Does Wild Hearts have what it takes to compete with Monster Hunter inspired by Fortnite?

Hunt gigantic monsters with small arms in a setting that looks like feudal Japan. At first glance Wild Hearts has everything to remind Monster Hunter Rise. But in reality, the project is rather similar to another hunting game series developed by Omega Force ten years ago, namely Toukiden. Well, of course, these titles initially had the ambition to compete with the Capcom saga by drawing inspiration from it. However, it is for this past experience that Electronic Arts came to contact the studio for a collaboration. Thus, under the EA Originals label, the American publisher has teamed up with Koei Tecmo to develop this brand new license for current consoles and the PC.

A Ghost of Tsushima universe

Wild Hearts takes place in the fictional region of Azuma inspired by feudal Japan. While its inhabitants lived there in peace, the balance of things was disturbed with the arrival of the Kemono, gigantic beasts that merged with nature. Driven out by these creatures, the population has taken refuge in the city of Minato and tries to survive somehow. In this context, we embody a hunter from a distant land who lands in this region. One thing leading to another, we will end up giving a hand to the inhabitants and making sure that things return to normal. Well, you will understand, but the Wild Hearts storyline is quite secondary, like most hunting games. The latter only serves to make the link between the many monsters to hunt, despite the different characters encountered throughout the adventure. Nevertheless, we can note that these NPCs benefit from quite successful faces, something that denotes given the overall visual quality of the title. Beyond that, the gameplay loop remains fairly standard for a hunting gamenamely that we chain fights against monsters to progress, by killing the same creature several times in order to forge a weapon and armor in the image of the beast to be more effective in the future.

With its atmosphere influenced by feudal Japan and the fact that it is a hunting game, it would be logical to compare Wild Hearts to Monster Hunter Rise. However, in his visual inspirations, the title of Omega Force is closer to Ghost of Tsushima with its natural landscapes and its omnipresent and colorful vegetation. We think in particular of the fields of iconic white plants from the production of Insomniac Games that we find here. If the experience benefits from a frankly sympathetic artistic direction which gives it a certain charm, the same cannot be said for the technical part. For a game released on PS5 and Xbox Series, Wild Heart clearly lacks visual finesse, especially in performance mode. If it succeeds in offering a stable framerate, the title displays clipping, aliasing and an overall rendering that dates from the previous generation of consoles. Fortunately, the artistic direction comes to correct the situation a little.

More nervous gameplay than Monster Hunter Rise

But of course, the heart of the experience for a Monster Hunter game is the hunting and the gameplay, and aside from that, Wild Hearts does very well. As usual in experiences of the genre, we are transported to a natural environment to hunt a monster and try to defeat it as quickly as possible, in less than three tries. For that, the title offers an arsenal pleasant to play and varied, if not exhaustive. Among the eight types of weapons available, there are both classic weapons such as the katana or the hammer, as well as originalities such as the Wagasa with blades, a kind of sharp umbrella, or the blade-claw, not to mention ranged weapons. like the bow and the hand cannon. With all these elements, Wild Hearts offers particularly dynamic and nervous gameplay which recalls the previous productions of Koei Tecmo like Nioh for example. Even if Monster Hunter experts will notice that the hitboxes are less precise than in a Capcom licensed game, it is nonetheless particularly exhilarating to unleash your best attacks on the Kemonos.

Generally, Wild Hearts gameplay is smoother than Monster Hunter, although the series has loosened up since World and Rise. The character is more agile, able to jump, run and slide in all directions without difficulty. This is also felt in the weapon combos which are more nervous and fast, like in a beat’em up. Despite everything, there are some gimmicks from the Capcom saga, such as the fact that the character slows down when drinking a potion. Re the Kemonos, the latter are charismatic thanks to their original designs and their impressive transformation which makes huge natural formations appear right in the middle of the arena. But like all hunting games, Wild Hearts suffers from readability issues facing these gigantic monsters. The camera often tends to get stuck in the scenery or in the creature, which makes it difficult to read the action on the screen. This leads to some frustrating situations. But if the gameplay of Wild Hearts has so far seemed quite classic in appearance, it is based on a very original mechanism: the Karakuris.

Amazing mechanics à la Fortnite

To stand out from the competition, the Omega Force title gives the player the power to summon constructs in the middle of a fight Fortnite style. Block, trampoline, torch or helicoid, each element has its specific use to help you face the Kemonos. Obviously, each invocation consumes pieces of thread which are collected directly from monsters or in rock formations. Thus, one can stack the blocks to make a downward aerial attack, place a springboard or use a helicoid to escape a blow or even use a torch to ignite his weapon. Where this mechanic makes sense is that‘by combining its basic elements, we end up with more complex constructions which are essential in certain specific situations. A wall to stop a beast in its tracks, a hammer to dislodge an enemy from a height or even a crossbow to bring down aerial creatures… everything has been thought out to counter enemy assaults and create a feeling of satisfaction for the player by success story.

With the Karakurui, Wild Hearts therefore offers a more direct approach than ever to the fights against Kemonos, an aspect that was already found in Monster Hunter Rise. Here, the preparation is minimal except for the equipment and the kitchen which allow you to put all the chances on your side. Everything is played directly in the clashes thanks to these constructions. However, they are not only used during combat. Unlike Monster Hunter, Wild Hearts allows you to place camps anywhere on the map with the power of the Karakuri. There are thus various facilities such as a forge to make equipment, a well to recharge potions or a tower to detect Kemonos around you. And the good news is that these constructions remain from one part to another, which allows you to shape the environment in your own way. We can like that put zip lines or wind vortices to quickly get from one corner of the map to another, for example. A handy feature for landscaping upstream and save time for future hunts.

Conclusion

Without revolutionizing the genre, Wild Hearts offers a direct approach to the game of hunting. With the mechanics of the Karakuris, the fights take advantage of a strategic dimension thanks to these constructions that are effective both against monsters and to adjust the levels in its own way. Far from forgetting the essential, the experience of Omega Force offers a nervous and dynamic gameplay, characteristic of the studio, supported by a limited, but varied arsenal. And if the title benefits from a charming artistic direction, the same cannot be said of its technical part which is frankly dated, especially on the PC version. More than its history, it is above all by its nervous clashes that Wild Hearts shines, despite its capricious camera, which makes it an interesting alternative for players in need of Monster Hunter.