Sure thing! Let’s dive right in.
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So, the Nintendo Switch 2, right? Yeah, it’s been around for a bit now—a couple of months or so? And y’know, the games keep rollin’ in. It’s funny, even with all these options, I always see it as the place for those classic Nintendo titles. Maybe that’s just me? But hey, the shiny newness of it gives a perfect excuse to dive into ports I skipped over before. Take Wild Hearts S, for instance. This is the Switch 2 take on that big-deal monster hunting thing by Koei Tecmo from 2023. Never got around to it until now. Whoops.
Now, Wild Hearts S kinda shows what the Switch 2 can handle with third-party stuff. Like, remember when Cyberpunk 2077 launched? Yeah, that’s on here. Surprise! Not saying Wild Hearts S is a visual stunner compared to its big bros on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X—because it’s not. Nope. It’s like, a smidge more polished than a PS4 or Xbox One would allow. You get some texture blahs and framerate probs when things get wild. But if you’re about hearty gameplay over glossy looks, there’s fun to be had, pinky promise.
Picture this: You’re out there, your own character, on a hunt for these kemono creatures. The little ones scatter around like, whatever. But the real party? Big kemono hunts. Think massive beasts, like if a rabbit and a boar had a baby and then the woods kinda invited themselves along. These dudes strut around with flower powers—or leaf coats? Anyway, it’s something to gawk at.
I found myself either wide-eyed or horrified by these kemono. Like, here’s a turtle with coral decorations on its back—adorbs! (Seriously, turtle, R.I.P. My bad for not opting for a pet over a fight.) But those bigger baddies, like that early-game boar boss? Nah, they aren’t letting you appreciate their couture; they’re in it to win it.
Aw man, these beastie hunts are where it’s at! You scope out a spot, set up to find your target, and then it’s go-time with these magic karakuri doodads—wooden bits to explore or take on the beasties with flair. You hunt, you learn! Like, use six crates to make a wall? Wild. Three springs become a hammery-crazy-thing. Three gliders? Instant health-boost mist. That’s ingenuity, right there.
And these battles—wowza. Strap in for the epic. Feel like a legendary hunter tangling with a beast that’s pure toughness. There’s a detail I dig: time shifts during these epic clashes. Day turns to night, stars twinkle—20 minutes of thrashing turned into an in-world epic saga, basically.
One thing that got me all giddy? The first meeting with a Lavaback. I’m a sucker for when enemies throw down with each other in games. It’s like, yes, please, make this world breathe! Watching Lavaback give a Spineglider the royal Hulk treatment? Top-notch madness. Just beat a Spineglider myself, and now it’s reduced to a Lavaback’s plaything? Just, wow.
But hey, there’s a hitch. With these huge critters, camera jank sneaks in. I’m no expert on the Monster Hunter franchise, so I was like—whoa, this camera is a bit much. It ducks inside the kemono, gives the X-ray tour of hollowness. And cliffs? Dangerzones, my friend. The camera forgets who I am, shows the back of a stomping beast instead. Then swings! Yep, still stuck inside the kemono.
Despite the janky stuff, Wild Hearts S? Totally worth the ride on Switch 2. Doesn’t drop jaws with graphics, but c’mon—handheld gaming priorities, right? Chasing down these mighty creatures, getting swept up in the chase. Mate, can’t wait to keep at it, monster hunting on the move is calling my name.
