Wild Hearts Reviews
Wild Hearts is brilliant in so many ways – as an innovation on the monster hunting genre, in its beautiful mythologically-inspired feudal Japanese setting, and in just how good it feels to play moment-to-moment. Perhaps most of all, it succeeds in realising the ideology at its core, through gameplay. Adaptation and growth is the cycle at the heart of Wild Hearts. As your Hunter places each Karakuri, they embody the innovation of humanity adapting to the natural world. In every clash with the Kemono, humanity meets the ferocity of nature head-on, to survive and prosper. Wild Hearts has undeniably proven its right to survive, and carved out a place in the high echelons of the monster-hunting genre.
The team at Omega Force have done a commendable job with Wild Hearts, as it does just enough to stand out from the Monster Hunter games that Capcom has created. This ambitious project boasts a beautiful high fantasy feudal Japan setting and an intuitive and game-changing Karakuri building mechanic. However, the high cost of entry and performance issues hold it back from being truly captivating.
Like the series it was inspired by, Wild Hearts takes players on a challenging series of nature-themed bosses with 8 intuitive weapon types, alongside a host of seamless gameplay and co-op features which help keep the combat front and centre.
Despite the game being familiar to other big game-hunting action titles, particularly Capcom's pioneer series, Wild Hearts' fast-paced building mechanics adds a breath of fresh air that makes it stand out. Technical shortcomings aside, EA and Koei Tecmo's offering entertains with its polished gameplay loop and much-needed quality-of-life improvements.
While the premise remains the same throughout, the battles each offer unique enough enemies to ensure your tactics have to change per fight and progress is a must to move on. Well worth a look if you’re into lengthy epic boss battles.
Wild Hearts has so much to offer. From the striking monster designs, distinct weapon variety, and engaging combat, hunters will have a new favorite game to join up with friends and take down enormous foes. Outside of some dips in pacing in the later hours and a few repetitive encounters, there is little holding this game back from becoming a new name in the genre.
Wild Hearts is a distinctive and entertaining take on the familiar monster-hunting formula, one that sets itself apart with gadget-focused building elements.
While Monster Hunter still reigns supreme, Wild Hearts still holds its own in the hunting arena. Those on Xbox Game Pass shouldn’t hesitate to give it a go.
While comparisons to Monster Hunter are inevitable for obvious reasons, WILD HEARTS deserves much more than to be seen solely as the mirror of the Capcom franchise. We finally have a huge competitor that has been waiting for years.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It's time to tame the untameable.
Wild Hearts offers a fresh take on the monster hunting formula.
While having to hunt monsters driven from their habitat by human intervention and a lack of food engenders a sense of Shadow of the Colossus-level guilt, there's no avoiding the sheer depth and consistent enjoyment that Wild Hearts has to offer.
Wild Hearts is not flawless and you can see it was made on a budget, but it's a great starting point for a franchise. Most gameplay mechanics are good enough and some are even exceptional.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Wild Hearts is ultimately a monster-hunting game, and just as in Monster Hunter, the core flaw of just how arduous it can be to take down prey, even with a little help from your friends, is present here. The story, though, at least provides a bit of motivation in hard times. Namely, the game’s main hub world, a fishing village powered by magic, provides some surprisingly poignant little tales worth seeing through to the end, and which home in on the important role that you play in helping to provide for that community. The results of your good work are tangible when those tales are said and done, which in the end makes the monster hunting at the center of Wild Hearts feel, if not less like work, then at least purposeful.
Wild Hearts fits into a genre landscape dominated by an extraordinary contender. The "tested" elements are many and evident, but the game still finds its dimension thanks to the introduction and management of karakuri.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Wild Hearts is a refreshing take on monster hunting that features huge creatures, cool weapons, and highly useful support systems.
Despite some performance issues and awkward camera controls, I would recommend Wild Hearts not only to long-time fans of monster hunting but to players like me who never quite understood the hype before. Wild Hearts will make you understand as it made me understand. From its immersive world to its unique building system, this is one big release you will not want to miss out on.
Wild Hearts will not surprise you with its graphics, but it will do so for its combat system and its ability to stay glued to the screen either playing alone or playing cooperatively
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Wild Hearts treads familiar ground as you hunt one monstrous beast after another, but Omega Force has added new tricks and gimmicks that help separate it from the games it draws inspiration from. At the end of the day, it proudly stands as a unique experience with its own identity.
Wild Hearts apes Capcom's monster-hunting series, and does so well while introducing new elements that enhance the genre.