monster Hunter Wilds
This is rooted in speculation, butMonster Hunter Wildscould take its hunts further away from a base camp much longer than prior games’ did. Longer trips,especially ifMH Wilds' camps are far apart, mean more time spent away from friendly characters, and justifying having someone likeWorld’s Handler around to speak for the player could be troublesome. It would be easier if the playable Hunter could talk when necessary, exhibiting a personality similar to the recurring A-Lister as an enthusiastic up-and-coming Hunter. With a few spoken lines and perhaps a couple of inconsequential dialogue choices,Monster Hunter Wilds’ protagonist could feel like a real part ofMonster Hunter’s setting, and push the series’ simple storytelling to the next level.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
