Monster Hunter Wilds Seems to Have Made Weapons ‘Feel Worse’
Key Takeaways
- Monster Hunter Wilds beta players noticed significant changes in weapon handling compared to previous games.
- Combat in Monster Hunter Wilds seems off due to reduced hitstop animation frames, making attacks less impactful.
- Fans call for Capcom to address combat issue before release, despite potential complications with changing mechanics.
Monster Hunter Wilds players noted that weapons seemed to look and feel different during their beta experience with the game. With Monster Hunter Wilds slated to release in early 2025, fans are a little worried that such a huge change could affect gameplay. While hunting monsters and crafting weapons and armor are the two main goals in the Monster Hunter franchise, part of what makes the task highly enjoyable is the selection of weapons and how unique each one plays.
At the moment, Monster Hunter Wilds‘ weapon choices are the same as they were for Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter World. In this regard, many players had expected that the developers would improve the handling of weapons, or at the least, maintain the way they worked. However, some early beta testers were surprised when they noticed a huge change to how weapons performed in Monster Hunter Wilds.
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Twitter User Blue Stigma shared a short explanation of why the Monster Hunter Wilds combat felt off. Blue Stigma explained the concept of what is called a hitstop, which is a brief moment in which the attack animation pauses to create an effect that makes it look and feel stronger when it hits a monster. They further expounded this idea by explaining that more stop frames mean that an attack is emphasized. Fans who’ve played the Monster Hunter Wilds beta noticed many things, including the reduction of the aforementioned animation frames.
How Does Hitstop Affect Weapon Feel in Monster Hunter Wilds?
Blue Stigma even shared a comparison video that spanned Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Monster Hunter World, Monster Hunter Rise, and the new game. The demo involved the Switch Axe, which had one powerful end attack. The older games seemed to have exponentially increased the frames of the stop animation, making the final hit look devastating. However, Monster Hunter Wilds‘ Switch Axe has completely removed the hitstop altogether. The result is that all attacks look and feel similar, with no highlighted pause that add emphasis.
Fans are calling for Capcom to address this issue, although no official statement has been made. With a definitive release date already set for Monster Hunter Wilds, it would be a huge task to change something as big as combat animations and mechanics. Adding missing frames could totally mess up how weapons work. Still, since older games use many of the same animations, it could theoretically be possible if Capcom worked on it via a future patch.
Dynamic, ever-changing environments. A story of monsters and humans in a world with two faces: one in which the lands are harsh and unforgiving, where monsters fight for scant resources—and another in which the lands are vibrant and brimming with life.
You play as a professional monster hunter, protecting the balance of the ecosystem and hunting monsters. Use the resources you gain from hunts to craft ever more powerful weapons and armor in your quest to unravel the mysteries of the new lands.
Experience the most evolved action and improved immersion in any Monster Hunter to date.
- Released
- February 28, 2025
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- RE Engine
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Blood, Crude Humor
- PC Release Date
- February 28, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 28, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 28, 2025