In many ways,Monster Hunter Wildsbrings the series into a new era by breaking a lot of traditions set by the franchise. It is far more cinematic, with the main character being very vocal and able to pick dialogue options. This makes them an actual character rather than a doll that smashes monsters into the dirt.MH Wildsalso has an open world with vast areas to explore, helped by the use of Seikert mounts, while having a character-driven story to tell, rather than a vague structure that puts the Hunter against seemingly random monsters.
Many of these breaks from tradition can be seen as good things. A decently told story isn’t something people associate with theMonster Hunterseries, but is always a nice addition to make the game more approachable and ease players into the grind-heavy High-Rank post-game, and the open world helps connect areas that would feel otherwise disconnected, like inMH World. Still, not all the breaks from tradition are good, andwhile the food looks better than it ever has in the series, the lack of involvement from the Palcioes makes it feel like a bit of charm is missing.
Palicoes No Longer Cook In Monster Hunter Wilds
Hunters Have To Cook For Themselves Now
Traditionally, thePalicoes ofMonster Hunterhost a canteen or kitchen in the many bases in the series, and players go there to eat their food. These canteens have charming animation sequences of the Palicoes showing off how surprisingly competent they are in the kitchen as they whip up massive dishes for the Hunters. While the food was based around dango,Rise’s Palicoes are still involved in making the food, but inMH Wildsthe Hunter has to cook for themselves in their camp, using rations and supplies given by the Palicoes, and this seems like a shame.
With the more MMO feel ofMH Wilds' 100-person lobbies, it would have been nice to have a canteen to sit and eat at with other Hunters, similar to the Gathering Hubs in prior games. It isn’t as thoughthe charm and goofiness of the Palicoes has been tuned down inWilds,and I would even argue that it has been increased with the inclusion of the Felyne Wudwuds. Having a bit of that charm with cooking would have been a nice tradition to keep, and the way food works inWildsalso makes another change to tradition.
Although moving away from tradition,MH Wilds' changes have resulted in record-breaking success, with its Steam player count eclipsingBaldur’s Gate 3andElden Ring.
The amount of food cooked seems quite ordinary compared to prior titles. Even inMH World, Hunters would eat like Saiyans fromDragon Ball, and I always assumed that this was because of their biology. Hunters can wield massive weapons, and have a higher exercise capacity compared to regular people. The amount of food they ate implied that they were beyond human, and I had always assumed that it was necessary for them to maintain their physicality, butthey seem to eat rather pedestrian portions inWilds, although it does look very tasty.
MH Wilds Has The Best Looking Food In The Series
Strangely, high-fidelity food is an element that I feel in lovewith inMH World,and it has been improved to the point of absurdity inWilds. While the games look great at higher graphics settings,the food looks practically photo-real at times, especially during cutscenes where players eat with other NPCs. The way the bread tears, the cheese pulling, and even how mushrooms shrink after cooking are all ridiculously realistic, being somewhat reminiscent of the effortFinal Fantasy 15put into its food.
Monster Hunter Wilds Fans Recreate Celebrities in Expansive Character Creator, Including One Infamous Batman Villain
Fans of Monster Hunter Wilds are using its detailed character creator to bring celebrities and fictional icons to life with stunning accuracy.
The food is also used to tell a story inWilds, since the bigger meals with other NPCs in different locations are based around different cuisines, and show the variation of cultures in the Forbidden Lands. So much effort has been put into it that it feels like a shame the poor Palicoes are now out of a job.The frantic kitchen of the Meowscular Chef or the wholesome calm of Seliana’s Grammeowster Chef fromMH Worldare nowhere to be seen, even though it feels like the ration supply section of base camp could have been a kitchen.
The Meowscular Chef is a student of the Grammeowster Chef, and learned to cook after spending time in the field with the Huntsman.
With the camping theme ofMonster Hunter Wildsbeing evident,having a canteen at every base might not have worked with what Capcom was going for with the game, but that doesn’t mean the charming Palicoes can’t get involved with the cooking process. With the Hunter often cooking for themselves, maybe the player’s Palico could get involved too, being the one to drop additional ingredients in the pan. Palicoes need to eat too, and it feels like the player’s Palico gets a little neglected here, especially considering how they are ride-or-die with their hunter practically the whole game.
Palico Chefs Are Just Another Sacrifice For The Bigger World
But I Miss Cats Cooking All My Food
Palicoes cooking is an iconic part of the franchise, so much so that the terrible movie adaptation acknowledged this with a cooking scene, although portraying the Meowscular Chef as a sloppy cook is unforgivable.These adorable Felynes have been cooking sinceMonster Hunter Freedom, although those Palicoes could poison the Hunter with their meals. With food being so prevalent andgood-looking throughoutMH Wilds, it just feels like a shame that these Palicoes can’t keep their jobs. It even seems like a role reversal, with humans cooking for their furry friends.
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Monster Hunter Wilds fans feel as though the game holds their hand a bit too much, taking some of the fun away from the immersive world around them.
With the open-world and camp system,perhaps a Palico-run canteen wouldn’t have fit in, and it is something that realistically can be dropped from the game. It isn’t vital to the mechanics and isn’t something that needs to be in the story, especially with howMH Wildsuses food to elaborate on the culture of different areas. That doesn’t change how much I miss Palicoes cooking for me, though. The cinematics of them making food inWorld, ordango inMH Risewere so charming, and even the simpler animations inFreedomorGenerationswere just as fun.
Compared to these issues, Palicoes not cooking seems like a silly thing to get hung up on, but it is a staple of the series and I find myself missing its charm.
This isn’t going to dull my enjoyment ofMonster Hunter Wilds, since the game’s changes have been a net positive. The story is engaging and gives focus; although a little rail-roady, the visuals are incredible (especially the food); the gameplay is everything I wanted, and the open-world works well. There are issues regarding optimization on PC and the multiplayer elements seem like a step back fromMH Rise. Compared to these issues, Palicoes not cooking seems like a silly thing to get hung up on, but it is a staple of the series and I find myself missing its charm.
