The Monster Hunter Wilds Beta 2 featured some amazing monster designs that show just how much effort and thought is put into them for our enjoyment.
Everything performance-wise remained the same from the previous beta except for the addition of two new monsters: Gypceros and Arkveld. While I didn’t get into hunting Arkveld, I did take on Gypceros as well as face Chatacabra and Rey Dau again. What impressed me about these three specifically is how alive they felt when hunting them. And if their monster designs are anything to go by, then Monster Hunter Wilds will be one heck of a release for the series.
Let’s first examine the return of Gypceros.
Crazed Gypceros
Those who remember the Gypceros in MH Freedom Unite or MH 4 Ultimate will feel right at home when fighting it in MH Wilds. However, it isn’t just a simple copy/paste.
The team over at Capcom has managed to blend Gypceros’ attacks with new ones, making it a very challenging hunt. But there’s more to it than how it attacks. What I mean is that the way it moves, reacts, and watches the player makes the whole fight feel more engaging. In other words, Gypceros felt more like a living creature than a programmed enemy.
Its movement, combined with its attacks, felt so natural and weighty. One example is when it used its iconic flashbang-like head feature to blind its foes. In MH Freedom Unite, Gypceros will use it nearly all the time, making the fight difficult and sometimes annoying unless you prepare for it. In MH Wilds, Gypceros only uses it in the most dire situations.
There were a couple of times when I dealt some huge damage to its wounds, which then caused it to use the attack. After it triggered, Gypceros would either go for a huge attack or attempt to move some distance away from me. The fact that Gypceros would either choose to attack or defend in a way befitting its design made the whole experience real. The same goes for the other two monsters.
Speaking of which, let’s check out the Chatacabra.
Lumbering Chatacabra
Compared to the Gypceros, the Chatacabra isn’t too challenging. However, its overall design is what makes it so captivating.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Chatacabra is its massive tongue. Similar to the Gypceros, the Chatacabra uses it in particular circumstances. For instance, when it wants to deliver a powerful strike, it licks its fists, allowing it to attach all sorts of debris for massive damage. That simple act is meant not only for combat but to show us another aspect of the creature’s being. We are meant to take in that information as hunters to understand the Chatacabra on an environmental level. After all, one of the main aspects of monster hunting is understanding them fully and getting better details in the in-game journal.
The Chatacabra may not be as tough as the other monsters, but its design is purposeful. It’s meant to fit into the role of a lesser creature, working with its environment. That mentality drives the realness forward. The beta gave a great look into that aspect of the game, and it will be exciting to see what the other monsters can do.
Some monsters are more akin to hunter than prey, like that of Rey Dau.
Dangerous Rey Dau
Rey Dau is in a league of its own compared to the previous two.
What makes Rey Dau’s design so alluring is the way it uses its whole body for offense. Generally, you watch for its teeth, breath, or tail when fighting dragon-like enemies in various games. In Monster Hunter Wilds, Rey Dau uses its horns, claws, legs, and even its wings. Multiple times, Rey Dau jumped up and flew past me while dragging its wings across the ground, creating electrified spots that stunned me. Not only that, but it could even use its horns to fire lightning bolts. This gives it various abilities in both ranged and close quarters.
With those abilities, Rey Dau becomes an even fiercer opponent, which adds to its real feeling. It connects with Gypceros because the deadlier a creature is, the more you feel that danger. Through that design, the monsters start to embody a real form rather than a simple enemy.
The same can’t be said for monsters like the Chatacabra but that is why they are designed to fit their natural niches. Rey Dau feels real in the sense that it looks and acts like an apex predator should. Chatacabra feels real because of the way its designed for it’s surroundings. All of these monsters embody an element that we as the player are meant to take in as we encounter them.
The Monster Hunter Wilds Beta 2 gives us a taste of that design, which will be more prevalent in the game’s full monster roster when it is released.
The Inevitable Launch
At the end of the day, the various features and designs of the monsters show just how incredible they are, not as enemies but as real creatures.
Hopefully, we’ll see more richly designed monsters akin to what we’ve been given in the beta. With many new and returning monsters already confirmed for Monster Hunter Wilds, the game is set to deliver another excellent hunting experience.
Monster Hunter Wilds comes out on February 28th for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The Guide Hall is eager to bring you guides and hunting tips for your adventures in Monster Hunter Wilds. Keep an eye on the site because we’re diving in on day one. For now, check out the upcoming Atomfall for more action RPG gameplay!