Summary
- Monster Hunter Wilds focuses on narrative, resulting in side characters with unique personalities and deeper roles in the story.
- Side characters in past Monster Hunter games had limited emotional impact, while Wilds' characters add narrative depth and emotional weight.
- Meaningful interactions with Wilds' side characters enhance the overall gameplay experience by making each hunt feel like part of a larger journey.
Apart from the franchise's spin-off games, Monster Hunter has never really been about the stories it tells. That is, of course, where Monster Hunter Stories comes in, as the mainline series is largely all about the hunt and therefore prioritizes gameplay over narrative. However, this ultimately comes with a downside for the mainline Monster Hunter games, as a downplayed story is naturally accompanied by downplayed characters, making the majority of Monster Hunter's side characters devoid of purpose apart from gameplay. Monster Hunter Wilds, on the other hand, is an entirely different story, in one way or another, as its renewed focus on narrative simultaneously results in its side characters being some of the best in the series.
For Monster Hunter Wilds' story to be memorable and worth experiencing, and any story for that matter, it needs to have well-developed and standout side characters. While it doesn't necessarily spend significant time fleshing out many of its side characters, they all exhibit qualities that any good character should in a story but have always lacked in previous Monster Hunter games. With their unique personalities and character arcs, along with the many opportunities players have to interact with them in a more meaningful way, Monster Hunter Wilds' side characters are the best the mainline series has ever seen.
Monster Hunter Wilds Proves That Open-World Games Still Have Room to Innovate
Monster Hunter Wilds offers a fresh and immersive approach to the open-world formula, proving that open-world games can still innvoate if they try.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Side Characters Are Some of the Best to Date
Monster Hunter Wilds' Side Characters Have More Personality and Importance to the Story
In past Monster Hunter entries, side characters have primarily served as quest-givers, guides, and vendors, thereby giving them static roles that limit the emotional impact they have on the player and the world. With little to no emphasis placed on the story, these characters really don't need to be anything more than a tool for players to use when necessary, which means their personalities are compromised as a result. Monster Hunter Wilds' side characters, however, each have unique personalities and character arcs, in addition to filling traditional Monster Hunter archetypes.
With their unique personalities and character arcs, along with the many opportunities players have to interact with them in a more meaningful way, Monster Hunter Wilds' side characters are the best the mainline series has ever seen.
For example, Monster Hunter Wilds' Gemma is the game's blacksmith, but rather than simply benefiting players by offering a way for them to craft better gear, she is one of the most charismatic characters in the game, on top of being a natural leader with a pivotal role in the story. Alma, Monster Hunter Wilds' Handler, also has a distinct personality, exhibiting a warmth and innocence that no other character in the game matches. Furthermore, Gemma and Alma, as well as many of the other game's side characters, travel with the player during the story, rather than allowing players to go solo, as previous games in the series have.
Players Get More Meaningful Interactions With Monster Hunter Wilds' Side Characters
Monster Hunter Wilds' side characters aren't just better for their personalities, though, as the game actually allows players to have more meaningful interactions with them as well. Rather than having static dialogue exchanges with side characters, players are generally presented with a short list of dialogue options to choose from, many of which are often optional. This allows players to get to know Monster Hunter Wilds' side characters if they choose to, making each interaction more meaningful and transforming each character from the vending machines they have known to be in past Monster Hunter games into memorable personalities.
By giving its side characters distinct personalities, deeper roles in the story, and opportunities for meaningful interactions, Monster Hunter Wilds raises the bar for the series' future NPCs. No longer just static NPCs who exist to serve gameplay functions, these characters add emotional weight and narrative depth, making each hunt feel like part of a larger journey rather than a series of disconnected missions. While Monster Hunter has always excelled in gameplay, Monster Hunter Wilds proves that a stronger story and character presence can enhance that experience rather than distract from it.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
