Very soon, Monster Hunter fans should get an in-depth look at Monster Hunter Wilds. Marking the beginning of Monster Hunter’s sixth generation, this title has been the talk of Monster Hunter fans since before its December 2023 announcement, as Monster Hunter World and Rise had already been around since early 2018 and 2021, respectively. The community was ready for something new, and Monster Hunter Wilds promises to be exactly that. Advertising a broader play space in its teaser trailer, Monster Hunter Wilds might be the next stage in this series' evolution.

Speculation about Wilds’ additions has run rampant in advance of a promised summer 2024 update, as its reveal trailer managed to tease much while confirming little. It looks like a return to the more grounded aesthetic and hunting approach found in Monster Hunter World, but with a new mount absorbing Monster Hunter Rise’s high-flying movement abilities. Weather and environmental effects also seem to play a big role in exploration and combat. What hasn't been covered yet is the framing of Monster Hunter Wilds’ narrative, which could enter its own new frontier if it gives the player Hunter their own voice.

Monster Hunter Wilds' protagonist running through a stampede alongside Akari from Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Related
Monster Hunter Wilds is the Perfect Heir for a Pokemon Legends: Arceus Mechanic

Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a departure for that series, and one of its new ideas could fit perfectly into Monster Hunter Wilds.

Why Voiced Dialogue Was A Late Addition to Monster Hunter

For a long time, Monster Hunter didn't have voiced dialogue. It did use a fictional gibberish language on occasion, but its text-based story didn’t want to pull attention away from MH’s hunting. That changed with Monster Hunter World, which introduced a voiced cinematic storyline to go along with its single-player quest progression. It was a massive change, and not always for the better given the MH World Handler’s mixed reception, but it has stuck with the series ever since. Monster Hunter Rise, and even the two Monster Hunter Stories spin-offs and their anime adaptation, all employ regular voice acting and more involved plots than MH titles past.

Playable Hunters Haven't Been Treated Equally To Other Monster Hunter Characters

However, there was always one big exception to this, and it was the most notable one. The player character never speaks in cutscenes, and rarely vocalizes at all in MH World. Rise innovated by allowing player characters to speak full sentences during gameplay, but this came off as more of a cosmetic gesture than anything else. Consequently, the supporting cast must drive Monster Hunter’s story forward, and they’re already struggling to meet the series’ increasingly ambitious storytelling demands.

Monster Hunter Wilds Could Finally Give Player Characters A Voice

Monster Hunter Wilds could fix this, but the best way involves giving its player avatars a whole new dimension. Wilds' could finish what Rise started and make the playable Hunter voiced at all times, complete with their own personality and motivations. They should still be custom-made and could get away with having no name, but gone will be the days of a concerned-yet-silent avatar communicating through nods, glances, and vague gestures. Obviously, this is a big commitment for a pseudo-MMO like Monster Hunter to make, but MH Wilds should be the right time to finally make this jump.

Adding Player Dialogue Now Will Aid Monster Hunter Wilds

This is rooted in speculation, but Monster Hunter Wilds could take its hunts further away from a base camp much longer than prior games’ did. Longer trips, especially if MH Wilds' camps are far apart, mean more time spent away from friendly characters, and justifying having someone like World’s Handler around to speak for the player could be troublesome. It would be easier if the playable Hunter could talk when necessary, exhibiting a personality similar to the recurring A-Lister as an enthusiastic up-and-coming Hunter. With a few spoken lines and perhaps a couple of inconsequential dialogue choices, Monster Hunter Wilds’ protagonist could feel like a real part of Monster Hunter’s setting, and push the series’ simple storytelling to the next level.