Podcast Summary: The Besties – "Monster Hunter Wilds is Surprisingly Great in Single-Player"

Episode Information

• Title: Monster Hunter Wilds is Surprisingly Great in Single-Player
• Podcast: The Besties
• Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick
• Release Date: February 28, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Besties, hosts Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, and Russ Frushtick delve into the intricacies of Monster Hunter Wilds, particularly focusing on its single-player experience. The discussion explores the game's mechanics, accessibility, and how it stands out in the expansive Monster Hunter franchise.

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Single-Player Perspective

Russ Frostky opens the conversation by providing an overview of Monster Hunter Wilds, describing it as a "long-running multiplayer grindy action RPG" that has evolved from its mobile origins to now thrive on consoles with enhanced features. He emphasizes the game's essence: "You get to kill Big Beast with your buds" (Russ Frostky, 04:30).

Gameplay Mechanics and Combat

Chris Plant challenges the notion of Monster Hunter Wilds being merely a "numbers game," asserting, "the minute to minute of fighting monsters is completely peerless... it recreates what it would feel like to fight a giant chicken" (Chris Plant, 08:13). He praises the fluidity and depth of the combat system, highlighting the unique animations and action sequences that make each battle engaging.

Justin McElroy compares the game to Destiny, noting that while Destiny focuses on straightforward progression, Monster Hunter Wilds "much more rewards preparation and getting ready for a battle" (Justin McElroy, 08:48). This preparation aspect, he believes, adds a layer of strategy that enhances the overall gaming experience.

Story and Design

Griffin McElroy brings up a community theory about the development teams at Capcom, suggesting that Monster Hunter Wilds aligns more closely with Monster Hunter World in its emphasis on story, characters, and ecological depth. He remarks, "Monster Hunter Wilds is much more in the vein of Monster Hunter World... getting down deep dirty with the ecology of this new world" (Griffin McElroy, 06:16).

However, not all feedback is glowing. Both Griffin and Chris express concerns over the game's narrative structure. Griffin notes, "the story is pretty lackluster... I just do not care about" (Griffin McElroy, 15:26), while Chris agrees, pointing out that certain story elements "go in places that are, like, truly insane" (Chris Plant, 16:37).

Accessibility and Learning Curve

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the game's accessibility for new players. Justin shares his struggles with learning weapon mechanics without external guides: "I couldn't remember how to make the Longsword stuff come together in a way where like a tutorial in 30 seconds to be like, here's the core combos" (Justin McElroy, 18:46).

Griffin echoes this sentiment, highlighting the absence of specialized hunts that previous games offered to teach weapon intricacies. He states, "there are no specialized hunts... which is kind of crazy to me because this game seems so, I don't know, too open for beginners, except for the fact that it doesn't teach you how to use the weapons" (Griffin McElroy, 20:10).

Russ adds that while the game is inherently complex, it does offer some onboarding features like YouTube tutorials acting as the new manuals. He muses, "YouTube tutorials are the new video game manuals" (Russ Frostky, 20:34), suggesting that players are increasingly relying on external resources to navigate the game's depth.

Combat Customization and Features

The hosts appreciate the game's customization features. Chris highlights the wound system, which allows players to perform dynamic actions during combat: "you can see the wound and hit one button and feel like a badass" (Chris Plant, 23:31). This feature not only enhances combat fluidity but also makes the experience more gratifying without needing to master complex combos.

Justin adds, "the wound system... removes that terrible feeling of feeling like you built up to a big payoff of an attack, and they move at the last second" (Justin McElroy, 24:45), noting that it streamlines combat interactions and maintains player engagement.

Community Feedback and Features

Griffin discusses the open-world aspect of Monster Hunter Wilds, praising its design while acknowledging areas that may still feel cumbersome. He mentions, "My least favorite part of this game is when you're in town... you're riding on sacred back for like a few minutes while they talk about some inane shit" (Griffin McElroy, 28:14), indicating a desire for more streamlined quest interactions.

Justin concurs, expressing confusion over quest completion mechanics and the lack of intuitive teleportation options: "I had this like, weird, like, well, what do I do now?" (Justin McElroy, 29:09).

Despite these issues, the hosts agree that Monster Hunter Wilds represents a significant step towards making the franchise more accessible while retaining its core appeal. Chris concludes, "I just think they're making an extremely good game... I think people are going to really enjoy it" (Chris Plant, 34:20).

Side Conversations and Additional Topics

Beyond the main discussion on Monster Hunter Wilds, the hosts explore several other topics:

1. Tokyo Extreme Racer Revival

   • Russ Frostky excitedly announces the return of Tokyo Extreme Racer, a niche racing game from the Dreamcast era. He describes its unique combat racing mechanics and nostalgic aesthetic, noting its availability on Steam Deck and the positive community reception (Russ Frostky, 35:47).

2. Netflix Games

   • Listener S. Payne recommends Netflix's gaming library to budget-conscious gamers. The hosts discuss the integration of games like Into the Breach, Dead Cells, and others into Netflix's platform, though Justin expresses confusion over accessing these games through a Netflix subscription (Noah’s Mail, 42:20).

3. Reusing Maps in Games

   • Noah shares his appreciation for games that revisit old maps with new twists, citing examples from Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda II, and Dragon Quest 2. The conversation touches on how this practice enhances nostalgia and provides fresh experiences in familiar settings (Noah’s Mail, 44:15).

4. Personal Updates

   • Justin McElroy shares his journey into learning Linux, emphasizing the importance of open-source computing and taking control away from large corporations. He details his projects, including setting up a Linux-based laptop and smart home systems (Justin McElroy, 47:29).

Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, the hosts thank their patrons, mention upcoming episodes—including a Split Fiction review—and tease future discussions on games like Star of Providence and Slay the Spire. They encourage listeners to join them again for more in-depth gaming conversations and recommendations.

Notable Quotes

• Justin McElroy on combat fluidity: “It is absolutely another round of smoothing off a lot of rough edges and bringing in a lot of quality of life improvement.” (Justin McElroy, 06:05)

• Chris Plant on single-player strength: “I feel like I'm more productive solo because I am very directed in what I'm doing.” (Chris Plant, 12:30)

• Griffin McElroy on the open-world design: “Monster Hunter wilds is much more in the vein of Monster Hunter World... getting down deep dirty with the ecology of this new world.” (Griffin McElroy, 06:16)

• Justin McElroy on the learning curve: “There’s probably an area that teaches you some of those basics. I know, but not in the way that you need it to get functional.” (Justin McElroy, 18:46)

• Russ Frostky on community reliance on tutorials: “YouTube tutorials are the new video game manuals, like when we were kids.” (Russ Frostky, 20:34)

Conclusion

This episode of The Besties offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of Monster Hunter Wilds, highlighting its strengths and areas for improvement in the single-player domain. Through insightful discussions and personal anecdotes, the hosts provide valuable perspectives for both seasoned players and newcomers to the franchise.