WILD HEARTS™ - Electronic Arts
Join the hunt for the dangerous Murakumo, a new species of Kemono. This beast's plethora of petal-manipulating attacks are a real menace. It courses through the air on platforms made of sakura blossoms, making counterattacking tricky. You'll need to make use of the newly awakened “Spinning Top” Karakuri to drive out this fiendishly beautiful sakura spirit. Once unleashed, the Spinning Top closes in on its prey to deliver a relentless assault. Whenever it hits Kemono or other obstacles, it gains both speed and power.
Check out the interview on the new WILD HEARTS™ update with the game directors Hirata and Edagawa:
Murakumo
Why did you go for the fox for the new upcoming Kemono?
● Hirata: When it came to creating a Japanese-style hunting action game, the fox was a Kemono we really wanted to include. There are a number of ethnic groups that consider foxes to be spirits or monsters, but in Japan in particular, foxes are a very important part of our culture and beliefs. I am also a big fan of foxes, so I strongly insisted on including foxes as endgame content after the story was completed.
How did you come up with this idea of mixing the fox with Sakura?
● Hirata: We wanted the fox to be special, so we wanted to give it characteristics that had never been seen in previous kemono. The key elements were cherry blossoms and lightning. We have various beasts fused with nature in the game, but none of them have cherry blossoms, the most prominent landmark in the spring area. In addition, there is a special term in Japanese for "spring thunder" that conveys the arrival of spring. Using these elements as a foundation, we created a kemono that combines a fox with cherry blossoms, and commands cherry petals and lightning.
Can you share key tips to beat Murakumo?
● Hirata: Murakumo is a small-sized kemono that moves very quickly. It also has an abundance of tricky ways to attack the player, such as charging forward on cherry petals or using a wide variety of long-ranged attacks to corner the player. Although it may seem confusing at first, if you observe it carefully, you should be able to find an opening after some of their attacks, so do not be intimidated by its many quick moves. Also, Murakumo’s signature move, riding on cherry blossom petals, is a good time to try and use Karakuri to bring it down.
Quest
Can you share tips to be successful in the new quest?
● Hirata: Murakumo's attacks carry wind and wood elements. The particularly powerful attacks are wind-based, so I would suggest investing in armor with wind resistance. In addition, fire and flames are effective against Murakumo, so making weapons with fire properties should make fighting it much easier.
New System Update
Can you elaborate on these updates and how they will impact players’ journey?
● Edagawa: First, we made it possible to further enhance weapon and armor stats. This will allow for a wider range of builds, such as choosing to use weapons and armor with lower stats but more appealing skills. Also, in late April we plan to add a new system of quests called serial hunts. These will be challenging quests where players will hunt kemono one after another with limited lives and health recovery resources, with added tension of having to choose whether to take on the next kemono or give up and settle for the rewards they have received up until that point. You can get materials needed to strengthen yourself, as well as new stamps and emotes, so we hope you will enjoy this new challenge.
What parts of the upcoming content drop are you the most excited to see players enjoy?
● Edagawa: I would have to say I’m most excited to see players take on the new kemono, Murakumo. I think the most attractive thing about this hunting game is that there will be new kemono added with updates. I also hope that you will try to challenge other kemono by using the new karakuri that you can obtain through the battle with Murakumo.
Can you tell us more regarding the latest PC patches?
● Edagawa: The April 6th update improved the performance for some CPUs. In addition, we have added support for FSR, an upscaling option that reduces the drawing load while maintaining high resolution and will help to resolve the frame rate issues that some players have been experiencing. This is not limited to the PC version, but we are continuing to work on fixes for various issues, including unexpected crushes, as well as some balance adjustments.
Later this month you can face off against the dire Deathhaze Gloombeak – a new breed of volatile Kemono. And take on “serial hunt” special quests, where you'll be forced to hunt a succession of Kemono, each within a set period of time. Between each individual hunt, you will not be able to collect Healing Water from the surrounding area. So with chances to recover limited, you'll need to pay close attention to your health. Each time you successfully down a target, your promised reward increases. However, if you fail at any stage of the hunt, you receive no reward at all.
Master ancient tech to hunt down giant beasts. WILD HEARTS™ is a unique twist on the hunting genre where technology gives you a fighting chance against fearsome beasts infused with the ferocious power of nature itself. Take on these creatures alone or hunt with friends in seamless co-op.
No one remembers why the Kemono began their rampage through a once prosperous Azuma. Fueled by desperation, these giant beasts wield the power of primal nature at its most destructive. For a while, it seemed that none could stand against their overwhelming might. But hope arrives in the form of a formidable hunter, armed with deadly weapons and ancient technology called Karakuri that could turn the tide of battle.
Developed by Omega Force, the Japanese studio behind the DYNASTY WARRIORS franchise, WILD HEARTS™ takes you on an epic adventure set in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan.
*Requires Wild Hearts (sold separately) and all game updates.
©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
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