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Capcom had a commanding presence at Gamescom 2024, where they showcased several upcoming titles, including Monster Hunter Wilds. Although Gamescom is one of the premier events in the gaming industry, not everyone could attend. Thankfully, Capcom decided to showcase their game at their San Francisco office.

Gamescom 2024 by the Bay was a special event by Capcom that invited commentators and members of the press for a hands-on preview. Among the games I got to preview during the event was Monster Hunter Wilds. This is a look at my experience of playing the game on the PlayStation 5.

Welcome to the Forbidden Land

The Forbidden Land was once believed to be devoid of life, but this perception changes when explorers rescue a boy named Nata from the region. He reveals that his people, the Keepers, have been attacked by a legendary monster known as the White Wraith. In response, the Research Commission has launched an expedition to the Forbidden Land to find and rescue the Keepers and eliminate the White Wraith.

The play session began with me selecting the design for both my character and my Felyne companion. The story opens with us aboard a landship, embarking on the first expedition into the Forbidden Land. Joining the journey are Alama, my handler for the expedition, Gemma, a smithy with the Commission, and Nata. In the distance, we spot a girl riding a Seikrets, pursued by snake-like monsters. My Felyne and I quickly mount our Seikrets to rescue her. Once safe, we learn her name is Y’sai and that her brother is in danger.

Our next task is to find and rescue Y’sai brother, who is well but engaged in a battle with a Chatacabra. After we rescue him, we finish the mission by taking out the monster. Thus ending the first half of the play session.  

Hunting the Doshaguma

The second half of the play session begins at the base camp, where Alama tasks us with taking down the Alpha Doshaguma. After being briefed on the mission, I head into my tent to select my weapons for the hunt. I can choose two of the 14 different weapons, each offering a unique advantage depending on my preferred combat style. I then hop on my Seikrets and set out to track down the Alpha Doshaguma.

Upon finding the Alpha Doshaguma, I’m already at a disadvantage as the monster is traveling with a pack of Doshaguma. To break the pack, I launched several dung pods into the group which resulted in them scattering. I then proceed to chase the Alpha Doshaguma into a cave then begin my attack. My attack strategy involves hitting with a range weapon to then attacking with duel-bladed weapons with its stunned. After doing this numerous times, I was successful in completing my task.

Once the Alpha Doshaguma, I spent the remainder of my play session exploring the available world.

Final Thoughts

Monster Hunter Wilds jumps right into the action, quickly introducing you to the main characters and the world before immersing you in gameplay. Whether you’re new to the series or familiar with recent titles, the controls are easy to grasp, and the combat is straightforward. While there’s more depth to explore, you’ll gradually learn the finer details once you’ve mastered the core gameplay. Even with the small sample provided during the play session, there was still plenty to see along with sections to explore. At the same time, the section was populated with a variety of monsters.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to launch for all major consoles and the PC sometime in 2025.

Did you get a chance to check out Monster Hunter Wilds at Gamescom 2024? If so then share your story in the comment section below.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.