Monster Hunter Wilds Protag Aims to Conserve, Not Extinct Monsters

The Monster Hunter series, renowned for its thrilling battles against colossal beasts, is taking a new direction with Monster Hunter Wilds. Capcom aims to spotlight the game's core theme: the intricate relationship between hunters and nature. Dive in to learn more about what's on the horizon for Monster Hunter Wilds!

Monster Hunter Wilds Will Focus On Humans And Nature

A Deeper Understanding Of What It Means To Be A Hunter

In the world of Monster Hunter, the role of a hunter is not just about vanquishing beasts but nurturing a symbiotic relationship between humans and monsters. Capcom's development team is keen on enhancing this theme in Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds), alongside enriching the player character with more personality.

The narrative of MH Wilds centers on the dynamic between nature, the inhabitants of its world, and the role hunters play within this ecosystem. "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. There are many other things we have planned down the line that are aligned to the concept of Monster Hunter Wilds, and we're confident this game was able to achieve what we wanted to express with it," game director Yuya Tokuda explained in an interview with PC Gamer.

To bring this vision to life, MH Wilds will incorporate more dialogue, allowing players to infuse their hunter characters with distinct personalities. Tokuda highlighted the diversity of the game's characters, such as Nata and Olivia, who hail from different backgrounds and approach the monster situation uniquely. "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? Everybody is different, so we decided to add those kinds of elements to Monster Hunter Wilds."

This approach marks a departure from the series' tradition of silent protagonists and minimal dialogue. However, for those who prefer a focus on action over narrative, Tokuda assured that the combat system will remain robust. "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," he stated, hinting at further plans to explore the bond between humans and nature.

If you're eager to delve deeper into the themes and narratives that underpin the Monster Hunter series, be sure to check out Game8's featured article on What Monster Hunter Is Really About.