Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Crossovers
Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous improvements and new features, but its development was subtly shaped by earlier crossover events in Monster Hunter: World. Specifically, collaborations with Final Fantasy XIV and The Witcher 3 directly influenced key gameplay elements.
Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy XIV, suggested a change to the heads-up display (HUD) during their crossover collaboration. This led to the inclusion of attack names displayed on screen in real-time, a feature initially glimpsed in the Behemoth fight within the FFXIV crossover event. The success of this element, along with the "Jump" emote's text display ("[Hunter] performs Jump"), paved the way for its full implementation in Wilds.
The positive player response to the Witcher 3 crossover in Monster Hunter: World proved instrumental in another significant change. The crossover's inclusion of dialogue choices and a speaking protagonist, unlike previous Monster Hunter titles, directly inspired the addition of these features in Wilds.
Director Yuya Tokuda viewed the Witcher 3 crossover as a valuable test, gauging player reaction to a more dialogue-driven experience. The success of Geralt's interactions in Monster Hunter: World solidified the decision to incorporate a voiced protagonist and expanded dialogue options in Wilds.
These collaborations weren't merely cosmetic additions; they served as crucial experiments that significantly shaped the design philosophy of Monster Hunter Wilds, demonstrating the power of collaborative innovation and player feedback in game development. For a deeper dive into Monster Hunter Wilds, including exclusive gameplay and interviews, check out IGN First's coverage.
