Monster Hunter Wilds brings a fresh wave of innovation to the beloved Monster Hunter series, introducing a variety of changes, new features, and quality-of-life enhancements. But did you know that the seeds for these developments were sown during the crossover events of Monster Hunter: World? Specifically, insights from Final Fantasy 14's director, Naoki Yoshida, during the FFXIV crossover, and the enthusiastic response to The Witcher 3 crossover, played pivotal roles in shaping new gameplay mechanics in Monster Hunter Wilds.
During the collaboration with Final Fantasy 14, a conversation with Yoshi-P at a reveal event sparked a significant change in Monster Hunter Wilds' heads-up display (HUD). Yoshi-P suggested that players appreciate seeing the names of their attacks as they execute them, leading to the implementation of this feature in the new game. This idea was first tested during the 2018 FFXIV crossover event in Monster Hunter: World, which was a grand collaboration featuring elements like catchable Cactuars, a giant Kulu-Ya-Ku hunted to the tune of Chocobo music, the striking Drachen armor, and more. The event's highlight was the challenging Behemoth fight, where players could see the boss's moves displayed on-screen, a feature common in MMORPGs. Completing the Behemoth repel quest also unlocked the Jump emote, inspired by the Dragoon's movements in Final Fantasy, with the text "[Hunter] performs Jump" appearing on the screen, marking an early instance of attack names being shown during gameplay.
How Final Fantasy XIV’s Director Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds
The image above showcases the new HUD feature in Monster Hunter Wilds, which was directly inspired by Yoshi-P's suggestion during the Monster Hunter: World and FFXIV crossover. This collaboration not only brought unique elements like the Drachen armor set, Gae Bolg Insect Glaive, and Dragon Soul Kinsect but also laid the groundwork for innovative gameplay enhancements in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Watch the video above to see the Behemoth fight in action, where attack names appear on-screen during the battle.
How The Witcher 3 Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds
The influence of The Witcher 3 on Monster Hunter Wilds was equally significant. Director Yuya Tokuda was inspired by the positive reception to the Monster Hunter: World and The Witcher 3 collaboration, which served as a testbed for introducing more dialogue and options into the game. In the crossover, players took on the role of Geralt of Rivia, engaging in conversations and choosing dialogue options, a stark contrast to the silent protagonist of earlier Monster Hunter games. This experimentation led to the inclusion of a speaking protagonist and expanded dialogue options in Monster Hunter Wilds, enhancing the narrative depth and player engagement.
Experience the gameplay of The Witcher 3 crossover in Monster Hunter: World in the video above, where Geralt's interactions with other characters highlight the potential for richer storytelling in Monster Hunter Wilds.
The image above shows Monster Hunter Wilds' customizable protagonist engaging in dialogue with Alma, an NPC, illustrating the game's new approach to player interaction and storytelling.
Tokuda mentioned that while Monster Hunter Wilds was not in active development during the release of World’s collaborations, the ideas and feedback from those events were crucial in shaping the direction of the new game. His proactive approach in seeking a collaboration with CD Projekt Red for The Witcher 3 crossover underscores the importance of these events in the evolution of the Monster Hunter series.
These insights were shared during an exclusive visit to Capcom’s Japan offices as part of IGN First. Don't miss out on the comprehensive hands-on preview, in-depth interviews, and exclusive gameplay footage from January's Monster Hunter Wilds IGN First:
- Behind Monster Hunter Wilds' New Approach to Starting Weapons and Hope Series Gear
- Monster Hunter Wilds Interview and Gameplay: Meet Nu Udra, Apex of the Oilwell Basin
- Evolving Monster Hunter: How Capcom’s Belief in the Series Made it a Worldwide Hit
- Monster Hunter Wilds: Gravios Returns in This Exclusive Gameplay
