Again within the PSP days of Monster Hunter, I used to be fairly aggravated by the necessity to grind and farm the farms to actually maximize development between one hunt and the subsequent. Greater than 15 years later, I would like them again… elsewhere.
The concept of solely completely different city areas which you needed to micromanage and have been cozy in the beginning survived till the 3DS entries of the sequence, nevertheless it’s one thing that is been step by step pushed apart in favor of extra streamlined searching experiences with little to no fats. As Monster Hunter Wilds prepares to pounce on us in late February with extra instruments of killing and methods to navigate the wilds seamlessly, one has to surprise how lengthy it will be earlier than the idea of a everlasting city/village is dropped altogether or decreased to a very quick downtime.
Disclaimer: I do not thoughts Monster Hunter’s huge current steps in the direction of turning into extra accessible. The builders have truly excelled at making the sequence extra palatable through the first 20 hours or so with World and Rise, and the brand new entry is doubling down on such additions and QoL modifications. It is a good factor so long as it does not dilute what makes the core video games so distinctive.
This method, nonetheless, straight collides with the aforementioned ‘farming’ facet parts of older video games. Monster Hunter has all the time been about mankind’s relationship with nature and the frictions born out of it even when it takes place in a wholly completely different world that is not impacted by rampant industrialization (but). Even when the precise farming parts have been a little bit of a slog, particularly after dozens of hours of playtime, they’d a spot inside the sequence’ voice and really soul. Whereas my ‘gamer mind’ appreciates having much less busywork so I can spend extra time smacking wyverns on the top with huge weapons, my extra considerate facet is sorta bummed out by the dearth of farmsteads within the more moderen installments.
A possible answer? Placing a small city sim spinoff in growth. It is a style that is been booming for fairly some time however fairly often lacks an identification past ‘have a look at the lovable artwork model’ and riffing on Stardew Valley with small twists. Monster Hunter, alternatively, looks like the proper match for the essential premise of cozy life sims. The worldbuilding and philosophy are already there, and we have performed a fundamental model of that potential sport earlier than. A number of occasions, truly. Let my Felyne work extra jobs than administration, searching, and cooking once more!
The Monster Hunter IP is not any stranger to off-beat spinoffs both. Monster Hunter Now seems to be thriving on cell; Monster Hunter Puzzles is a pleasant little experiment; and Monster Hunter Tales has already grow to be a good RPG subseries of its personal. At this level, a city sim does not sound like a distant risk. As a substitute, it is the type of mission that must be imminent if Capcom is taking note of the suitable tendencies.
That is when the Monkey’s Paw curls and we do get a MH city sim… only for cell. Nah, I need a absolutely featured, premium sport. Give it a definite artwork model, work exhausting on the visible presentation, give you an attractive loop that makes the many of the universe’s uniqueness and wackier facet. Looking does not even have to be neglected of the formulation. What about hiring some veteran hunters to guard the city from wyverns and different monsters? Allow us to enhance and customise gathering halls! There are such a lot of potentialities past farming, mining, fishing, bug gathering, beekeeping, and whatnot as offered within the traditional titles.
Rejection of cell phones as goal platforms and gacha-like parts apart, it is the type of pitch that might be killer for transportable {hardware}, sure. With the mainline Monster Hunter entries now specializing in the ‘sturdy {hardware}’ Xbox-PS-PC trio, may such a sport be a implausible third-party Nintendo unique? Animal Crossing’s reputation is at an all-time excessive after New Horizons, and I’ve little doubt we’ll see one other entry for the Change 2 sooner slightly than later, however that does not imply there isn’t any area for an additional winner.
I is perhaps wading into ‘armchair developer’ territory right here, positive, however hear me out: I am simply an excited fan who’s not simply enthusiastic about what’s in entrance of them, but in addition concerning the attainable futures of a franchise that is given them nothing however happiness. I really like Monster Hunter and would like to see it develop not simply as an action-RPG sequence. It is definitely in the suitable path to turning into greater and extra appetizing for all, and the previous spinoffs talked about right here show that in addition to my important level.
Or maybe I am simply fully misreading the franchise’s present standing and the precise impression its spinoffs have had on the final sentiment. Possibly of us would slightly stick with killing mighty beasts and outsized pests. However it’s kind of of a miserable thought. I consider Monster Hunter is far more than that, and I will be first in line and able to bat for extra peaceable makes an attempt to increase its world and lore.
