Monster Hunter Wilds NEW In-Gameplay, Focus Moves & Trailer! Long Sword & Weapons
The excitement is palpable as the latest trailers for Monster Hunter Wilds unveil a wealth of new features and mechanics. From the introduction of Focus Mode to revamped gameplay elements, fans are eagerly dissecting every detail. Let’s dive into the highlights and what they mean for the game.
Focus Mode: Precision and Control
Focus Mode is a new gameplay mechanic that enhances targeting and defensive capabilities, allowing players to aim and guard more precisely.
Detailed Mechanics
- Camera Rotation and Targeting: Focus Mode enables players to snap their camera to a monster or specific limb, facilitating precise attacks and defenses. This is particularly useful when you need to quickly adjust your aim during combat.
- Crosshair and Pseudo-Critical Distance: When in Focus Mode, a crosshair appears in the center of the screen, indicating when you’re within optimal attack range, similar to the critical distance mechanic of bowguns. This ensures that your attacks are most effective when within the indicated range.
Practical Applications
- Offensive Use: During an attack, Focus Mode helps in directing slashes or shots to the monster’s weak points or wounds, maximizing damage output.
- Defensive Use: If caught off guard, Focus Mode allows for rapid camera adjustment to face incoming threats, enabling timely blocks or evasions.
Sword and Shield (SNS) Gameplay
Smooth and Dynamic Combat
The trailers highlight the fluidity of Sword and Shield gameplay, emphasizing new maneuvers enabled by Focus Mode.
Key Moves
- Slide Attack: Players can execute a sliding attack that positions them behind the monster, setting up for a backstab. This move, combined with Focus Mode, allows for continuous pressure on the monster.
- Backstab: A satisfying follow-up to the slide attack, the backstab move benefits greatly from the precision aiming provided by Focus Mode.
Wounding Mechanic and Damage Numbers
Introduction to Wounding
Continuous attacks on the same monster part cause a wound to appear, visually represented by a red glow when in Focus Mode.
Enhanced Damage Feedback
- Damage Numbers: The reintroduction of damage numbers provides clear feedback on attack effectiveness. These numbers now include dots to indicate hits on wounded parts, offering additional visual cues.
- Wound Highlighting: Focus Mode highlights wounds and weak points, making it easier to target these critical areas for maximum damage.
Focus Strikes: Enhanced Attacks
New Special Attacks
Focus Mode introduces new Focus Strikes, which are special attacks designed to deal extra damage to wounds and weak points.
Specific Weapon Examples
- Long Sword: The new Focus Strike for the Long Sword features a vertical slash, possibly charging the spirit level and dealing significant damage.
- Gunlance: The Gunlance’s Focus Strike is a quick Worm Stake-style impale, lodging the stake into the monster and dealing concentrated damage.
Basic Mechanics: Essentials Revisited
Sheathed vs. Drawn Weapon States
- Movement and Item Use: Players move faster when their weapon is sheathed, allowing for quick repositioning and item usage. The Sword and Shield retains the ability to use items even when drawn.
- Combat Readiness: The distinction between sheathed and drawn states emphasizes tactical decision-making in combat.
Mount Mechanics and Exploration
Secret Mount
- Auto-Guiding to Quest Markers: The new mount can automatically guide players to quest objectives, simplifying navigation in the expansive, seamless world of Monster Hunter: Wilds.
- Environmental Discovery: The seamless world offers numerous points of interest, such as glowing bugs indicating collectible items.
New HUD and Mini Map
Streamlined Interface
- Minimalist HUD: The new HUD design is more minimalistic, reducing on-screen clutter and providing a clearer view of the action.
- Enhanced Mini Map: The mini map is now more detailed and three-dimensional, displaying zone numbers, monster icons, and collectible items, aiding in navigation and resource management.
Mount Capabilities
- On-the-Go Actions: While mounted, players can heal, sharpen weapons, gather items, and switch between primary and secondary weapons, adding flexibility to gameplay.
The Hook Slinger
Versatile Tool
The Hook Slinger is a multipurpose tool that enhances item collection and environmental interaction.
Key Functions
- Distance Gathering: Players can use the Hook Slinger to collect items like herbs and ammo from a distance, streamlining the gathering process.
- Environmental Manipulation: The Hook Slinger can interact with the environment to knock down objects, aiding in both combat and exploration.
Final Thoughts
The new features in Monster Hunter: Wilds promise to enrich the gameplay experience with enhanced precision, control, and convenience. Focus Mode stands out as a transformative addition, offering new offensive and defensive strategies. The streamlined HUD and detailed mini-map improve navigation and resource management, while new mount mechanics and the versatile Hook Slinger add layers of depth to exploration and item collection.
What are you most excited about? Is it the new Focus Mode, the upgraded mini-map, or perhaps the new Focus Strikes? Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for more updates as we delve deeper into the world of Monster Hunter: Wilds.
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