- 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - 03/Aug 03:54

Wild Hearts S – Review

Back in 2023, EA and Koei Tecmo teamed up to unleash Wild Hearts on an unsuspecting public. The game was an ambitious undertaking, aiming to offer an answer to Capcom’s long-running Monster Hunter series. Wild Hearts proved to be a solid, but not outstanding game, and after the initial splash, things quieted down around it. Fast forward two years, and Wild Hearts is aiming to catch a second wind on the Switch 2. Don’t let the addition of an S to its title fool you: this is by and large the same game that we saw on PC, PS5, and Xbox X|S back in 2023. Is the Switch 2 the right home for Wild Hearts’ second lease on life? Story Set in the mythical land of Azuma, Wild Hearts S tells a tale of Kemono, massive monsters that embody natural disasters, and a lone hunter who has to deal with these creatures. The world is in turmoil as the Kemono are freezing rivers and decimating forests. Unable to deal with this onslaught themselves, the citizens of the town of Minato turn to the aforementioned hunter for help. Wild Hearts S’ premise is used more as a tool for worldbuilding and to contextualize the game, as it isn’t exactly a narrative powerhouse. That’s perfectly fine for what the game wants to be. What the story lacks in depth, it makes up for in atmosphere and immersion. Graphics Let’s start with the good: Wild Hearts S’ art direction is top-notch. The Japanese-inspired environments are gorgeous, with cherry blossom slopes, frozen tundras, and volcanic landscapes. The different Kemono are visually distinct and thematically linked to the disasters they embody. Wild Hearts S also boasts an elaborate character creation tool, allowing you to create a unique-looking hunter. In terms of visual performance, however, it’s a different story. We never had the pleasure of playing the original Wild Hearts, so we can’t outright contrast and compare the visuals of that version with this new port, but by just comparing specs on paper, it’s clear that the newer version has taken a hit here. Textures and resolution have been downgraded, with the Switch 2 only reaching 1080p even when docked, and with less visible detail compared to the game on other platforms. Wild Hearts S can’t keep up a stable frame rate either, especially when there is a lot of action happening on screen. We don’t know if this is an example of poor optimization or if the game is just more than the Switch 2 can handle, but for all intents and purposes, Wild Hearts S is a step down in terms of graphics. Sound Contrasting with the visual compromises, Wild Hearts S’ soundscape is nothing short of fantastic. Final Fantasy XIII composer Masashi Hamauzu’s soundtrack leads the charge here, with a set of tracks that effortlessly switch between ambient exploration pieces and intense dramatic scores when facing off against Kemono bosses. Speaking of Kemono, the roars, calls, and grunts made by these creatures further define their identities and even tie into their attack patterns. Voice acting is also present, but Wild Hearts S isn’t a game that is very heavy on dialogue, and the voice work feels functional rather than immersive. Gameplay In terms of gameplay, Wild Hearts S occupies a similar niche to the Monster Hunter series, although the game doesn’t serve up a carbon copy of Capcom’s successful formula. The core gameplay still involves hunting monsters and crafting new gear from materials gathered from these creatures, but there are several unique mechanics here that give Wild Hearts S a distinct identity. Chief among these is the so-called Karakuri system, a real-time building mechanic that lets you construct objects like springs, walls, towers, traps, or healing items using a resource called Thread. You can build on the fly, both in real-time combat or while exploring Azuma. There is a wide variety of Karakuri, ranging from walls that block monster charges to launch pads and zip lines. Eventually, you’ll even unlock Fusion Karakuri, which lets you combine multiple objects to create things like spinning traps. The Karakuri system fundamentally changes how you explore the world and approach combat, making both environmental obstacles and boss battles feel more like strategic puzzles than encounters that you can brute-force your way through. The boss battles themselves are challenging affairs, requiring not just a well-thought-out strategy but patience and good timing as well. Each Kemono boss has a distinct attack pattern that requires figuring out. Being the embodiments of natural disasters, there are also elemental factors to consider: an ice wolf Kemono calls for a different approach than a volcanic boar Kemono. You’ll need to tailor your equipment to deal with specific Kemono, although that often means grinding for materials. It’s a loop that’s all too familiar for anyone who has experience with the Monster Hunter games, although we’re happy to say that there is a strong sense of both progression and mastery here. Wild Heart S doesn’t implement a traditional XP system. Instead, that sense of progress comes from crafting better gear and learning new Karakuri, both of which are tied to exploring as much of the world as possible and dealing with any Kemono you encounter in the far corners. Where Monster Hunter’s focus, especially in recent games, has been on teaming up with others to take down massive monsters, Wild Hearts S offers a more well-rounded single-player experience. This ties into the game’s narrative of a single, lone hunter saving the world. Wild Hearts S does support co-op for up to 4 players, but with no cross-play with other platforms, the potential player base is limited, and we couldn’t get an online game up and running. In terms of content, there is nothing new in Wild Hearts S, so unless you’re desperate to be able to play the game on the go, there is no reason to double-dip if you already have a copy on another platform. If you can overlook the game’s visual downgrades, then the Switch 2’s version is still worth considering though, especially since its €49.99 RRP is significantly lower than the €69.99 RRP of the game on other platforms. Conclusion A serviceable port of a solid game, Wild Hearts S is a decent, if unremarkable, addition to the current Switch 2 lineup. Compromises had to be made here in order to fit Koei Tecmo’s Monster Hunter challenger on the handheld, with a step back when it comes to the game’s visual performance as a result. This means that it’s not worth double-dipping if you already own the game elsewhere. If this isn’t the case, however, then the game’s budget pricing and portability factor may just be enough reasons to still get it on Switch 2. It may have some rough edges, but there is still plenty of fun to be had here with the genre shakeup that the Karakuri system provides.