The excitement for Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom’s highly anticipated sequel to Monster Hunter World, has been building steadily. Scheduled for release on 28th February, 2025, this game has been hailed as the second biggest release of the year (following GTA 6). Over the weekend of 6-9th February, JioPlayGame dove into the latest Open Beta and explored the thrilling new features and challenges this instalment has to offer. Here’s what we experienced during our time with the game.
A Wild New Ecosystem
Monster Hunter Wilds takes the franchise’s ecosystem immersion to new heights. The dynamic weather, realistic wildlife, and detailed monster behaviours create a world that feels alive and unpredictable. Monsters don’t just exist as targets—they interact with their environment, form herds, and respond to weather changes. This evolution of the series’ ecosystem mechanics adds depth to the hunting experience, keeping players engaged and on their toes.
In this Open Beta, players got to hunt five monsters: Chatacabra, Doshaguma, Gypceros, Rey Dau, and the formidable Arkveld. On top of that, the elusive Balahara occasionally appeared on the map and turf wars, offering a glimpse of what’s to come in the full release. Arkveld stood out as the ultimate challenge. With only 25 minutes on the clock and a 5-faint limit, it’s no surprise that many hunters spent hours attempting to take it down. Even with failure, each attempt felt rewarding—a testament to Capcom’s finely tuned difficulty curve.
Gameplay: Familiar Yet Fresh
Veterans of the series will feel at home with Wilds’ refined gameplay loop, but it also introduces several new mechanics that adds exciting layers of strategy:
Seamless Exploration
For the first time, the game transitions to a semi-open world. The Base Camp exists on the same map as the hunting grounds, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. Gone are the hard transitions between HQ and quest maps; now, you can move fluidly between areas. This change not only speeds up gameplay but also heightens the sense of danger—there’s no “safe zone” anymore, only moments of respite between hunts.
Meet Your Seikret
The new Seikret mounts bring both utility and charm to the hunt. These dinosaur-like companions serve as transportation and pack mules, carrying a secondary weapon that you can switch to mid-quest. Whether you’re traversing treacherous cliffs or evading a rampaging Doshaguma, Seikrets are reliable allies. They can even auto-move, letting players multitask while en route to their next target.
Dynamic Weather and Environmental Interactions
The weather in Wilds isn’t just cosmetic; it directly impacts gameplay. Storms may obscure visibility, while heat waves affect stamina. Monsters adapt too, retreating to different zones or becoming more aggressive under certain conditions. Hunters can also use the environment to their advantage, such as dropping rocks on unsuspecting prey or luring them into traps hidden in the terrain.
Focus Mode: Precision and Satisfaction at its Best
One standout addition is the new Focus Mode, which lets players repeatedly target a monster’s weak points. This feature makes breaking parts less aimless and even more satisfying, rewarding players for strategic precision, and leaving less to guesswork on which parts are weakened.
Weapon Swapping on the Fly
Gone are the days of committing to a single weapon for an entire quest. With Seikrets carrying a secondary weapon, players can easily switch between melee and ranged combat or two different melee weapons for different strategies, or whatever your strategy may be, adapting to each monster’s behaviour. This flexibility adds a fresh dynamic to battles and encourages experimentation.
Old Favourites, New Twists
Fans of Monster Hunter Rise might miss the Wirebug, but Wilds offers its own unique mobility mechanics. Seikrets provide speed and agility, while also allowing hunters to heal or attack from a safe distance. The absence of the Wirebug is felt, but the game’s new features attempt to make up for it.
Your handler, Alma, and your Palico companion play supporting roles. Alma may help to collect items during hunts, while Palicos accompany you in battle, as usual, but for the first time, in Wilds, also voice critical tips during battles, such as alerting you when a monster is fatigued. These small touches enhance the experience, making hunts feel more collaborative and strategic, even when playing solo, while staying true to the Palico’s cuteness.
The Open Beta Experience
Although the Open Beta didn’t allow crafting, slaying monsters and carving materials felt just as rewarding. The Smithy at Base Camp is prepping for the big release and not available for us in the beta. Despite this limitation, players were eager to collect materials for bragging rights.
The ability to easily create custom quests by marking monsters on the map was another highlight. This feature, combined with the option to fire an SOS Flare mid-quest, ensures that hunters can always find help, whether from NPCs or other players in the lobby.
Anticipation for the Full Release
Capcom’s Open Beta for Monster Hunter Wilds delivered a tantalising taste of what’s to come. The combination of seamless exploration, dynamic weather, and strategic combat promises an unforgettable adventure. With just a few weeks until the full release, fans have plenty to look forward to, including crafting, expanded ecosystems, and more monsters to conquer.
JioPlayGame is eagerly awaiting 28th February—not just to continue the hunt, but to see how Capcom builds on the solid foundation showcased in the Beta. Until then, happy hunting!
