Capcom has released an inside look at the making of Arkveld, the principal monster of the Monster Hunter Wilds, and it is absolutely mind-boggling. The official Monster Hunter account uncovered some illustrations revealing that intriguing stare and asked the fans to illustrate their most unforgettable moments when fighting this giant. And trust me, the stories that came back were completely amazing, though somewhat funny and even a little bit touching in a way that only Monster Hunter fans would understand.
So what’s wrong with Arkveld? This monster was the main attraction for MH Wilds, the one that they used to generate interest in the game, and then the hype was everywhere. And the feedback was such that it certainly turned out to be a gigantic challenge, particularly in the beta testing phase. The developers at Capcom took us behind the scenes and talked about the monster’s face, the fierce look and one gamer, Nero, instantly compared it with Megatron from Transformers. Can I say? Yes, I can see it. It has that sort of menace, a leader-like aura.
Yet the most valuable thing is in the hunting stories. The Pale Wyrm shamelessly declared, “She was the first monster I actually lost to.” That’s a really understandable feeling. It’s a stage that every player has gone through, the first hurdle in a Monster Hunter game, where you are like… oh. This is different. And Arkveld was that hurdle for many players.
Most of the memories are associated with the open beta period of Wilds. TheFunTortoise aka MushroomManDan briefly said, “Definitely the battle with him in the beta. That timer was HARSH.” Luminie was more extensive, referring to the “uphill battle to beat it during the beta,” and declaring the fight “top” Monster Hunter. They pointed out that spending hours fighting solo to get one clear was the real thing. That beta timer was, seemingly, a real monster, making the battle very exciting and challenging for all gamers who hadn’t received the proper theory of the game and the right gear yet.
Glitches stories followed next because no modern game release is ever complete without a few hilarious bugs? Sean Owens told an incredible glitch story: “So there was a glitch in the beta where the wound on his chain blade wasn’t disappearing. So, of course, I kept spamming along and was able to pretty much stun-lock him for one-third of the time.” What a hilarious scenario it is! Discovering that strange flaw and then just attacking the monster that was otherwise giving you a tough time is the classic thing to do.
Some other players had to face more dramatic issues. Dusk uploaded a video in which Arkveld just picks them up and hurls them down a cliff. Just sent them soaring. There’s nothing left but to laugh and drop the controller in such cases. At the same time, MetalGearFan was so frightened that he reserved his first encounter as ‘RUNNIN!’ and was circling a pillar while others took care of it. Honestly, the fear was very real!
However, there were also successes besides hardships and sufferings. Players also boasted victories over the beast. 007FFF noted that after being defeated in the demo, witnessing a new move in its three-swing combo in the full game was ‘both really fun and really scary’ and Arkveld gradually became a ‘comfort hunt.’ Switch Cat had a similar journey saying that they used to be ‘extremely annoyed’ by Arkveld until they got used to the new mechanics of Wilds, and now their ‘perception has changed.’ It is nice to see that transition from annoyance to mastery.
Tech talk about particular weapons was also included. User tanukiballsack defended the use of bow guns by asserting that while people argue they have the worst focus attacks, ‘no other weapon allows you to perform trickshots like this.’ He would describe the scenario where he would identify the charging enemy and then shoot the focus shot on a wound just before it could attack again. That is some next-level strategy right there.
Of course, not every post was just filled with fond memories of the good old days. User charge blade fan took this as a good chance to beg: ‘This is great but please fix the Charge Blade, the sword mode is useless and the weapon is mindless and way too easy.’ It is a reminder that while a monster is being celebrated, which is of course good, the community is always about weapon balance.
All tales tell of a considerable impact caused by Arkveld. It was a skill test in the beta, a magnificent in the full game, and for many, a common enemy that can be slaughtered in just a few minutes with the endgame gear, as Kuro pointed out. However, the memory of those first, fierce encounters is what stays with the players. It is that classic Monster Hunter cycle of struggle, learning, and eventual triumph that players always come back for. The game is also available on PlayStation and Xbox.
