Monster Hunter Wildsis aiming to take the iconic franchise to even greater heights,incorporating the best elements from recent entries to offer a memorable hunting experience. TheMonster Hunterfranchise has come a long way over the years in terms of popularity as well, featuring countless high-quality collaborations and Easter eggs for other media. Thankfully, this trend hasn’t died out withMonster Hunter’s transition into the next generation, as bothWorldandRisehave plenty of enjoyable crossovers for fans of the series.
WithWilds aimingto offer the most immersive ecosystem and gameplay the franchise has seen so far, it may seem like there’s little room for lore-breaking crossovers. Despite this worry,Monster Hunter Worldproved there is still plenty of room for more lighthearted content and high-quality collaborations.WhileMonster Hunter Wildsis setting up the perfect stage to bring backfan-favorite monsters inWildsinto the next generation, one of its best creations isn’t even in aMonster Huntergame itself.
Metal Gear Solid Was One Of Monster Hunter’s Most Unique Collaborations
A Welcome Crossover That Deserves A Modern Revival
As a part ofMonster Hunter’s long-running collaboration tradition,Capcom partnered with Konami in 2010 to create a two-way crossover event featuringMetal Gear Solid: PeacewalkerandMonster Hunter Portable 3. On the metal gear side,Peacewalkeradded side quests involving taking down various monsters from Felyne, Velociprey, Rathalos, and a Tigrex. On top of the iconic monsters making their way into the world ofMetal Gear, Capcom designed an entirely original and exclusive monster based on Metal Gear Rex’s design.
After Gore Magala, Another Elder Dragon Would Be Perfect For Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds has been stingy with information about Elder Dragons, but one addition would be perfect after the Gore Magala’s announcement.
Meanwhile,Monster Hunter Portable 3saw the addition of several armor sets based on Naked Snake and the Boss fromMetal Gear, which offered themed catchphrases during grilling. There was also unique gear for the hunter’s Palico inspired by the legendary Solid Snake, featuring unique sneaking animations. While theMonster Hunterside wasn’t as expansive asPeacewalker’s, it was still a fun and well-themed addition to the game that could easily get expanded upon in a future content update forMonster Hunter Wilds.
The Monster Hunter Franchise Is No Stranger To Crossover Monsters
Some Collaborations Are Much More Expansion Than Others
While theMonster Hunterfranchise has had plenty of collaborations over the years, the recentMonster Hunter Worldtook its crossovers to even greater heights than before. Aside from the standard cosmetic armor or weaponry,Worldintroduced entirely new questlines and monsters to face off against, with the two most notable of these involvingThe Witcher 3andFinal Fantasy 14,respectively. Each quest followed characters or creatures from their respective games being transported to the world ofMonster Hunter, aiding the hunter in their journey to take down the dangerous creatures.
Monster Hunter Worldtook its crossovers to even greater heights than before.
While both inclusions were praised for the unique cosmetics offered,the crossover monsters Leshen and Behemoth faced criticism over the unexpectedly high difficulty level and frustrating fighting experience. The Leshen was also unique in that there was no incentive to continue battling the monster after acquiring its layered armor, with each attempt being painfully slow due to its teleportation mechanic.
The Behemoth quest offered armor inspired byFinal Fantasy 14’s Dragoon class while granting an emote that provides a limited period of invulnerability similar to the classic dive-evade.
Despite its critics,the Behemoth fight inMonster Hunter Worldwas an incredibly climactic spectacle that forced players to cooperate uniquely for the series, using MMO-inspired mechanics borrowed fromFinal Fantasy 14to succeed in the hunt. Given thatMonster Hunter Wildsseems to takeplenty of inspiration fromWorldand itsIceborneexpansion while improving upon the formula, its developers could apply feedback from fans and the lessons they learned from previous titles to deliver a more satisfying crossover experience.
Metal Gear’s REX Could Make For An Exciting Fight In Monster Hunter Wilds
An Upgraded Moveset Could Draw Out Its Terrifying Nature
Gear REX itself offers a climactic fight, with moves seemingly inspired by other monsters in the series that make use of the nuclear-capable Metal Gear’s power come to life.The most iconic attack from Grear REX comes from a red beam of acid shot from its additional limb, much like Greavios' heat beam fromWilds.
Similarly, Gear REX can shoot out spikes from its back that explode after the monster roars, with its powerful hind legs allowing for fast charges to crush anything in its way. WhilePeacewalker’s hunting mechanics are outdated by modernMonster Hunterstandards,Gear REX is still a standout design that could be significantly enhanced if given the chance to shine inMonster Hunter Wilds.
I Was Worried About Monster Hunter Wilds, But The Beta Killed My Biggest Fear
Monster Hunter Wilds' open world was a controversial new feature but the latest open beta proves that it will work for the full release.
Much like howMonster Hunter World’s roadmap was eventually updated to include itsFinal Fantasy 14collaboration, thecurrentMonster Hunter Wildsroadmapwill expand as the game progresses toward each major content update, with plenty of room for more crossovers. WithMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eaterreleasing only a few months afterWilds,it’s the perfect chance to bring back a classic collaboration between the two in stunning fidelity.
Monster Hunter Wilds May Be Getting One Deadly Collaboration Already
Continuing One Of Monster Hunter’s Most Ambitious Crossovers Yet
While it’s far from an official confirmation,Final Fantasy 14’s director Naoki Yoshida has expressed interest in further collaborations withMonster Hunterin the past, stating that he’s kept in good contact with the developers at Capcom. While there didn’t seem to be any concrete plans for a crossover at the time based on his response,the close relationship between both studios and the positive experience shared between them could be great news for fans of both franchises when it comes to another crossover.
Yoshida expressed his interest in potentially bringing Bahamut toWildsin a future collaboration effort.
As reposted byKonflictingKornflakeon Reddit, In an excerpt from a lighthearted interview, Yoshida expressed his interest in potentially bringing Bahamut toWildsin a future collaboration. Since Behemoth was one of the hardest monsters to fight in the entire game when it was released,the god-like Bahamut would need a massive redesign to fit with the gameplay ofMonster Hunter Wilds.Regardless of how toned down Bahamut would be, its inclusion would make for one of the most intensive fightsMonster Hunterhas ever seen, likely incorporating MMO mechanics similar toWorld’s Behemoth.
A deadly new monster isn’t the only wayFFcould make a comeback inMonster Huntereither, with plenty of potential for cosmetic and gear-related quests.The hunter’s Seikret also bears a striking similarity toFinal Fantasy’sChocobos as well,being a missed opportunity if there isn’t at least oneFinalFantasy-related cosmetic DLC sometime in the future forWilds.
GivenMonster Hunter’s massive rise in popularity over the years, combined with thegreat improvements coming toWilds,Capcom will have plenty of options for creating worthwhile collaborations for players. While there’s no confirmation thatWildswill collaborate with eitherMetal GearorFinal Fantasyanytime soon, the release ofDeltacoinciding withMonster Hunter Wildswould be the perfect opportunity for a mutually beneficial crossover once more.
Sources:Monster Hunter/YouTube,KonflictingKornflake/Reddit
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds is the highly anticipated follow-up to Capcom’s multi-million seller, Monster Hunter World. Announced at The Game Awards 2023, Monster Hunter Wilds will put players into a sprawling world where they’ll hunt monsters to create new weapons and armor while protecting their home base and uncovering the secrets of unexplored lands with friends or alone.
