Again within the PSP days of Monster Hunter, I used to be fairly aggravated by the necessity to grind and farm the farms to actually maximize development between one hunt and the subsequent. Greater than 15 years later, I would like them again… elsewhere.
The thought of completely totally different city areas which you needed to micromanage and have been cozy before everything survived till the 3DS entries of the sequence, nevertheless it’s one thing that is been regularly pushed apart in favor of extra streamlined searching experiences with little to no fats. As Monster Hunter Wilds prepares to pounce on us in late February with extra instruments of killing and methods to navigate the wilds seamlessly, one has to surprise how lengthy it’s going to be earlier than the idea of a everlasting city/village is dropped altogether or lowered to a extremely quick downtime.
Disclaimer: I do not thoughts Monster Hunter’s huge latest steps in direction of turning into extra accessible. The builders have really excelled at making the sequence extra palatable through the first 20 hours or so with World and Rise, and the brand new entry is doubling down on such additions and QoL modifications. It is a good factor so long as it would not dilute what makes the core video games so distinctive.
This strategy, nonetheless, immediately collides with the aforementioned ‘farming’ aspect components of older video games. Monster Hunter has at all times been about mankind’s relationship with nature and the frictions born out of it even when it takes place in a wholly totally different world that is not impacted by rampant industrialization (but). Even when the precise farming components have been a little bit of a slog, particularly after dozens of hours of playtime, they’d a spot inside the sequence’ voice and really soul. Whereas my ‘gamer mind’ appreciates having much less busywork so I can spend extra time smacking wyverns on the top with huge weapons, my extra considerate aspect is sorta bummed out by the dearth of farmsteads within the more moderen installments.
A possible resolution? Placing a small city sim spinoff in improvement. It is a style that is been booming for fairly some time however fairly often lacks an identification past ‘have a look at the lovable artwork type’ and riffing on Stardew Valley with small twists. Monster Hunter, however, looks like the right match for the fundamental premise of cozy life sims. The worldbuilding and philosophy are already there, and we have performed a fundamental model of that potential sport earlier than. A number of instances, really. Let my Felyne work extra jobs than administration, searching, and cooking once more!
The Monster Hunter IP isn’t any stranger to off-beat spinoffs both. Monster Hunter Now seems to be thriving on cellular; Monster Hunter Puzzles is a pleasant little experiment; and Monster Hunter Tales has already turn out to be a good RPG subseries of its personal. At this level, a city sim would not sound like a distant chance. As a substitute, it is the form of undertaking that must be imminent if Capcom is listening to the precise traits.
That is when the Monkey’s Paw curls and we do get a MH city sim… only for cellular. Nah, I desire a totally featured, premium sport. Give it a definite artwork type, work onerous on the visible presentation, provide you with an attractive loop that makes the many of the universe’s uniqueness and wackier aspect. Searching would not even should be overlooked of the components. What about hiring some veteran hunters to guard the city from wyverns and different monsters? Allow us to enhance and customise gathering halls! There are such a lot of potentialities past farming, mining, fishing, bug gathering, beekeeping, and whatnot as offered within the basic titles.
Rejection of cellphones as goal platforms and gacha-like components apart, it is the form of pitch that will be killer for moveable {hardware}, sure. With the mainline Monster Hunter entries now specializing in the ‘robust {hardware}’ Xbox-PS-PC trio, might such a sport be a improbable third-party Nintendo unique? Animal Crossing’s reputation is at an all-time excessive after New Horizons, and I’ve little doubt we’ll see one other entry for the Swap 2 sooner slightly than later, however that does not imply there is not any area for an additional winner.
I may be wading into ‘armchair developer’ territory right here, certain, however hear me out: I am simply an excited fan who’s not simply serious about what’s in entrance of them, but in addition in regards to the attainable futures of a franchise that is given them nothing however happiness. I really like Monster Hunter and would like to see it develop not simply as an action-RPG sequence. It is definitely in the precise path to turning into greater and extra appetizing for all, and the previous spinoffs talked about right here show that in addition to my principal level.
Or maybe I am simply utterly misreading the franchise’s present standing and the precise influence its spinoffs have had on the final sentiment. Perhaps of us would slightly persist with killing mighty beasts and outsized pests. However it’s kind of of a miserable thought. I imagine Monster Hunter is way more than that, and I will be first in line and able to bat for extra peaceable makes an attempt to increase its world and lore.
