Summary
Monster Hunter Wildsmust verify to avoid one of the worst mistakes that was featured inMonster Hunter World. There are a lot of good things thatMonster Hunter Wildscan take from its predecessors. However, even thoughMonster Hunter Worldis a landmark for the franchise, not everything about it was perfect. One of its most glaring issues was impossible for any player to miss, no matter their experience level. Moreover, it’s a mistake thatMonster Hunter Wildscan’t afford to repeat.
In light of theremarkable success ofMonster Hunter World, it’s fair to call it one of the most important titles in the franchise. WhileMonster Hunterhas seen consistent game releases since its debut in 2004,Monster Hunter Worldturned it into one of Capcom’s most visible properties. Featuring crossovers with the likes ofStreet Fighteronly raised its profile further, to the extent that Rathalos, one of the series' iconic monsters, made it intoSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateas a boss.Monster Hunterhas truly broken into the mainstream, as shown byMonster Hunter Wilds' trailer capping off The Game Awards 2023.
Monster Hunter Wilds Shouldn’t Repeat Monster Hunter World’s Tutorial Design
Monster Hunter World’s Tutorial is Too Long
Out of all the possible ways thatMonster Hunter Wildscan improve onWorld, the tutorial stands out the most. Whenever a player starts a new game, there is a lengthy tutorial segment before the player gets to start the game properly. There is an unskippable cutscene before and after character creation, followed by a significant period where the player does not have a weapon and can do little but walk where the game directs them to go. This continues once they reach Astera, where they are given a guided tour.Monster Hunter World’s tutorial takes far too long, keeping players from the game’s promised hunts and adventures.
Monster Hunter World’s Tutorial Doesn’t Sell the Game’s Excitement
What makes this particularly painful is that, due to its fun gameplay,Monster Hunter Worldis still worth playing. The problem is that the game’s tutorial doesn’t show off anything that makes the game exciting aside from some dramatic tension, and it becomes a slog to make it through those early hours.
Climbing Zorah Magdaros while flaming rocks fall is a visual spectacle, for instance, yet slowly walking around Astera and other locales is far from interesting.
The sheer length and lack of excitement in the tutorial hurt the game’s replay value because players will always have to go through the tutorial again. At worst, the tutorial could end up diminishing a new player’s excitement about the game for those exact reasons.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Tutorial Must Balance Information With Fun
A tutorial will almost certainly be warranted in the next game. After all, thenew gimmicks inMonster Hunter Wildswill need some explaining. That said, the tutorial needs to remain engaging. For example, it could teach the player about the new mount’s abilities during an exciting first trip into the world, or have them need to seek shelter to avoid a storm like the one shown in the trailer. Most of all, the tutorial shouldn’t be dragged out any longer than necessary. It’s important to keep the player informed, butMonster Hunter Wildsshouldn’t keep them away from the action in order to do so.
Tutorials are paramount for a game as mechanically rich as aMonster Huntertitle, but they need to be handled with care. There are plenty ofMonster Hunter Worldfeatures worthy of returning, but its tutorial design should not be among them. A game’s opening segment needs to grab the player’s attention and ensure their excitement, and thereforeMonster Hunter Wildswould be wise not to followMonster Hunter World’s earliest and biggest mistake.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
