Cooking Unraveled: 'Monster Hunter Wilds' Unveils Culinary Mechanics

Enhanced Culinary Realism in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds sets a new standard for visually appealing in-game food, prioritizing exaggerated realism to make dishes look incredibly appetizing. This departure from previous iterations focuses on the experience of cooking and dining, rather than simply presenting realistic food.

The game's food system, a staple of the Monster Hunter franchise since 2004, has evolved significantly. While earlier games featured basic monster meat, Monster Hunter World (2018) introduced a greater emphasis on realistic dining. Monster Hunter Wilds takes this further, according to executive director/art director Kaname Fujioka and director Yuya Tokuda. They aim to create food that is not just realistic, but genuinely delicious-looking, drawing inspiration from anime and food commercials for stylistic exaggeration and lighting effects. Fujioka emphasizes that "Making it look realistic isn't enough to make it look good," highlighting the need for a blend of realism and artistic license.

Camping Cuisine, Anywhere:

Unlike previous entries, Monster Hunter Wilds allows players to dine anywhere, fostering a campfire cooking atmosphere rather than a formal restaurant setting. This immersive approach is showcased in a December preview, featuring an impressive cheese pull. Even simple dishes, like roasted cabbage (a significant challenge for Fujioka), are meticulously crafted to appear appealing, with details like the cabbage puffing up realistically when uncovered and a roasted egg topping.

A Secret Meat Masterpiece:

Director Tokuda, a self-proclaimed meat enthusiast, hints at a secret "extravagant" meat dish, adding an element of mystery and excitement. The overall focus on diverse dishes and the expressive reactions of characters during meals aims to create an exaggerated yet realistic sense of culinary delight within the game's cooking sequences. The game's launch is slated for February 28, 2025.