Even though Wild Hearts S sat in our review queue unclaimed for weeks (usually a sign that a game is nothing special), my wife and I haven’t been able to put it down. This release is one of my biggest surprises this year. Please read on to learn why.
While the title might sound like it belongs to a romantic visual novel, Wild Hearts S takes undeniable inspiration from the Monster Hunter franchise. Initially, that worried me, as I’m not a big fan of the Capcom series. I’ve dabbled with a few, but the only one I really enjoyed was the spinoff, Monster Hunter Stories. Yet my worries were unfounded, as I’ll share. Just don’t expect any sort of detailed comparisons between the games. I’m approaching Wild Hearts S in essentially uncharted territory.
After customizing your hunter from top to bottom, you’re dropped into Azuma, a land under rampage by Kemono, “giant-nature infused beasts.” If you’re a Simpsons fan, think of the Treehouse of Horror segment “Fly vs. Fly”, except here it’s critters and shrubbery getting tangled in Professor Frink’s matter transporter. Some look cute enough, others horrifying, but equip your weapons (which will strengthen in time) and take these wild beasts out before they uproot the human population.
Also, be sure to take advantage of technology, namely Karakuri tech. It’s one thing to slice up a beast with a sword or slowly pick them off with an arrow. It’s another to create a giant wall from thin air and have the beasts slam into it, stunning and knocking them down. Or creating a catapult, flinging yourself through the air, and striking them for considerable damage from above. Victory is always rewarding, but the tech makes it even more satisfying and entertaining. Don’t hesitate to experiment.
All this isn’t to say your basic weapons-based combat isn’t enjoyable. But, in my experience, some powerful on-paper combinations often prove impractical in the heat of battle, due to the animations. It reminds me almost of a cinematic platformer, where your follow-up controls are locked out until the animation of your initial control input plays out, if that makes sense. Thankfully, it’s fun to test the different moves and upgrades. Using the terrain to your advantage can also limit any frustration.
In fact, the terrain plays a sizable role. During the big fights, monsters tend to scamper to regroup and lick their wounds after absorbing a certain amount of damage. You may begin a skirmish with the advantage of higher ground, or start in a dilapidated town where you can hide in nooks and crannies a monster can’t reach. But upon reengaging, you’re now in a more open field, and their size advantage gives the beasts a speed and nimbleness edge you can’t match. By all means, be encouraged if you see them limping, but also keep your guard up, as they have surprises when flight is no longer a practical option. Because while certain terrain can stop them, they will destroy as much as possible, probably more than you suspect.
The fights are bona fide theatrical and can play out lengthily before victory is obtained. Thankfully, you can strategically set up camps in the large world to limit time spent navigating, and the fights themselves rarely seem repetitive. And while there are a lot of intimidating menus (expected for this style of game), the moment-to-moment gameplay doesn’t really have them, keeping the action near the forefront. The fact that my wife, who has never played a Monster Hunter game or even any game resembling this, could quickly learn and start positively owning some of these intimidating beasts speaks to the game’s surprising intuition.
Speaking of, I hoped to play the game cooperatively alongside my wife. Unfortunately, multiplayer is limited to having multiple Switch 2 systems (impractical at $500 a pop) or playing online. The latter got me an “Unable to connect” message. But as I’ve little desire to go online, this fluke was just a blip on my radar. For those excited about online play (up to four players on Switch 2), I’ve heard positive experiences. I suppose I was spoiled by 2010s Monster Hunter Tri having splitscreen on the humble Wii. Still, we had fun trading off various battles. I’m also able to hand off the controller for some errands in the town of Minato that I’m less excited about (buying and selling, figuring out materials for upgrades, and the like).
Minato itself can be engaging. It’s a cliffside town, primarily consisting of those fleeing problematic lives under Samurai (the inspiration from feudal Japan is prominent in this game). Here you can chat with other characters, get side quests, and slowly bring more life to the town through your hunting exploits. While combat is the focus, I believe the overall story beats and characters make the most of their appearances. The vocal work is a mixed bag, but at its best, it gives the game a real professional air. Looking to catch your breath after a painful hunt? Minato is an enjoyable and picturesque respite. Interacting with people going about their daily lives not only combats any loneliness, but it also reminds me of why I’m fighting: to protect them.
While I recognize it’s rare in this subgenre, I wish Wild Hearts S would let you power the player character beyond their weapon and armor strength. Such immediate reward could help maintain motivation if/when repetition starts setting in, although the aforementioned side quests also help. In any case, it could just be an extra way to add balance and diversity to the game, not that it’s lacking much in that regard.
Visually, Wild Hearts S looks pretty good, although there is a measure of inconsistency. Some of the characters look a bit lifeless. Others are uncannily real, especially to someone like me who’s been gaming exclusively on underpowered Nintendo hardware for several generations. I’m sure there are those jarred by certain textures, brief fuzziness, and framerate inconsistencies playing in handheld mode. But as I type, I only remember the positive. And honestly, how interesting is a review if it fixates on graphical comparisons at the expense of glossing over the gameplay? Because let’s be honest, how many Nintendo players played through the original 2023 game? It didn’t exactly light up the sales charts. But hopefully, it finds a new audience on Switch 2.
As someone with limited experience with games of this nature, Wild Hearts S has proved surprisingly addictive. Check out the demo if you’re curious, but I really believe it’ll be a game that grows on you. Even though I feel like there are certain respects where I’ve only scratched the surface (dozens of hours in, no less), the game is intuitive in the areas it needs to be. Such approachable depth that avoids the overwhelming trappings makes this game a winner and a keeper.
