Wilds Lacks a Key Mechanic That Made Monster Hunter Rise Outstanding

Seeing the triumphant rise of Monster Hunter Wilds, particularly after the success of Monster Hunter World, shouldn’t really shock anyone keeping tabs on the series. Monster Hunter World transformed the series, opening it up to newcomers, and Monster Hunter Rise took those changes and ran with them, setting the stage perfectly for Wilds to shatter records. However, fans familiar with Rise might notice something missing in Wilds—an absence that’s keenly felt. Despite Wilds boasting perhaps the best monster mounting mechanics the franchise has seen, the beloved Wirebug from Rise doesn’t make an appearance.

Introduced in Monster Hunter Rise, the Wirebug was more than just a neat tool. It changed how players traversed the environment and engaged in battles. Rise’s maps were built with vertical exploration in mind, making the Wirebug practically essential for both navigating tough terrain and for pulling off some spectacular combat moves, including those all-important midair attacks. It became a staple for players wanting to mount monsters with flair, and many thought it would blend seamlessly with the latest Monster Hunter Wilds’ gameplay.

In a twist from earlier entries in the series, Monster Hunter Wilds allows players to easily jump onto big monsters from their Seikret mount, using height to their advantage. Once atop a beast, the game sheds World and Rise’s mounting mechanics for something new—hopping across the monster to inflict damage, eventually creating a Wound and exploiting it with Focus Attacks. It’s a fresh take that, without the Wirebug, feels both straightforward and satisfying. However, its absence also seems like a missed chance to make the mounting system even more dynamic and engaging. Despite Wounds and Focus Attacks being central to Wilds’ combat, it’s surprising that Capcom hasn’t actively pushed players toward using these features more often.

So, what impact could the Wirebug have had on Monster Hunter Wilds? From a design standpoint, it’s understandable why it isn’t in Wilds. While Rise’s layered, vertical levels demanded a tool like the Wirebug, Wilds shifts the focus to scale and density in its interactive environments. In these spaces, players can use the environment itself as a weapon. Adding the Wirebug might have upset this careful balance.

Despite this, Monster Hunter Wilds still stands as a welcoming entry for newcomers. Bringing the Wirebug over could have encouraged players to mount large monsters more frequently, something that Wilds’ entirely new mounting system feels made for. The Wirebug’s inclusion might have elevated encounters with fast-moving monsters, turning them into exhilarating, dynamic battles.

In conclusion, while Monster Hunter Wilds brilliantly refines many aspects of its predecessors, the missing Wirebug still leaves room for speculation about what could have been in terms of gameplay enhancement and player engagement.