Sure, here’s a rewritten version:
Wow, so here I am with this shiny thing called the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s been like, two months since it dropped, and the games are just rolling out. It’s funny, because while I’m all about having options, this is basically my go-to for those Nintendo exclusives. But hey, I’m getting the chance to dive into some ports I totally missed before. One of those? Wild Hearts S, you know, the Switch 2 edition of that 2023 monster-hunting game by Koei Tecmo. Never thought I’d get into it, but here we are.
So Wild Hearts S — that’s kind of like our guinea pig for seeing what the Switch 2 can handle when it comes to third-party games. This thing is supposed to be packed with games that would make the old Switch huff and puff, kinda like Cyberpunk 2077 did when it first hit the shelves. Let’s be real though, Wild Hearts S isn’t wowing anyone like PS5 or Xbox Series X level. Remember the PS4 or Xbox One? Yeah, somewhere in that zone. Textures might be a bit meh, and the framerate? Let’s say it occasionally trips over itself in all the excitement. But whatever, if you’re into gameplay over eye candy, there’s a lot to feast on here.
Right, the game itself. You’re this character, whoever you decide to be, off on hunts to track and slay these creatures called kemono. There are little ones you sort of stumble over out there, not much of a fuss. Then there are the big bads, the ones where nature and beast fuse into something mind-blowing and, honestly, a bit scary. Think rabbits or boars but with leaves, vines, or some weird bulb thing they’ll use to smack you down. Fascinating and terrifying, all wrapped in one wild package.
Ah, and the kemono — some are just chilling, like this one turtle beastie with coral covering its back. I felt kinda bad having to take it down. Should’ve gone in for a pat, you know? But then you’ve got ones like the boar boss at the start, a real angry critter itching to cause mayhem. Can’t say I blame them; you are the hunter, after all.
The thrill? It’s all about those grand monster hunts. You snoop around these locations, sniff out your prey, and start the showdown. There’s this whole thing with karakuri constructs — magic-y wooden gadgets that help you either explore or fight. The more beasts you bring down, the more of these contraptions you learn to make. Six crates become a wall, quirky right? Stops the boar dead in its tracks. Stack some springs together, and you’ve got this swinging hammer device. Handy, no?
Finding these massive kemono is just the start. Once you’re in the thick of it, those fights are something else. They drag on, in a good way, like this marathon showdown where you turn night into… well, night again, kinda. Fighting a Kingtusk for an eternity feels epic.
And oh, the Lavaback moment! Seeing it take on a Spineglider — the game just threw me in the deep end. It’s like the world inside the screen gets a bit more real when you see monsters having at each other. Just dealt with a Spineglider myself, and now Lavaback plays it like a rag doll? Yikes.
But yeah, some jankiness there with the camera in those massive monster fights. Never got into Monster Hunter much, so maybe that’s it, but the camera seemed to enjoy phasing through beast bodies (hello airy insides?). Cliff edges? A nightmare. I’d find myself staring at monster skin, wondering where I went wrong.
All that aside, Wild Hearts S rocks. It’s messy but fun, and totally deserves a spot in the Switch 2 lineup. Eye-popping graphics? Nah, but this is handheld gaming. Roaming after these beasties? Engaging and a bit chaotic. Already excited for more on-the-go hunts.