Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Crossovers
Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous innovations and quality-of-life enhancements. However, the game's design owes a surprising debt to the series' crossover events, specifically collaborations with Final Fantasy XIV and The Witcher 3. Ideas sparked during these partnerships directly influenced key gameplay elements in Wilds.
Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy XIV, suggested a change to the HUD during the FFXIV crossover event in Monster Hunter: World. This suggestion, to display attack names on screen in real-time, became a core feature in Wilds' revamped HUD. This was partially previewed in the World crossover's Behemoth fight, where the boss's attacks were similarly labeled. The "Jump" emote, unlocked after defeating Behemoth, further exemplifies this influence, displaying "[Hunter] performs Jump" on screen.
The overwhelmingly positive player response to the Witcher 3 crossover in Monster Hunter: World also played a significant role. The inclusion of Geralt, a speaking protagonist with dialogue choices, proved the viability of a more conversational approach in Monster Hunter. This directly inspired the addition of expanded dialogue options and a voiced protagonist in Wilds.
Wilds director Yuya Tokuda acknowledged the inspiration drawn from the Witcher 3 collaboration, viewing it as a successful test of player reception to enhanced dialogue and gameplay mechanics. The success of this collaboration, initiated by Tokuda himself, solidified the team's direction for Wilds.
This insightful information comes from an exclusive visit to Capcom's Japan offices. For a comprehensive preview of Monster Hunter Wilds, including in-depth interviews and gameplay footage, check out IGN First's January coverage.
