Unfortunately, Monster Hunter: Wilds’ Open Beta has ended, and players worldwide are disheartened. They now have to wait four excruciating months for the full release.
Despite that, those who participated in the Open Beta were all having fun and enjoying Wilds’ crazy visuals and impressive new gameplay additions. Here are five unforgettable moments that sparked waves of internet content for Monster Hunter: Wilds’ Open Beta:
New Focus Mode
The new Focus Mode mechanic makes Monster Hunter: Wilds' gameplay loop hectic. We're no longer doing Clutch Claw attacks, hoping they could wound a monster. Instead, wounds are natural afflictions as long as our Hunter deals damage to the monster.
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+ 6You know it's time to strike when you see a big glowing red indicator on the monster's body.
click to enlarge + 6With Focus Mode, one simple button press (R1 for PlayStation 5) will target a monster's weak spot. It's an incredibly satisfying move that anyone can do, regardless of weapon choice. It can take a while to get used to, but it's Wilds' most important new mechanic.
Unique Monster Hunts
It’s not a Monster Hunter game without a solid line-up of powerful monsters. The Open Beta had four monsters to hunt, including the Apex Predator, Rey Dau. However, it is not the only formidable foe for the uninitiated.
The first monster hunt we encounter is the Chatacabra. This frog-like amphibian quickly turned into a fan favorite. Its massive tongue and thick skin can hop and splat you if you're not careful.
The Chatacabra is an excellent tutorial monster as it teaches hunters the new moves and controls in Wilds.
click to enlarge + 6The Balahara is another threat that roams the Windward Plains. This Leviathan is capable of burrowing into the sands like Dune's sandworms. It is capable of spitting toxic liquid that can inflict waterblight.
The fight is another tutorial that teaches new players that the environment can also be used to their advantage. It taught us how to use the new Slinger, destructible pillars, and Focus Mode.
click to enlarge + 6The third monster and the primary goal of the Open Beta is the hunt against the Alpha Doshaguma. This massive hulking bear(?) travels in a pack of its kind. If you don't use Dung Pods to separate them, you'll be surrounded by three other Doshagumas.
click to enlarge + 6This is the first challenging battle in Monster Hunter: Wilds. If the first two taught the mechanics, the Alpha Doshaguma taught that messing up is okay. He deals significant damage and moves unpredictably when he gets agitated.
Thankfully, with the help of friends and other people in its 100-player lobbies, the hunt should be no problem.
Meanwhile... Hunters are having a tough time with...
Facing Against the Rey Dau
Among the new additions in Wilds is the Flying Wyvern, the Rey Dau. This force of nature is a master of the sands and electricity. It can turn its wings into glass-covered armor and shoot railguns that instantly kill you.
This Apex Predator roams the Windward Plains in Wilds, making it the first tough monster to hunt. This was especially fun in the Open Beta, as Rey Dau and Doshaguma were both formidable foes.
Players were learning and adapting to its electrifying moves and using various tricks, such as the new Focus Mode attacks.
Monster Hunter Polygons
CAPCOM’s proprietary RE Engine is considered by many to be one of the most powerful engines in modern gaming. It made the Resident Evil Remakes gorgeous and terrifying experiences and was also used for Dragon’s Dogma 2, although it wasn’t perfect.
click to enlarge + 6However, in Monster Hunter: Wilds, things took a weird turn when the PC Open Beta was released. Players noticed that the Monsters and some characters didn’t look… normal.
Like an old PlayStation 2 title, Monster Hunter: Wilds has a visual problem with its finer details. The monsters don’t look how they should, resulting in weird polygonal shapes.
Even players who own decent rigs find this baffling. What’s going on here? And why does everyone but my character look like a classic Tomb Raider asset?
Record-Breaking Numbers
When the Open Beta was released on Steam, it surpassed Monster Hunter: World’s all-time player count by over 100k. That’s a lot of hunters. Monster Hunter: Wilds amassed a staggering 460k plus players in less than 24 hours. For a Beta, that’s a huge green flag for the folks at CAPCOM.
When the game fully launches next year, how much more can we expect? It could surpass record-holders like Black Myth Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077.
Overall, the Monster Hunter: Wilds Open Beta was a massive success. It gave players a taste of what’s to come for CAPCOM’s best-selling action RPG. From the feedback, praises, and expectations, they’re working to refine the game before its release.
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