The verified Monster Hunter Twitter account has released the newest game concept art-ups for the forthcoming addition to the series, namely monster hunter Wilds, showcasing a more mature version of the character Fabius, otherwise referred to as the Ace Lancer, who has won the affection of the fans. The person portrayed in the drawing is a character from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate but with a wiser and more experienced hunt still burning within him, which naturally draws the players in and gives them a sense of nostalgia. This unveiling of the artwork is a signal that Capcom is going to continue integrating its new games with the already established history and characters from the series.
Well, the artwork just came through the Monster Hunter account, and to be honest, it really feels like a different world. They seem to depict, “The Ace Lancer from his initial silhouette in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has undergone a very remarkable transformation!” and their assertive. It is undoubtedly Fabius, but one that has gone through some life experiences. To which facial features have more lines, over a large coat, and has quite an eye that makes him look like he wants to doze off; but since a Rathalos just showed up, he will have to stay awake. It’s a good vibe indeed. The hashtag is #MHWilds, so we can confirm this is our very first clear glimpse of how they are bringing back old characters and I am all for it.
However, the major commotion, as usual, has been in the reply section. Players did not limit themselves to expressing their impression as “nice art” and moving on. The demand was for one thing, and one thing only: LAYERED ARMOR, and the demand was made instantaneously and overwhelmingly. Player ‘Retired Gog Farmer’ was the one to say it first: “We need his fit as layered armor PLEASE”. And then it just snowballed from there. “How much for that coat as a layered armor? I’m begging 😭” from Quentin. “I want his outfit.” from An Angry Wizard. “Need his layered” with a crying cat pic from NotNintendoNinja. It feels like a combined effort. Capcom displays a cool character design and the entire community has the same thought ding -> “I want to wear that.” This is the Monster Hunter way.
And then the nostalgia wave hits. People are suffering the feels at their most sensitive spots. Mizar X is already in a state where he cannot help dreaming about the DLC: “Fabius and Nadia are already in Wilds, we need Aiden and Julius for the DLC, I NEED IT.” Somebody else is saying that the characters should be made permanent NPCs. But the best hint back? Triple Combo Gaming tweeted with “Never forget” and directed to… that clip. You certainly know the one. If you have played MH4U, you know. It’s the one where the Ace Cadet, Fabius’s more… passionate junior, yells “Guildmarm!” in that tone. And the replies to THAT are just people getting crazy. “One of my favorite monhun moments lmfao” says Nande. Kethrocyte goes on with “Oh God, now I’m hearing it in the voice of Patrick Seitz.” It’s a whole saga. That one silly voice line is a core memory for so many players and this artwork just brought it all back.
Not everybody is riding the nostalgia wave, however. Some of the replies are… pinpointing their argument. The Charge Blade fan showed up with a full weapon balance essay that was meant for the Monster Hunter account. “the Charge Blade is not done with you yet,” they say, detailing very specific technical changes that they would like to see. It is very passionate! Meanwhile, Cruz is over there like, “I am fine with all that but I wanna hear about the expansion and how many monsters we are getting.” “Sir, we are just looking at a nice picture of a man in a coat, can we have this one moment?” And then there’s Wyld the hare just outright asking for an MH4U remaster. The variety of answers is amazing, ranging from pure excitement to very specific requests to just the longing for old games.
It is really astonishing how one single artwork can unleash such a vast range of emotions. It is not a monster reveal, it is not a gameplay trailer. It is just a guy. But this guy represents a certain period of the Monster Hunter series for a great majority of players. For many, MH4U was the first game they ever played, where characters like the Ace Cadet and the Guildmarm became legends. The presentation of an older Fabius means that Wilds is aware of that history, that the world is interconnected and expanding. It is a clever move. It makes the wait for Wilds feel like catching up with an old friend. The community’s passionate response shows how much these games mean to people on platforms like PlayStation and Xbox.
