REVIEW – With its heart-pounding battles against towering monsters, Wild Hearts is a game that takes the concept of “game feel” to a whole new level. This thrilling title allows players to hunt down and battle fearsome beasts called Kemono, armed only with blades and wooden constructions. The action is far from mindless, as players must carefully study each monster’s attack patterns and elemental type before engaging in a prolonged, high-stakes fight. If you’re looking for a unique, adrenaline-pumping gaming experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat, Wild Hearts is the perfect alternative to the typical hack-and-slash games on the market.

 

 

 

Wild Hearts is not your typical monster-hunting game. Instead of mindless action against hordes of enemies, it offers a more refined and strategic experience, with each battle a prolonged fight against one gigantic beast at a time. To succeed, players must carefully deduce the elemental type of the monster they’re hunting, choose their weapons accordingly, and study the attack patterns of the creature before delving headlong into the fray.

 

 

Unleash Your Inner Hunter with Wild Hearts

 

The monsters in Wild Hearts are a fusion of creatures and wildlife, with each one presenting a unique challenge. A pig the size of a mansion, for example, might sprout jutting vines across the battlefield, while a raven might have swollen to immense proportions, absorbing poisonous ink in the process. Players must familiarize themselves with each monster and its attacks if they hope to emerge victorious, and the process helps each creature stand out in the player’s mind long after the battle is over.

Wild Hearts’ weapons are just as eclectic as its monsters. Players can wield a bladed umbrella, a giant hammer, bladed claws, a shape-shifting staff, and a boisterous hand cannon, among other things, to take down the Kemono. Each weapon offers a bounty of differing play styles to pair with the monsters they’re taking down. For example, ifsuppose players are up against a rapid Kemono like the poisonous raven-like Fumebeak. In that case, huge hammer makes little sense, so the quicker bladed umbrella is a natural fit, letting players take the fight airborne.

The Karakuri, Wild Hearts’ standout feature, is what sets it apart from other hunting games. These wooden constructions are built from a fixed number of pieces like boxes, springs, and torches, and each one has a unique utility. Some, like the giant hammers, are used to smite monsters, while others, like bombs, detonate after just a few seconds. Players are periodically handed instructions for building new Karakuri contraptions, so they’re never overwhelmed by the sheer number and flexibility of the tools.

The Karakuri is mercifully simple to use. All of the building blocks are bound to the left bumper on a controller, meaning everything to do with the devices stems from one button. This ensures that players won’t suddenly panic in the middle of combat and bring up the Karakuri menu by mistake, and that it’s always a deliberate decision hard-wired to one specific part of the controller and, by extension, the player’s arsenal.

 

 

A New Breed of Monster Hunting

 

Wild Hearts is not your typical monster-hunting game. Instead of mindless action against hordes of enemies, it offers a more refined and strategic experience, with each battle a prolonged fight against one gigantic beast at a time. To succeed, players must carefully deduce the elemental type of the monster they’re hunting, choose their weapons accordingly, and study the attack patterns of the creature before delving headlong into the fray.

The monsters in Wild Hearts are a fusion of creatures and wildlife, with each one presenting a unique challenge. A pig the size of a mansion, for example, might sprout jutting vines across the battlefield, while a raven might have swollen to immense proportions, absorbing poisonous ink in the process. Players must familiarize themselves with each monster and its attacks if they hope to emerge victorious, and the process helps each creature stand out in the player’s mind long after the battle is over.

Wild Hearts’ weapons are just as eclectic as its monsters. Players can wield a bladed umbrella, a giant hammer, bladed claws, a shape-shifting staff, and a boisterous hand cannon, among other things, to take down the Kemono. Each weapon offers a bounty of differing play styles to pair with the monsters they’re taking down. For example, if players are up against a rapid Kemono like the poisonous raven-like Fumebeak, a huge hammer makes little sense, so the quicker bladed umbrella is a natural fit, letting players take the fight airborne.

The Karakuri, Wild Hearts’ standout feature, is what sets it apart from other hunting games. These wooden constructions are built from a fixed number of pieces like boxes, springs, and torches, and each one has a unique utility. Some, like the giant hammers, are used to smite monsters, while others, like bombs, detonate after just a few seconds. Players are periodically handed instructions for building new Karakuri contraptions, so they’re never overwhelmed by the sheer number and flexibility of the tools.

The Karakuri is mercifully simple to use. All of the building blocks are bound to the left bumper on a controller, meaning everything to do with the devices stems from one button. This ensures that players won’t suddenly panic in the middle of combat and bring up the Karakuri menu by mistake, and that it’s always a deliberate decision hard-wired to one specific part of the controller and, by extension, the player’s arsenal.

 

 

Tackling the beasts with friends

 

Wild Hearts offers a refreshing take on monster-hunting games by introducing new combat mechanics and co-op multiplayer mode for up to three players. The game is not only about defeating Kemono but also requires a thoughtful approach to succeed. You’ll have to analyze the monster’s elemental type, select the right weapons and study its attack patterns before going into a fight. The battles against Kemono are exhilarating, and you must dodge their attacks, cut into them and back off in a split second.

However, the one downside to Wild Hearts is the camera that doesn’t always capture the full view of the towering creatures, making it difficult to anticipate their attacks. Once you’ve defeated a Kemono, the game presents an interesting progression system, where you can craft better gear to improve your abilities against the beasts. The armor can also enhance your Karakuri abilities, giving a new dimension to the armor grind seen in other hunting games like Monster Hunter.

Speaking of Monster Hunter, Wild Hearts offers a formidable challenge to Capcom’s crown in the genre. Omega Force has brought in its immense hunting knowledge to develop the game, and Wild Hearts offers a fresh perspective on the genre while learning from Monster Hunter’s success over the last four years. With its excellent combat, intriguing progression system, and co-op multiplayer, Wild Hearts is undoubtedly a worthy competitor to the reigning champion of monster-hunting games.

 

 

A Breath of Fresh Air in Hunting Games

 

Omega Force’s Wild Hearts provides a new and refreshing take on the hunting game genre, which is often plagued by colonization themes. Unlike other games in the genre, Wild Hearts focuses on survival rather than domination, casting players as forgotten, abandoned residents in a besieged town. This change in perspective immediately endears players to the game’s characters, making them more empathetic and likable.

Throughout the game’s core campaign, players engage in side quests to aid the town’s residents, providing a strong base to build on. Wild Hearts’ Kemono monsters are awe-inspiring, and their fusion of land and creatures leaves a lasting impression long after players have defeated them. The game’s combat system, weapons, and Karakuri are all brilliantly designed, putting player creativity first without being overwhelming.

While Wild Hearts’ camera system can be frustrating at times, it doesn’t detract from the overall experience. Omega Force has created a worthy competitor to Monster Hunter, avoiding the pitfalls of colonization themes, and delivering an adventure that is both thrilling and engaging.

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Publisher: EA

Developer: Omega Force

Style: Hunting, Action RPG

Release: February 17, 2023.