Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S
Genre: Open-World Hunting Game

If you’re a fan of Capcom’s Monster Hunter, you’ll definitely see some similarities with Wild Hearts. They both involve exploring big, open areas either on your own or with friends to take down giant monsters and use their parts to make better gear.

The folks at Omega Force, who made the Toukiden games, know a thing or two about this type of game. But they’re not just copying the formula. Wild Hearts has its own thing going on thanks to the Karakuri system, which sets it apart from other monster-hunting games out there.

Wild Hearts takes place in Azuma, a fantastical world that draws inspiration from feudal Japan. The game’s setting is a secluded corner of this world where the people of Azuma are locked in a struggle against a formidable enemy.

The Kemono, giant creatures imbued with elemental power, have forced the humans back to their last bastion, the fortified settlement of Minato. As a Kemono hunter with a mysterious past, you gain the ability to use Karakuri, a lost technology, to aid the people of Minato in their fight against the Kemono.

Your goal is to help drive the Kemono back into a state of quiescence and restore peace to the land of Azuma.

Imagine Fortnite but with Monsters

In the world of Wild Hearts, Karakuri is an ancient technology that hunters use to create all sorts of impressive gadgets out of nothing. In the game, Karakuri is a really cool crafting system that has lots of different uses, both in and out of battles. You get started with what is called Basic Karakuri, which let you make a wooden crate that launches you into the air when you hop on top of it. You can stack up to three crates at a time to get even more height.

This comes in handy when you’re exploring or fighting monsters (known as Kemono) in Wild Hearts. You can leap off the crates and slam down onto your enemies, or use the extra altitude to dodge attacks that cause lava or poison clouds. Most Karakuri serve a double purpose, like a springboard that helps you dodge and close in on Kemono, or a glider that helps you cross long gaps and get above monsters for a sneaky aerial assault.

As you get more familiar with Karakuri in Wild Hearts, you’ll find that it’s pretty easy to whip up these gadgets and use them in fights. Building stuff like a crate, a springboard, or a torch becomes almost like second nature, and it’s just as important as knowing how to wield your weapon. As you progress, you’ll get access to Fusion Karakuri, which are made by combining different Basic Karakuri to make even bigger and cooler machines.

For example, stacking nine crates in three rows creates a solid wall that can block incoming attacks or stop a rampaging Kemono dead in its tracks, launching the creature into the air and leaving it vulnerable on the ground. You can also summon massive hammers, powerful bombs, and blinding firework cannons that can knock flying foes out of the sky.

It’s so satisfying to create a device out of nowhere and use it to gain an upper hand against a massive monster, but Wild Hearts manages to keep the tension that’s typical of this type of game. Building each gadget requires a special resource called Celestial Thread, so you can’t just make as many as you want.

You can collect more thread by chopping down trees and rocks, or by targeting a Kemono’s weak spots to extract it from its body. This means that you have to be strategic with how and when you use Karakuri, but it’s also an incentive to play with other people since you can pool your resources together.

You could construct a barrier to shield a teammate who’s stunned, all jump from the same platform to deliver a coordinated aerial assault or help out a friend who’s run out of Celestial Thread to finish building a gadget.

Better With Friends

In Wild Hearts, there are many ways to team up and hunt monsters with others. It’s easy to do, whether you want to play with your friends or join up with some strangers. You can look for sessions that are taking on specific hunts, offer help to someone else in need, ask for help yourself, or create your own party.

The best part is that the game has cross-play, so you can group up with people on different platforms. If you’re playing with others, you can revive each other when you fall in battle. While you still only have three lives to share between the group, having teammates around to help you back up makes the game feel less punishing than other monster-hunting games.

If you’re planning to go it alone in Wild Hearts, be warned: there are some seriously challenging moments that may leave you feeling overwhelmed. The biggest hurdle is the Deathstalker, a formidable Kemono that can wipe out even the most seasoned players.

I myself had to spend several hours crafting new gear and weapons, and learning how to exploit the monster’s elemental weaknesses before I could finally bring it down. And even then, it took several attempts to succeed. While playing with others is definitely easier and more enjoyable, there’s no doubt that some players prefer to go solo. However, I’d caution against it, as the sudden spike in difficulty could prove too much for some.

That said, the game’s cooperative features make it a standout in the genre, and the communal spirit is sure to appeal to players looking for a more social experience.

In Wild Hearts, the Karakuri can be easily broken by the fierce Kemono, whether it’s Basic or Fusion. However, Dragon Karakuri, which can be unlocked on each of the game’s four islands, persist throughout the game unless you manually dismantle them. They draw from Dragon Pits instead of Celestial Thread and allow you to create bigger and better tools like zip lines, wind vortexes, and even giant wheels you can drive around in.

Incorporating these helpful traversal tools into your gameplay not only makes it easier, but it can also enhance the experience for others playing the game. Players can leave these tools in each other’s worlds, creating a positive impact long after they have left. The Karakuri mechanic in Wild Hearts is already enjoyable, but the social aspect of some of the constructions takes it to the next level.

Pick Your Poison—I Mean Weapon

When you’re not using Karakuri to create helpful tools, you’re wielding one of eight unique weapon types to take down your prey. These weapons range from a swift katana to a heavy maul and a powerful hand cannon, and each one has its own quirks, including distinct gauges that let you deal massive damage once a specific condition has been met.

For instance, by attacking and stringing together combos with the katana, a gauge gradually fills up, which, when full, enables Unbound mode, turning the blade into a whip-like weapon that inflicts extra damage for a brief time.

Additionally, the Karakuri Staff can transform into five different forms: a staff, polearm, shuriken, dual blades, and a massive blade; whereas the Bladed Wagasa is an umbrella that focuses on counter-attacks and aerial manoeuvres.

The majority of Wild Hearts’ weapons are fairly easy to grasp, but there are a few exceptions. Luckily, their simplicity is compensated by the various ways in which they interact with the different Karakuri. For example, the slow but heavy-hitting Nodachi isn’t as much of a hindrance when you can use springs to quickly navigate around a Kemono. Meanwhile, crates and gliders provide ample opportunities to unleash the katana’s powerful jumping attacks.

The Karakuri feels like an extension of each weapon, providing additional offence, defence, and mobility. Plus, crafting the initial version of each weapon type is affordable, and there’s a training area that explains how to perform each move, making it simple to experiment and choose the right weapon for your play style. However, the upgrade tree for weapons can be quite limiting, forcing you to repeatedly fight low-level monsters before you can create stronger tools.

No matter which weapon you select, Wild Hearts’ combat is intense and exciting. Each swing feels weighty and significant, and you have to choose your moments to attack carefully so you’re not left vulnerable. The satisfaction of severing monster parts from their bodies is always a treat, and the game’s orchestral score is both awe-inspiring and terrifying, evoking the atmosphere of classic Japanese cinema with its use of traditional instruments. However, the lock-on system can be problematic, as it frequently obstructs your view of the action, making it more of a hindrance than a help.

The Beasts

Taking down the Kemono is at the heart of Wild Hearts, and the creatures are a sight to behold. They’re gargantuan versions of ordinary animals, like rats, boars, and even crows, each one has undergone a dramatic mutation. What’s more, these beasts are infused with nature, which enables them to attack you with noxious fungal spores and writhing roots that burst forth from the earth. Fighting each Kemono is a distinct experience that requires unique strategies, and mastering the best approach is a satisfying experience that showcases the full range of your abilities.

In terms of the monster designs, they’re generally visually pleasing, although the rest of the game isn’t always up to par. Wild Hearts takes place in a fantasy version of feudal Japan called Azuma, with each area possessing its own distinct characteristics, ranging from Harugasumi Way’s lush hills to the rocky beaches of Natsukodachi Isle, and the dilapidated Fuyufusagi Fort, now covered in perpetual snow. While there are certainly some breathtaking landscapes, the low-quality textures and occasional blurriness detract from the overall beauty. However, it’s important to note that Wild Hearts also faces performance issues, despite its appearance.

Even with a PC setup that meets the recommended system requirements, I experienced some stuttering and frame rate problems while playing Wild Hearts. These issues were particularly noticeable during non-combat moments, but I did encounter some freezes during fights as well.

Unfortunately, reducing the graphics quality didn’t help, as I encountered the same issues at both the highest and lowest presets. Although there have been some minor improvements with recent updates, there is still work to be done to resolve these technical problems. However, Omega Force has promised additional fixes, so hopefully, the performance issues will be resolved in the near future.

Despite the game being familiar to other big game-hunting action titles, particularly Capcom’s pioneer series, Wild Hearts’ fast-paced building mechanics adds a breath of fresh air that makes it stand out. Technical shortcomings aside, EA and Koei Tecmo’s offering entertains with its polished gameplay loop and much-needed quality-of-life improvements.

Final Score: 80/100