WILD HEARTS’s Kemono Were Originally Too Strong, Karakuri Added to Even the Odds

Koei Tecmo’s WILD HEARTS is out later this week, developed by the Dynasty Warriors team Omega Force. It’s a hunting RPG like Monster Hunter, and as you’d expect, it’s tougher than your average game. Speaking to IGN, co-director Takuto Edagawa revealed that he had “quite a lot of difficulties” while playing.

“When we look at [the toughest Kemono in the game], those I die [against]. If I’m not properly prepared, I’ll go in, and I’ll be killed.” However, co-director Kotaro Hirata says he’s “totally awesome at [WILD HEARTS].” So opinions may vary.

One thing is for sure: The Kemono, the massive beats that one must hunt, initially felt too strong. Instead of nerfing them, the Karakuri were added to even the odds. “Before [the Karakuri system] came along, the Kemono were way too strong for the players. They were just massive creatures with too much power. But then the Karakuri idea came in, and then we realized, ‘the Karakuri system might be too strong now!'” Hirata said.

“We wanted to make sure the Kemono were strong and difficult to beat because we wanted the players to feel the sense that it was a challenging endeavor. But trying to find that right balance between the actual strength of the Kemono versus the strength of the players was the hardest balance to figure out.”

Ultimately, the best WILD HEARTS players will be those who master the Karakuri. If you’re facing trouble, then help isn’t too far away, thanks to cross-platform multiplayer support. Hirata believes that new players can learn a lot from veterans when playing in co-op.

WILD HEARTS launches on February 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Check out the latest gameplay trailer, which showcases the various citizens of Minato Village who will help you out.