Sure, I’ll rewrite the article with the requested approach.
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So, it’s been, what, two months since Nintendo dropped the Switch 2? Wild, right? Its list of games is longer than my to-do list, and trust me, that’s saying something. Even with my whole multiplatform gamer lifestyle, I still see it as the go-to for those exclusive Nintendo gems. And now, I’ve got this shiny new excuse to dive into ports I missed back when they first crashed onto the scene. Case in point: Wild Hearts S. Yeah, this is the Switch 2 remix of Koei Tecmo’s 2023 big-game romp.
It’s kind of showing off the Switch 2’s street cred when it comes to third-party games, since it’s got enough muscle to host stuff that’d make the old Switch go “nah, I’m good.” Think Cyberpunk 2077, which kicked things off quite nicely. But does Wild Hearts S look as snazzy as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X versions? Um, not quite. It’s like PS4 and Xbox One with a bit more juice. Textures aren’t exactly crisp, and if you blink during intense moments, you might miss a few frames dropping. But hey, the meat’s there if you’re into substance over flash.
Anyway — or wait, hold on — did I mention Wild Hearts S follows the same setup? You, dear player, are crafting your own character to go hunt these kemono creatures. Small fry are wandering around, not causing much of a fuss. But when you’re gunning for the biggies, that’s when the fun ramps up. These beasts, these kemono, are like an animal-nature mashup. Imagine a rabbit sprouting vines. Or a boar. With leaves. And it’s probably going to beat you down with a bulbous appendage. Sorry, boars.
Some kemono are just chilling, letting you admire a coral-shelled turtle’s intricate design. (Gotta mention, I felt bad after I unceremoniously killed it. Should’ve just petted the darn thing.) But then there’s the boar boss. No laid-back vibes there; it’s gunning for you because, well, you’re hunting it. Fair is fair?
Here’s the kicker — majority of the gameplay centers around these epic hunts. You’re tossed into a location on the prowl for your next target. What do you do? Build towers to scout them out. Oh, and the karakuri stuff? Big deal. They’re like magical wooden gizmos assisting in combat and exploration. As you continue your hunts, you’ll find new karakuri tricks. Early on, you learn to build a wall with six crates to stop a boar in its tracks. Three springs? Bam, swinging hammer. Three gliders? Healing mist. Handy stuff.
Once you’ve located a kemono and armed up with your karakuri, battles get intense, turning into almost epic showdowns. Time’s a fluid concept too, with daylight slipping into twilight and onward to a starry nighttime sky. Gives you the feeling that those grueling 20 minutes battling a Kingtusk actually took hours.
One time, I stumbled upon a Lavaback. It was a riot watching it hurl a Spineglider like a ragdoll. Totally Hulk-and-Loki levels of madness. Makes the world feel alive — wild? Definitely. Which, after eking out a win against a Spineglider, was… daunting. This beast flinging my recent foe like paper? Yikes.
Got to be real, though, some camera wonkiness persists. I’m not a Monster Hunter veteran, so these beastie brawls often reminded me of a FromSoftware encounter where the camera decides it’s more interested in getting cozy with the model’s insides than showing me the action. Cliffs? Yeah, no bueno. Suddenly, I’m watching the kemono’s back as it steamrolls me. Thanks, camera.
Even with its quirks, Wild Hearts S serves up a good time and slots nicely into the Switch 2 lineup. Not the type to dazzle with visuals, but hey — who needs that when you’re running around with a handheld? It’s the thrill of tracking and taking down these beasts that keeps me coming back for more. Monster hunts on-the-move? Yes, please.
