W hen it comes to swinging big weapons at even bigger monsters, Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise rises above the rest -- and I got to play a chunk of the next game in the series

My extensive look at Monster Hunter Wilds took me through the first chapter. I won't spoil the story beats. Suffice it to say, you and the Hunter’s Guild have set up operations in a dangerous new realm,

The Monster Hunter games have never lacked a story per se, but it's always been a gameplay-focused franchise first and foremost, with some strong worldbuilding and a generally-acceptable plot. Now, with this greater emphasis on storytelling, director Yuya Tokuda speaks about this new direction in an interview with Gamesradar.