There isn’t much of a bounding narrative to Wild Hearts, but this is the basic gist. Players create a character and then venture into the beast-ridden area of Azuma. These beasts are known as Kemono and have started running more rampant.
After meeting a mysterious stranger on their way to the haven city of Minato, players unlock a gauntlet that gives them the ability to craft things out of thin air. From there, players have to figure out what this power is, why they were chosen, and why the Kemono are going so wild in Wild Hearts. That’s the setup, but now let’s get to opinions on this game’s execution.
8 Best: Crafting Structures
Wild Hearts has a zany mechanic in the game that allows players to craft constructs out of thin air which is called Karakuri. The most basic construct is a box, but this can be combined in several ways to make stronger fusions like a gate that can knock even the biggest bosses unconscious.
Another cool Karakuri is the more advanced construct of the Glider. This pinwheel-like device can launch players in the air to get good surveillance of the land. Who knew that a monster-hunting action RPG could excel with some Minecraft mechanics?
7 Worst: Only Has Three-Player Co-Op
In less exciting news, this game only supports three-player co-op matches. This is different than the usual four for the Monster Hunter series. The balance with three players online is usually good enough where Kemono, which is what the boss monsters are called in this game, will still go down easily.
For most fans of these types of games, it’s not about the challenge that matters though. Some love creating four-player parties with their friends for a good game night. Leaving one friend out of the mix can be a little disheartening.
6 Best: A Good Cropping Of Monsters
On the subject of the Kemono, they are more fierce than a lot of the monsters from the Monster Hunter games which is saying a lot. That’s because they have the ability to warp the environment to their liking. For example, there is a flying squirrel-like Kemono, Spineglider, that can create small mounds it can then glide off of.
Kemono also have the ability to go into Super Saiyan-like states of intense power which changes their design. Overall, Wild Hearts has a good cropping of well-balanced creatures players are going to fight in their adventures.
5 Worst: The Graphics Look Rough
One of the most striking things about the game is its visuals. That’s in a bad way though because they look dated right out the gate. Textures have no definition to them and everything is blurry. This is true even if players turn off the motion blur effect in the menu.
The action will still look messy and the frame rate can be all over the place. There are thankfully no consistent slowdowns while playing the game, but overall it still doesn’t look like a modern action game on PS5 or Xbox Series X.
4 Best: The Weapon Abilities
One visual effect that is cool comes with the weapons. Of the few in the game, each one has a special ability. Some of them have wild transformations like the katana which can turn into a whip. Then there is the bow which uses stronger ammunition to hit harder if players are patient.
The weapon count doesn’t rival that of the Monster Hunter series, but there is still a lot here for action game fans to dig into. Part of the fun of Wild Hearts is experimenting with weapons and Karakuri together to create killer combos.
3 Worst: Tsukumo
Players get an AI companion when they are playing on their own in the form of Tsukumo. The Tsukumo are odd, sphere-like robots that will follow players around. Players can customize their Tsukumo in a variety of ways such as increasing their attack power.
The customization is nice, but the Tsukumo aren’t as useful in battle as either the Palamutes or Palicos from the Monster Hunter series. They are also not as cute, although Tsukumo can be charming in their own way.
2 Best: Building Camps
There is another crafting aspect that is amazing in Wild Hearts. Players can make camp anywhere they like. All they need is the right materials which are derived from springs called Dragon Pits. Once enough materials are gathered, they can pitch a tent and create a permanent fast travel location.
It’s best not to go wild too early with these camp locations. It’s a good idea instead to spread them out once players figure out Kemono nesting spots. That’s a hot tip on top of the praise these camps so rightfully deserve.
1 Worst: Still Behind The Times
Overall, there are countless mechanics that doesn’t help this game stand above its competition. It feels behind the times in more ways than its aforementioned blurry graphics. Kemono do not have health bars, which would be a nice feature to have.
There are no difficulty levels which is understandable for co-op sessions but it is less understandable if players are offline. The lack of a photo mode offline is also a bit annoying. On the bright side of things, perhaps some of these issues could be addressed in future patches for Wild Hearts.
Wild Hearts was released on February 16, 2023 and is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.