164: Monster Hunter Wilds (with Brad Gallaway)

Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Review code provided by Capcom. Thank you! Monster Hunter has been around for a long time, but has only recently fully broken into the mainstream. And with mainstream success comes grumbling from longtime fans. Is the game actually too streamlined? Does quality of life take away from quality of game? And what about the new focus on the story? All that and more in this lengthy discussion. Guest info: Brad Gallaway * Check out written game reviews on GameCritics https://gamecritics.com/ * Listen to So...Videogames! https://gamecritics.com/category/podcasts/so-videogames/ * Follow Brad on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/bradgallaway.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:28 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts * 15:11 New Player Experience/Fight Prep * 35:04 Monster Fights/Upgrades and Gear * 1:04:32 Story/Presentation * 1:24:12 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Guest Plugs * 1:33:10 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:35:23 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Miwako Chinone. Tracks used: * Main Title Theme * Proof of a Hero (Wilds Version) * Nu Udra Battle Theme * Mizutsune Battle Theme * Rey Dau Battle Theme * Suja Village Daytime * Zoh Shia Battle Theme Phase 1- Arrant Calamity * Quest Clear Theme Check out Dave on Pixel Project Radio giving first impressions on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EYHKnevmhrHHa5kTMCOLb Check out Dave on Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers talking about Monster Hunter Wilds (May 5th) https://www.fngamers.com/ Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!