Monster Hunter Wilds will feature attack names displayed in the HUD for players to figure out what moves they’re doing. According to IGN, Capcom got the idea to add this during the Monster Hunter World collaboration event with Final Fantasy 14.
The event brought Final Fantasy‘s Behemoth to the series as an MMO raid-styled fight with this HUD element. Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki Yoshida provided the idea to Yuya Tokuda (the director of Wilds) at the time.
It allowed players to keep an eye on what attacks the monster would be using. Various mechanics hinged on it, such as taking cover behind comets during the meteor attack. This feature will likely help players get better at their chosen weapons in Wilds, allowing them to understand which moves can combo into other attacks.
Capcom also took some ideas from its work with CD Projekt RED on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt collaboration in World. The quest had players take on the role of Geralt. While the core gameplay was still that of Monster Hunter World, players got to make use of dialogue choices and even some of Geralt’s magical abilities as they take on a Leshen.
Monster Hunter Wilds will similarly feature dialogue choices throughout its story, which will allow players to learn more about the story and its characters. It contrasts several past titles, where the protagonists have been silent, at most offering a grunt or two in the heat of battle.
Check out the game’s developers talking about how monster rosters are decided for games in the franchise and why monsters will have higher health and flinch thresholds in Wilds. You can also learn more about Capcom wanting players to approach hunts from a “nature-focused perspective”.
As for PC players, the company stated that it is looking into lowering the requirements on PC. It also expressed interest in a benchmark tool, though it’s not confirmed.
Monster Hunter Wilds launches on February 28th for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. A Capcom Showcase is set for February 4, where it will reveal upcoming titles like Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Street Fighter 6, Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, and Capcom Fighting Collection 2. It will be followed by a 15-minute-long presentation on Wilds.
