Review

Wild Hearts

Imagine Fortnite combined with Monster Hunter!!

No, this is not a dream. It’s a game called Wild Hearts, and it could have been my favorite game this year because of its unique building mechanics and the fan-shaped glider. But…

Wild Hearts is an RPG focused on monster hunting in a fantasy world. It closely resembles Capcom’s Monster Hunter series. Published by EA and developed by the Japanese studio Omega Force, Wild Hearts aims to make a mark in this genre.

The game comes during EA’s renewed focus on single-player, story-driven games. Recently, we saw the Dead Space remake, and now Wild Hearts. In April, we’ll get Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, along with other projects from EA.

Wild Hearts naturally invites comparisons to Monster Hunter. Is it just a copy, or does it bring something unique? Let’s find out in this review.

Story

Wild Hearts is set in ancient Japan, where monsters, known as Kemono, turned against humans after living peacefully together for centuries. These creatures now threaten human survival.

You play as a unique hunter from a distant land, wielding magical powers to protect humans from the Kemono. This reminds me of monster hunting in The Witcher 3, where you track monsters, defeat them, and earn rewards.

Gameplay: Magical monster hunting with a unique twist!

Wild Hearts follows the typical gameplay loop of the genre: pick a monster, find its location, fight it, collect loot, upgrade weapons and armor, and take on more hunting quests. All of this happens within a narrative context.

The standout feature is building! Using a magical power called Karakuri, you can construct various structures for combat and exploration. This mechanic is a core part of the gameplay, making it essential to master.

You can gather a resource called Thread from the environment to build structures. For instance, stack boxes to jump and attack with a powerful move or create walls to block and counter monsters’ charges.

Other constructs include towers for spotting nearby monsters and zip lines for faster traversal. The building system is incredibly intuitive and enhances the gameplay significantly.

Mastering the Karakuri system is as crucial as using your weapons. Ignoring it could lead to quick defeats, especially during challenging fights!

Combat is excellent but has flaws

Combat is dynamic, with varied monster attacks and intense battles. However, camera issues can disrupt the experience, especially when locking onto targets.

Despite this, the combination of epic soundtracks, impactful animations, and weapon variety ensures that battles never feel dull.

Technical Performance: A major letdown

While Wild Hearts excels in gameplay and world-building, its technical issues are a glaring flaw. The PC version suffers from frame drops, glitches, and crashes, making it hard to recommend at its $70 price point.

Final Thoughts

Wild Hearts has the potential to be a game of the year contender, but its technical issues hold it back. Once fixed, it could stand as a truly remarkable experience.

Final Rating

8/10