Monster Hunter World was a true evolution for the series while also maintaining the core of what made the games so popular.

Considering the Monster Hunter games rose to popularity on handheld devices, bringing these games to the big screen in a grandiose way was a task but where Monster Hunter World set the groundwork, Monster Hunter Wilds seems like it’ll build the foundations.

The latest open beta immediately struck me with its bigger budget and seamless progression from narrative to action. Right from the get-go, you’re on the back of your chocobo-like Seikret, bouncing around decaying rocks and scenery, evading ground whisps and earth tremors as you try to get to your target.

You can tell immediately the scale of the environment is more open, free-roam and the graphical finnesse is unlike anything you’ve seen from a Monster Hunter game before. Capcom understand the Monsters are the star of the show here, each one more ferocious than the next and the scale of the task seemingly all the more improbable with just you and your Palico.

But it definitely seems from the Beta that there is an importance of narrative and world-building here, a need to set the scene and you get to see the opening cinematic of the game which leads right into your first hunt against the Chatacabra. Character models are more alive now through RE Engine. We already saw how beautiful Dragon’s Dogma 2 was as well as the more recent Resident Evil titles and MH Wilds really seems to push those limits even further.

Of course, the core gameplay is very much intact here with a ton of weapon variety between Great Swords, Hammers and knives and the Open Beta is incredibly generous, giving you several different hunts to partake in, each more brutally difficult than the next.

The Chatacabra gives you a good feel for the gameplay experience. Depending on your method of attack, you can open up wounds on the creature by attacking the same areas over and again, then really tear into them with your weapons. Wilds uses a focus attack where you can really narrow in on a target area to make it easier to break your enemies down quicker and more efficiently.

This eventually leads to them hobbling away from you and going to a new area. Vintage Monster Hunter.

Monsters hit hard, though. Their epic power attacks light up a screen and tear down a health bar, and sometimes a paw swipe can not only throw you to the ground but really take the wind out of your sails.

Fortunately, you can call for help in a pinch with the SOS flare, bringing in players from all platforms, which is going to be massive for the longevity of the game. A team of four can take down just about anything, though some of the challenges in this Open Beta are really going to test your limits. And patience.

Following the Chatacabra hunt, you can then test your skills against the brutal Doshaguma, a lion-like beast with a ferocious roar that sometimes roams in packs and on hind-legs it’s a truly imposing sight.

And if you really fancy a challenge, the Arkveld is a beast with savage lightning strikes and one hell of a wing spread. It’s going to be quite a challenge to face it head on and run the length of the map to catch up to it in the time.

Monster Hunter Wilds feels like yet another great product of Capcom’s care for their brands and if this Open Beta is anything to go by, like it’s on the cusp of taking Monster Hunter to new heights.

The amount of content here is vast and generous, more than enough to help you make a call on if this game is for you. The upgrades from World feel significant enough to dive back in and everything feels clean, crisp and of the highest quality. We’re excited to play more Wilds and if you haven’t dived into the Open Beta yet, you definitely should!