Monster Hunter Wilds Protag Opts for Conservation

The Monster Hunter franchise, renowned for its epic monster hunts, is shifting its focus. Capcom emphasizes a core theme: the intricate relationship between hunters, nature, and the creatures they pursue. Discover the exciting developments planned for Monster Hunter Wilds!

Redefining the Hunter's Role: A Deeper Dive into Humanity and Nature

Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds) will explore the dynamic interplay between the world's environment and its inhabitants. Capcom aims to showcase a symbiotic relationship between humans and monsters, a departure from previous iterations. The game director, Yuya Tokuda, stated in a PC Gamer interview, "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 depth is evident in the increased focus on dialogue and character development.

MH Wilds will feature a diverse cast of characters with unique perspectives on monster hunting. Tokuda highlighted Nata and Olivia as examples of individuals with contrasting backgrounds and approaches. He explained, "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. What would they feel? How would they think?" This introduces a more nuanced protagonist, a significant departure from the series' traditionally silent hunters.

This narrative expansion doesn't come at the cost of gameplay. Tokuda assures players prioritizing combat that the enhanced story elements won't diminish the hunting experience.

"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," Tokuda confirmed. This is just the beginning; Capcom has further plans to enrich the core theme of the interconnectedness of humanity and nature.

For a deeper understanding of Monster Hunter's underlying themes, explore Game8's insightful article on the true essence of the Monster Hunter experience.