Why Monster Hunter Wilds Needs a Metal Gear Crossover Now More Than Ever!

The new installment in the Monster Hunter series, titled Monster Hunter Wilds, is striving to elevate the renowned franchise even further by blending the finest features from its latest iterations, creating an unforgettable hunting adventure. Over time, the Monster Hunter franchise has gained significant recognition and has been a part of numerous high-quality collaborations with various media, as well as incorporating Easter eggs. Luckily, this trend continues in the next generation of Monster Hunter, with both World and Rise offering many enjoyable crossovers that cater to fans of the series.

In an effort to deliver the most captivating environment and gaming experience yet for the Monster Hunter franchise, it might appear that there’s limited space for lore-disrupting collaborations. However, Monster Hunter World demonstrated that there remains ample opportunity for playful content and top-tier partnerships. While Monster Hunter Wilds is preparing to reintroduce beloved monsters from previous games into the next generation, one of its most impressive creations hasn’t yet graced a Monster Hunter game.

Metal Gear Solid Was One Of Monster Hunter’s Most Unique Collaborations

A Welcome Crossover That Deserves A Modern Revival

In keeping with the ongoing collaborative spirit of Monster Hunter, game developer Capcom teamed up with Konami in 2010 to orchestrate a crossover event between Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker and Monster Hunter Portable 3. For fans of Peacewalker, this partnership introduced new missions centered around hunting various monsters, such as Felyne, Velociprey, Rathalos, and Tigrex. Moreover, Capcom created an entirely unique monster specifically designed to resemble Metal Gear Rex, adding a fresh twist to the world of Metal Gear Solid.

In the process, Monster Hunter Portable 3 introduced several armor sets inspired by Naked Snake and the Metal Gear Boss, complete with themed catchphrases during cooking sessions. Additionally, there was exclusive gear for the Palico hunter modeled after Solid Snake, boasting unique stealth animations. Although the content wasn’t as extensive as Peacewalker, it still provided an enjoyable and fitting extension to the game that could be further developed in a future Monster Hunter Wilds content update.

The Monster Hunter Franchise Is No Stranger To Crossover Monsters

Some Collaborations Are Much More Expansion Than Others

The Monster Hunter series has always been known for its collaborations, but Monster Hunter World elevated these crossovers to unprecedented levels. In addition to typical armor and weapon modifications, World brought about unique quests and monsters to battle, with the standout examples being the ones tied to The Witcher 3 and Final Fantasy 14. These quests revolved around characters or entities from their respective games finding themselves in the Monster Hunter universe, helping the hunter conquer menacing creatures.

Although both characters, Leshen and Behemoth, received appreciation for their distinctive cosmetics, they faced criticism due to an unanticipated high level of difficulty and a less-than-satisfactory combat experience. Interestingly, the Leshen was exceptional in that there wasn’t much reason to carry on fighting it after obtaining its layered armor. Each attempt at battling this creature was laborious because of its teleportation feature, making progress excruciatingly slow.

In contrast to some negative opinions, the Behemoth battle in Monster Hunter World was an exceptionally climactic event that required players to work together in a way unique to the series. This cooperation was facilitated by mechanics reminiscent of MMO games like Final Fantasy 14, which helped players successfully hunt the Behemoth. Given that Monster Hunter Rise appears to draw heavily from both World and its Iceborne expansion while refining the formula, its developers could use fan feedback and lessons learned from past titles to create a more rewarding 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

The self-contained battle with Gear REX is thrilling, as it appears to draw its moves from other monsters in the series, harnessing the powerful nuclear abilities of Metal Gear. Most notably, it unleashes an acid beam from one of its extra limbs, reminiscent of Greavios’ heat beam from the Wilds.

Just as the Gear REX can launch spikes from its back which burst upon the monster’s roar and boast powerful hind legs for swift charges to flatten anything in its path, the Peacewalker‘s hunting mechanics may appear outdated compared to contemporary Monster Hunter norms. However, given an opportunity, the Gear REX could prove itself as a remarkable design and excel even further within the realm of Monster Hunter Wilds.

Just as the plan for Monster Hunter World evolved over time to incorporate its Final Fantasy 14 partnership, so too will the roadmap for the current Monster Hunter Rise expand as it approaches each major content update. This leaves ample space for additional crossovers. Given that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set to release shortly after Rise, this offers an ideal opportunity to revive a classic collaboration between the two franchises, showcasing it in high-definition splendor.

Monster Hunter Wilds May Be Getting One Deadly Collaboration Already

Continuing One Of Monster Hunter’s Most Ambitious Crossovers Yet

As a dedicated fan of both Final Fantasy 14 and Monster Hunter, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of hope when I recall Naoki Yoshida’s past interest in collaborations between these two epic worlds. He’s been keeping in touch with the brilliant minds at Capcom, and while there may not be any solid plans yet, the bond between our studios and the fantastic memories we’ve created together could pave the way for another crossover event that fans of both franchises would surely appreciate!

According to a humorous interview quote from KonflictingKornflake on Reddit, Yoshida indicated an intriguing possibility of Bahamut appearing in a future partnership for Monster Hunter Wilds. Given that Behemoth was one of the toughest foes when it initially debuted, the mighty Bahamut would likely necessitate a significant overhaul to align with the gameplay mechanics of Monster Hunter Wilds. Even if Bahamut were scaled back, its appearance would undoubtedly lead to one of the most challenging battles ever featured in Monster Hunter, possibly integrating MMO-style mechanisms reminiscent of World’s Behemoth.

In addition to introducing a formidable new beast, Final Fantasy could resurface within Monster Hunter in various ways beyond just gameplay. For instance, there’s potential for quests focusing on cosmetics and equipment. Furthermore, the likeness between the hunter’s Seikret and Chocobos from Final Fantasy is intriguing, suggesting that a future DLC with Final Fantasy-themed cosmetic items might be worth considering in Wilds.

Due to the increasing fame and advancements in Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom could find numerous chances to establish rewarding partnerships for gamers. Although there’s no word yet on whether Metal Gear or Final Fantasy will team up with Wilds in the near future, the launch of Monster Hunter Delta alongside Monster Hunter Wilds could be an ideal moment for another beneficial crossover.

2025-02-24 02:57