Monster Hunter Wilds, the next installment in the popular action-hunting game series, is set to launch on February 28 for PS5. I had the opportunity to play Story Quest at Tokyo Game Show 2024, where I immersed myself in the gameplay from the introduction of the fresh story to the intense battle with the frog-like amphibian monster, Chatacabra.
Monster Hunting in Windward Plains
Story Quest began with a fun process of creating my character. I had the freedom to customize every detail of the hunter’s appearance, and even the hunter’s trusted partner, Palico.
The story begins with me in the Windward Plains on a sand ship with the Forbidden Lands Research Commission. Flashbacks tell you how your character came to be part of the commission. Suddenly, the scene changes to a tense chase, with a herd of desert-dwelling Balaharas chasing a girl riding a Seikret. Without a moment’s hesitation, I jumped on the Seikret and gave chase to save the girl.
The Pursuit of Balahara
During this chase scene, my Seikret was on autopilot to catch up with the girl. But with some freedom to control the camera’s view and that of my riding companion, I immersed myself in the action, jumping over rocks and slaloming through the air to close the gap.
When I finally caught up with the girl, it was my turn to be pursued by hordes of mighty Balaharas in a breathtaking chase. They were relentless, closing in on us from every angle possible as I raced across the desert, slingshotting them to launch sonic bombs.
Seikret’s Joy Ride
After discovering that a juvenile girl had been separated from her brother, the hunter set out to find him. In order to gain more information before setting out on my mission, I sought the advice of the Handler, Alma. She gave me a valuable recommendation on which of the 14 available weapons I should take with me on my journey.
Luckily, the girl’s Seikret had memorized her lost brother’s scent, so he knew exactly where to go. Although I was automatically directed to that spot, having complete control over Seikret’s movements was liberating. I could speed up and leisurely down using R1 and R2, respectively, and holding them down would make him dash forward or come to a quick stop. The left stick, as expected, steered the mount in the direction I wanted him to go. Every now and then, I would detour around, stopping at places that caught my eye. I even took advantage of the hands-free ride to gather hunting items, materials, and wield my weapons.
New Wound System and SOS Signal in the Hunt for Chatacabra
Shortly after arriving, a elementary search for my brother quickly turned into a hunt for a hazardous enemy, as I found the girl’s brother in danger of being attacked by Chatacabra. Using the fresh wound system, I attacked the same delicate point persistently to deal significant damage. Also fresh to Monster Hunter Wilds, Focus Mode is activated by holding L2 to bring up a reticle on screen for guidance on where to attack, and red highlighting of the monster’s wounds to make aiming easier. The ability to change the target point, even during the attack movement, allowed me to effectively attack the delicate point despite using weighty, leisurely weapons like the Great Sword.
By pressing R1 in Focus mode, I discovered the strategic Focus Strike. This special attack works by connecting to a wound or delicate point and has proven to deal massive damage and stun the opponent. Without a doubt, one of the most satisfying moments in the game was when I managed to destroy multiple wounds with a single Focus Attack.
While hunting, you can summon Siekret by pressing the directional key to quickly mount him. After mounting him, I strategically drank a healing potion to restore my health and used a whetstone to sharpen my weapon.
Another unique feature is the SOS Flare, a tool that summons lend a hand from NPC support hunters. The monster’s anger will likely be redirected when other hunters join the fight, a great way for fresh players to reverse damage. While this feature wasn’t available during the offline single-player demo, I did learn that you can recruit other players when summoning support hunters online.
New stories are developing Forbidden Lands
After defeating Chatacabra, I hurried back to camp with my rescued brother. The main quest in the first chapter ended with the newly reunited siblings sharing stories to catch up.
Story Quest was packed with content, from the gripping Balahar chase scene to the employ of the wound system and Focus Mode in the challenging hunt for the elusive Chatacabra. As players dive into the main quest, I’m confident that fresh hunters and those yet to discover the series for the first time will be fascinated by the world that unfolds when Monster Hunter Wilds launches on February 28 for PS5.
