Roaming a strange world and hunting monsters might sound familiar, but add in some unique building mechanics and you’ve got a game that does its best to stand out from the crowd.
The review is based on the PS5 version. It is also relevant for the PC version(s), XSX.
You can’t talk about monster hunting games without mentioning the classic Monster Hunter, a series that Capcom has established as the one you think of when you think of the genre. Other than running around hunting various beasts these games are awesome for how explosive some of these hunts can be because if you really think about it where else can you take down towering prey these days but in a video game ?
BENEFITS:
- Clever karakuri building system that increases the flow of battle and exploration;
- Detailed and charming monsters with unique details and personalities;
- The cooperative brings everything together.
AGAINST :
- Difficulty curve when playing alone;
- Repetitive monsters aggravated by a small bestiary;
- Camera and control issues interrupt the tension of battles.
Well, it turns out that EA’s Wild Hearts wants some love too. It’s a monster-hunting game with a format that will immediately make you think of Monster Hunter, but its unique approach to dealing with those monsters spices up the genre and makes it stand on its own. It’s not without its problems, of course, but it’s sure to stick with you after all the hours you’ve put into it.
building blocks
At its core, Wild Hearts is a monster hunting game, so that’s no surprise. Your character can participate in various hunts in different biomes to defeat beasts ranging from tame grassy lizards to ferocious gorillas that will mercilessly pounce on you. Each beast you slay rewards you with resources that you can use to further upgrade your weapons and gear. This allows you to survive and later defeat more threatening monsters and so the cycle continues.
Wild Hearts, published by Electronic Arts Inc.
Wild Hearts is set in the fictional world of Azuma, where wild monsters known as kemono roam free. Early in your adventure, your hunter discovers a break in the flow of the “Heavenly Thread” and in doing so awakens an ancient form of technology known as karakuri. With this new ability, your hunter sets out to explore the different regions of Azuma to restore balance and subdue any Kemono you encounter. It’s a story that gives you a reason to go hunting, but also serves to introduce the game’s unique feature: karakuri.
VERDICT:
Wild Hearts isn’t a perfect game, but it stands out in part for the magical charm of its karakuri mechanics and its mysterious and fascinating monsters. It may look and play like a Monster Hunter game at times, but the more you get involved, the more fights you win, and the more karakuri you build, the more it feels like a breath of fresh air.
The karakuri mechanic really makes Wild Hearts stand out from other monster hunting games because of how it changes the flow of battle. Karakuri are various structures you can build during a fight that can provide extra defense, mobility, or attack when you need it. As you play you unlock more karakuri, ranging from simple boxes you can climb on to increase altitude, gliders to fly above enemies, giant wooden hammers and other constructions simple and complex that turn the battlefield into a playground for hunters. Along with the different weapons you can wield, battling a kemono can become an educational experience right out of the box.
Karakuri makes battles fun by improving your focus, sometimes giving you an edge when you weren’t expecting it. Take the glider, for example. You can use it to hover over enemies and then hit them with combos from above, but you can also use it defensively to avoid any dangerous terrain below. You have a set amount of Celestial Threads at your disposal, so building too many karakuri will put you at a disadvantage, but if you focus on attacking a kemono, you can also release more threads from their body’s weak points. Mastering that balance and knowing when to build, when to run, and when to attack is what keeps battles going from start to finish.
Wild Hearts, published by Electronic Arts Inc.
Your karakuri can also complement the weapons you equip and allow you to perform a series of combos to maximize your attacks and increase the damage you deal. From a hammer to a Japanese blade to an interesting umbrella sword, each of your weapons is different and lets you choose a style you think suits a specific hunt.
spoils of battle
Your adventure will take you to different regions of Azuma that feature different biomes in which to hunt new types of creatures. Wild Hearts is not an open world game, but you have free rein in jungles, beaches and even snowy valleys. Minato City acts as a hub where you can do more quests and exchange your resources for goods that will continue to aid you in battle. Japanese elements are strong in the game, from the weapons you wield to the occasional Japanese you hear in conversation. The highlight, however, has to be the soundtrack, which features traditional Japanese music that changes depending on your situation. It not only evens out your adrenaline during battle, but also gives you a moment of respite, all with an elegant blend of strings and percussion.
Wild Hearts, published by Electronic Arts Inc.
The nice thing about the world you explore is that you can also build permanent karakuri to make your exploration easier. These are different from the ones you use in battle and require you to awaken dragon pits to build karakuri like forges, fishing posts, and event stores that serve as checkpoints on your adventure. Eventually, you unlock zipline towers that you can set up around the world so you can create a network of them for easy travel. Unlocking these dragon pits requires local resources, so the game rewards you for your exploration by giving you even more tools to explore.
This same philosophy applies to your weapons and gear, as the game gives you resources to upgrade your gear as you defeat more kemono. The problem here, however, is that your weapon trees are limited and will often require specific resources that you can only get from certain monsters. This will often have you fighting the same monster multiple times if you want scraps of its fur or a piece of its horn. Sure, the genre is all about hunting monsters over and over again, but since Wild Hearts’ bestiary is limited to around twelve unique monsters, you’ll often have to face the same creature multiple times.
Kemono asesino
Don’t get me wrong: its overall design and unique elements match the game’s Japanese mysticism very well, and its small details are amazing to behold. These monsters take the form of common animals but are fused with natural elements. This means you’ll see a giant boar with roots for a tail or a badger spitting sticky sap from its mouth. These natural elements not only come into play during an encounter, but also serve to give these creatures their unique charm and personality. They even evoke sympathy when you see them walking away from you near their demise, it’s quite sad.
Wild Hearts, published by Electronic Arts Inc.
Conversely, some kemono are quite deadly and can take up to an hour to defeat. The game is challenging if you play it solo, but add a friend or three and the battles seem more doable and a whole lot more fun too. It’s one thing to build structures around the battlefield for yourself, but it’s a different feeling when you start collaborating with others to plan your attacks and even help your allies finish building karakuri. that they did not have the resources to complete. .
Playing with others also makes battles more accessible and creates a social atmosphere during and after battles. Your allies can distract a monster while you’re attacking them from behind, and they can also revive you if you fall, something you can’t afford if you’re playing solo. Your guests can also build karakuri that will remain in your world after leaving the game, reminding you of the time you spent together. But the best thing about co-op is that everyone gets a share of the prize money at the end of a fight. It’s a no-brainer to play with others if you can, as it not only makes the game more fun, but also gives you a better chance of surviving even against some of the old kemono you encounter.
final thoughts
Despite its charming environments and creatures, Wild Hearts’ visuals don’t quite live up to recently released games on PS5. Even his created hunter lacks any form of expression during conversations where he wonders why there were so many customization options to begin with. The lighting is great, but there are times when the game feels lazy in its design even though the world around it looks so magical. Add to that some camera issues and a dodgy auto-lock feature and the game can feel clunky at times when it matters most.
Wild Hearts isn’t a perfect game, but it stands out in part for the magical charm of its karakuri mechanics and its mysterious and fascinating monsters. It may look and play like a Monster Hunter game at times, but the more you get involved, the more fights you win, and the more karakuri you build, the more it feels like a breath of fresh air. These might just be the building blocks you need to become your own monster hunting game series.
Giancarlo Saldana | juegopresion.com