Monster Hunter Wilds is changing the core formula quite a lot. From implementing easier combat features and new weapons to shaking up the world design to accommodate a new, sprawling open world, a lot is changing with this new entry into the beloved Monster Hunter franchise. Of course, this is nothing new, as dedicated fans will know. The Monster Hunter games have slowly been evolving since the first entry, with each new addition attempting to both cater to the hardcore fans and those who want to get into it, but feel too overwhelmed.

Wilds won’t please everyone, but Capcom is trying its hardest to ensure that everyone is happy. In particular, Capcom is implementing a mechanic that’ll benefit solo players, a small, but growing portion of the fan base. This new feature may not appeal to hardcore fans – specifically those who enjoy Monster Hunter for the co-op hunting adventure that it always has been – but it will draw in a new cohort of fans and enable those who are playing alone to have just as much fun.

Monster Hunter Wilds’ AI Hunters Are Amazing

They Are A Lifesaver

One of Monster Hunter Wilds’ best improvements is the introduction of AI companions. These function very similarly to Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Pawns, as they roam freely alongside the player and make independent actions when fighting a monster. They’ll use their own weapons, combos, and attacks entirely without the input of the player, making them, for all intents and purposes, feel like real people. They’ll even move erratically around the map, never sticking too close to you, while also ensuring that they’re available at all times if needed.

They can appear in either solo games or in co-op with a friend. The AI hunters are called via the S.O.S mechanic, which can be done at any point while exploring the open world, even in the middle of a challenging monster hunt. That means that solo players who want to attempt to take on one of Monster Hunter Wilds’ toughest monsters can do so and still feel reassured that if everything goes pear-shaped, then they have a backup solution. Of course, Monster Hunter fans will think that this is nothing new, and that is partially true.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, the game-sized DLC, introduced AI hunters that helped solo players while exploring. While they were surprisingly adept at taking on monsters, they were limited to Follower Quests, which needed to be completed first before they could be used. Initially, Followers could only be used in certain missions, although a later update changed that to allow players to bring them on a greater variety of quests. However, despite their inclusion, they were not as readily available as they are in Wilds, which is an important distinction, especially when it comes to onboarding new players.

Monster Hunter Wilds Is The Most Accessible Game In The Series

It Appeals To Solo & Co-Op Players

Capcom has clearly positioned Wilds as the most accessible Monster Hunter game, at least when it comes to onboarding new fans. That’s not a surprise, as each Monster Hunter game has always attempted to make the barrier of entry significantly lower. The new open-world coupled with the inclusion of AI, improved combat mechanics like the ability to focus, and so much more all point to this. However, it is the aforementioned AI companions that truly make Wilds the easiest game in the series to get into, as it prevents the early game from feeling too punishing.

Monster Hunter has always been reasonably balanced, even when playing solo, but that doesn’t stop it from occasionally feeling a little too grindy. Monsters have huge pools of health, something that is worsened in Wilds, and chipping away at it as a solo player can be a little tiresome, especially when the monsters have a tendency to run away mid-fight. This is significantly alleviated with the inclusion of AI – something rival series like God Eater have included for years – as it ensures that players have support in the early hours while they’re learning the ropes.

For newer players, those who prefer to play exclusively solo – and avoid paying for a subscription service on console – or those simply looking for a little more assistance, these AI companions are game-changing.

Considering that Wilds is Capcom’s biggest game ever, that’s more important than ever before. Of course, hardcore fans who are used to the series’ complex combat and lengthy fights won’t be as interested in the AI companions. While they may serve to fill in for friends when they’re away, for the most part, most longtime fans are likely to avoid using the AI companions. However, for newer players, those who prefer to play exclusively solo – and avoid paying for a subscription service on console – or those simply looking for a little more assistance, these AI companions are game-changing.

More Multiplayer Games Need AI Bots

They Add So Much Longevity

It used to be that all multiplayer games included some form of offline bots, even back during the N64 era with the likes of GoldenEye. As game development got more complex, and developers had to divide their resources between even more gameplay facets, AI bots became less and less common in cooperative and online video games. It has gotten to the point where most multiplayer games exclude them, with there even being dedicated co-op games that require another player to enjoy at all, such as the GOTY-winning It Takes Two.

Of course, in some cases – including with the aforementioned GOTY winner – it is warranted, especially when playing specifically with real people elevates the experience. However, for many, that isn’t always an option, which is why AI bots that allow for offline play are so necessary. They also help preserve a game, especially multiplayer titles, as it offers a way for players to continue accessing them even after the servers have been shut down. So many modern multiplayer games, especially FPS titles, get shut down with no way of accessing them afterward.

Were they to include some form of offline mode or AI bots to play with, then dedicated fans would still have a way of playing their favorite games. That’s why Monster Hunter Wilds, likely more than any Monster Hunter game before it, will stand the test of time long after its multiplayer component remains accessible. The ability to have the core co-operative Monster Hunter experience alone ensures that no matter what the circumstances are, people can continue to enjoy Monster Hunter Wilds the way it’s meant to be played, and that’s amazing.