Slaying the game’s Kemono, Wild Hearts' name for monsters like poisonous ravens, boars the size of houses, and other beasts inspired by and pulled from Japan’s folklore, quickly hooked me.

But the otherworldly take on old-world Japan, filled with giant mythical beasts, is a profoundly satisfying playground to exist in thanks to excellent weapon play and a key addition: powerful technology you can build on the fly during hunts.

Like Monster Hunter, you track big game, craft new armor and weapons, and do it all over again. From blacksmiths to scientists, each one will be crucial to your survival against the fierce Kemono.Wild Hearts may seem similar to Monster Hunter and other hunting genre games, but its focus on constructing gadgets in a world steeped in Japanese folklore and feudal-era Japan help it carve its own identity. Enter the village of Minato to meet the allies who will aid you in your hunt and help you protect the people of Azuma. Wild Hearts offer a few hunting grounds to explore. Players can team up with two other players as they progress in the game. The team estimated that players can complete the game's narrative campaign in about 30 hours. As the player progresses in the game, they will unlock new weapons and armors, allowing players to hunt more challenging monsters. Building Karakuri consumes thread, which can be acquired through simply attacking enemies. Players can also build Karakuri to aid transversal. The constructed items are permanent, until they were destroyed by Kemono. However, these building blocks can be combined to form larger machines, such as a bulwark that blocks an enemy's path. For instance, players can build crates that allow players to leap off to deal massive damage to enemies, or a torch which can be used to ignite enemies. In addition to using weapons to defeat enemies, players can also build items to assist combat through the Karakuri mechanic. The game features eight different weapon types, including the likes of wagasa and katana.

Azuma is not an open world, but instead, several large areas that players can freely explore. Players assume the role of a nameless hunter, who must embark on quests to hunt down massive monsters known as Kemono in the world of Azuma.

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