"Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils Cooking System Details"

Summary

• Monster Hunter Wilds focuses on making in-game food look appetizing with exaggerated realism.
• Players can dine anywhere in the game, creating a camping grill atmosphere instead of a restaurant theme.
• The game will feature a wide variety of dishes, including a secret "extravagant" meat dish, enhancing food-related bliss.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to elevate the visual appeal of in-game food to new heights, as confirmed by key members of its development team. The game will showcase an extensive range of dishes, from meat and fish to vegetables, with a strong emphasis on making them look irresistibly savory. The developers are going beyond mere realism, employing exaggerated techniques to enhance the visual allure of these meals.

Cooking has been a staple feature in the Monster Hunter series since its inception in 2004, allowing players to enjoy meals made from the monsters they've defeated. Over the years, the importance of these meals and the variety of ingredients have grown significantly. However, it was with Monster Hunter World in 2018 that food became a central element, with the developers striving to create dining experiences that players would genuinely crave.

This focus on delectable in-game food is set to intensify with Monster Hunter Wilds, scheduled for release on February 28, 2025. Executive Director/Art Director Kaname Fujioka and Director Yuya Tokuda believe that few games truly succeed in making food look appetizing. "Making it look realistic isn't enough to make it look good," Fujioka explained in a recent IGN video interview. "You really have to think about what makes something look delicious." This approach involves blending realism with exaggeration, drawing inspiration from food in anime and commercials, including special lighting effects and enhanced food models.

Monster Hunter Wild Devs Use Exaggerated Realism in Cooking Scenes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will have the freedom to dine anywhere, embracing a more rustic camping grill ambiance rather than a formal restaurant setting. A preview in December already showcased a tantalizing cheese pull, but the menu promises even more. Even a simple dish like roasted cabbage, which posed a significant challenge for Fujioka, can be made appealing through realistic effects such as the cabbage puffing up as the lid is lifted, accompanied by a roasted egg topping.

On the meatier side of the menu, Tokuda, who has a deep appreciation for meat both in the game and in real life, hinted at the inclusion of a secret "extravagant" meat dish, though he kept the details under wraps. Overall, Monster Hunter Wilds aims to offer a diverse selection of dishes, capturing the joy and satisfaction of dining around a campfire through exaggerated yet realistic cooking cutscenes.