Even in early previews,Monster Hunter Wildsappears to have a gargantuan map. Players worldwide have only thus far been able to experience a tiny slice of its world in theMonster Hunter Wildsopen beta, but it seems like there’s quite a bit more lurking just beyond the edges of the map. What’s abundantly clear already, though, is thatMonster Hunter Wildshas a more seamless and interactive map than any other series entry to date.
And Yuya Tokuda, director ofMonster Hunter WildsandWorldbefore it, seems to have confirmed thatMonster Hunter Wildsis of a similar size to other recentMonster Huntertitles before itin a new interview withScreen Rant. Tokuda played coy about the exact number and types of biomes players would see in the upcoming title, but made one thing about his process very clear: the map is made to serve the monsters. “The monsters depend really on the ecology, that environment that they live in,” Tokuda said, “so to achieve that, we need to prepare various environments to have various monsters.”
Monster Hunter Wilds Leak Could Make An Iconic Fight A Whole Lot Worse
Monster Hunter Wilds seems to be everything that fans want from a current gen MH game but one change could hurt an iconic fight in the series.
However, Tokuda was also quick to assuage fears thatWilds' greater detail and interactivity would stifle its potential map size. While it may not be significantly bigger thanWorldorRise, the director ofMonster Hunter Wildspromises that"you can obviously expect a similar volume as past titles, and a variety of them."
What To Expect From Monster Hunter Wilds' Map
Diverse Biomes & New Features
Early previews forMonster Hunter Wildshave already revealeda variety of different biomesfor players to explore. The beta began in a vast, open desert, where a group of hunters chased after monsters among shifting dunes and deadly sinkholes. Trailers have also shown the ruddy trees and watery caves of the Scarlet Forest, inhabited by the giant arachnid Lala Barina.
TheWildsopen beta featured four main monsters: the Chatacabra, the Doshaguma, the Balahara, and the hidden Rey Dau.
It’s clear thatthe focus ofMonster Hunter Wilds' map design appears to be on delivering a truly unique experience in each different area. Players got a taste of itsincreased interactivity during the open beta, when they were able to pull flying creatures into a swirling sinkhole to disrupt its pull. In the interview, Tokuda goes on to promise “a very different experience” in each biome, but just what that’ll look like will probably have to wait until launch.
Moreover, Tokuda saysit’s not just the needs of the monsters that determine the nature of the map: it’s also the story. More so than most otherMonster Huntergames,Wildsis focused on its plot. We’ve only gotten brief glimpses at it so far, but it’s clear even from the earlier chapters that there’s a lot more to it. The director claims that much of the story will unfold alongside the player’s exploration of the map, saying, “The story also focuses on why some of the environments and ecologies are set up in a certain way, and that’s the setting that it’s very focused on.”
Screen Rant’s Take: Quality Over Quantity Makes A Good Map
Exploring The Wilds Is The Best Part Of Monster Hunter
There’s something to be said formassive, open-world games: they are very technically impressive and, when carefully detailed, can be fun to explore. ButMonster Hunterhas never been thatkind of game, and it’d be unfair to expectWildsto conform to another genre’s standard. WhatMonster Huntermaps have done consistently well, though, is small-scale exploration. They’re almost always filled with fun little secrets that make exploring worthwhile: some rare materials here, a unique collectible there, a new campsite somewhere else, et cetera.
It sounds likeWildswill deliver exactly that, which is all I’ve ever asked for. The increased interactivity it apparently provides, along with the seamless transition from hunt to hunt, provides new potential for greater exploration. For that reason, no matter how big its map is, I can’t wait to dive intoMonster Hunter Wilds.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds is the highly anticipated follow-up to Capcom’s multi-million seller, Monster Hunter World. Announced at The Game Awards 2023, Monster Hunter Wilds will put players into a sprawling world where they’ll hunt monsters to create new weapons and armor while protecting their home base and uncovering the secrets of unexplored lands with friends or alone.
