Omega Force‘s 2023 Monster Hunter-like is getting a new lease on life on in an all-new console ecosystem. Wild Hearts S has brought the Dynasty Warriors team’s monster slaying experience to the Nintendo Switch 2, marking the first time the game has been able to break away from the sedentary restraints of its other platforms—it’s not Steam Deck verified; so props to you if you ignored such labels, or lack thereof, and loaded it onto a handheld PC for on-the-go gaming (likely to disappointing performance results). With the base version being a current gen only game, Wild Hearts S is positioned to show how third party developers are utilizing the added power of the Switch 2.
Wild Hearts S is more streamlined than its more methodical inspiration. That’s not to say there’s no depth; rather, Omega Force brings that fast, flashy action for which they’re known to the forefront of their take on the hunting action-RPG subgenre. Players take on the role of a customizable hunter who embarks on the quest to save the land of Azuma from the rampaging and growing number of massive monstrosities, known as Kemono, disrupting the biosphere. Players are even provided dialogue options to flavor their own reasoning for this pursuit, although it changes nothing outside of role-player purposes.
Wacky Weaponry
To take down the formidable freaks of nature, hunters will wield all manner of deadly weaponry. These include familiar options like the bow, nodachi and maul. But there are unique options, such as the bulky canon, a fancy-yet-deadly umbrella (called the Bladed Wagasa), and the shape-shifting Karakuri Staff. Those last two, specifically, are the standout weapon types in Wild Hearts S, simply because of their unique presentations and mechanics. The Bladed Wagasa is the only weapon that can parry. When perfected, hunters can hold off relentless assaults from the most aggressive Kemono. The damage output may not be top tier, but these are grudge matches of endurance at times making the weaponized parasol an incredibly effective component of one’s arsenal. The Karakuri Staff represents not only the most distinctive choices, but perhaps the most technical. Transforming between the four forms—long staff, twin fang, giant shuriken, and war pike—presents visually appealing and diverse battles.
Omega Force breaks out of the standard framework by augmenting these engagements with the Karakuri mechanic. The name may sound fancy, but it boils down to a building system that enables players to create a variety of structures. A spring allows the hunter to both traverse the environment and set up jumping attacks; a torch can illuminate environments and provide fire elemental damage to attacks; gliders add aerial movement to the mix; and there’s a whole host of offensive, defensive and support items waiting to be unlocked to modify the flow of a given fight. Throwing down healing mist can provide crucial health, whereas the shield wall can deflect incoming attacks and repel Kemono. There’s an impressive list of devices that can be employed to change up the current strategy, or simply gain a bit of breathing room.
Few Improvements, Fewer Frames
If you’re interesting in fighting alongside other hunters, it’s worth noting that this is the one area in which the Switch 2 version has been upgraded. The original release only allowed for three-player co-op; Wild Hearts S bumps that number to four. Typically, I wouldn’t have anything negative to say about allowing more players to come together within a shared experience, but this port is a special case. It’s not because it disrupts a fine-tuned difficulty balance, but instead that it bogs down an already struggling title from a performance standpoint. And here we reach the biggest issue with Wild Hearts S.
Anyone who played Wild Hearts on PC in 2023 likely recalls the abysmal performance for which the game was slammed in Steam user reviews. Even though Omega Force has made various cutbacks to the visuals, it’s not enough to get the game running as desired. When docked, Wild Hearts S wants to be a 60fps title, but it often fails to even hold consistently at 40fps. This is only furthered when the bolstered player count comes into play during co-op; four hunters duking it out with massive Kemono, particle effects flying about, tanks the frame rate. When in handheld mode, 30fps becomes the goal, but the same sticking points largely apply. It’s a disappointing visual downgrade, full of muddy textures, that haven’t achieved the performance target, making the concessions all the more glaring.
While there are moments of greatness, they are undercut by a lacking port. And it’s only compounded further by the fact that the game isn’t receiving any additional content. What’s there is all there ever will be. Despite Monster Hunter Wilds not being available on the Switch 2 (yet), the lesser parts of Wild Hearts S make Monster Hunter Rise and its expansion a more enticing proposition on Nintendo’s latest hardware.
Wild Hearts S Review Verdict
Wild Hearts S: Wild Hearts S, at its core, is one of the better Monster Hunter-likes. The unique weapons and building system make for engaging battles against imposing Kemono. However, virtually everything about the "S" version feels like a downgrade due to rough performance and uneven textures. Unless taking the game on-the-go is an absolute must, it's better played elsewhere. – Joshua
[Editor’s Note: Wilds Hearts S was reviewed on Switch 2, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.]
