WILD HEARTS" is a new game that brings together the rich Japanese world of "WILD HEARTS"! Make full use of mysterious karakuri and confront the giant beasts!

Japanese-style hunting action "WILD HEARTS" was released on February 17, 2023. The player sets up a mysterious karakuri in the field and confronts a huge beast. The game offers an unusual play experience.

WILD HEARTS" takes place in a Japanese-style world where giant beasts roam the streets. Players take on the role of a beast hunter, helping the people of the village of Minato in their fight against the giant beasts. Beast hunting seems to be a dying way of life in this world, which is shifting to an era where samurai warriors are fighting for power. The setting is tinged with Japanese melancholy, but that is no surprise, as the game is being developed by Omega Force, a Koei Tecmo Games company known for action games such as "Mikuni Musou" and "Touki Den. Since the game is published by Electronic Arts (EA) under the EA Originals label, many people may mistake it for a foreign game, but it is a genuine Japanese game (made in Japan). It is a richly Japanese game with a solid Japanese-style feel, a Japanese-style worldview, and Japanese-style giant beasts.

Beast hunters use the power of karakuri to explore the field and hunt. Hunting action has now become a genre, but the presence of karakuri is what makes "WILD HEARTS" unique.

The field is vast, and although people once lived in various places, they were driven out by giant beasts. The natural environment and Japanese-style ruins blend together to create a beautiful yet desolate scene. The bridges that once connected the valleys have been destroyed by the giant beasts and are impassable, making it difficult to even get around. Of course, there are no lodges, and the people have to live outdoors on their own.

However, the beast hunters can develop the field by setting up their own structures. If you put up a "beast hunter's tabernacle," you can rest and recover your strength; if you put up a "field smith's anvil," you can make your own weapons and armor; and if you dry millet, eggplant, and other ingredients gathered from the field on a "drying pole," you can process them into more effective foods.

Also, in the aforementioned valley, if you shoot a rope with an anchor called "flying vine," you can move quickly by hanging on to the rope, and if there is a high cliff, you can use a "whirlwind stand" that blows strong winds to soar....... It can be useful for outdoor life. Basically, karakuri can be placed anywhere and will remain there as long as they are not destroyed. In other words, hunting efficiency depends on where you place the karakuri. Even if you are far away from the location of a giant beast (......), you can fast travel (instant travel) by placing a "beast hunting tabernacle" in the vicinity in advance, and even if you run out of power, you can fight again from here. The essence of a survival game has been added to the hunting action field, and it is a game worth devising.

The "Beast Hunting Tabernacle" is a place to rest and regain strength.

The "sun-drying pole" dries food to enhance its effectiveness.

Flying vines can be shot anywhere to create shortcuts.

The "whirlwind platform" can be placed to soar in strong winds.

Giant beasts live in the field. Each of the giant beasts has a unique design, as if they are a mixture of animals and nature, and they attack by manipulating their environment. For example, "Yamaugachi" looks like a giant boar, with moss and trees growing all over its body. When angered, it grows huge trees around itself and blows away the beast-hunting. It is like a natural disaster, and is so powerful that it seems as if it is fighting against Mother Nature itself.

The "Yamaugachi" looks like a giant boar.

When the "Yamaugachi" gets angry, it grows huge trees around it.

The main weapons used by the beast hunters are melee weapons. The "karakuri katana" transforms like a whip and can attack a wide area. The "Nodachi," which is a sword that can be used in the iai posture to deliver a powerful blow by gathering power. The "Hammer" increases its power by pressing the "Deploy" button at the right moment when it strikes an opponent. The bow shoots an arrow into the body of a Giant Beast and detonates it with an arrow. The "umbrella," which can be extended to parry the attacks of the Giant Beast (......), is unique to each of the weapons. The interesting thing about each weapon is that it is not only wielded but also has a technical aspect. The "Nodachi" is an iai stance, in which the player uses his "endurance" (stamina, which is consumed by dashing and climbing) to build up his strength, but he can also move while doing so. While building up strength, the user can avoid being attacked by the giant beast and strike a blow when he sees an opening.

Other features of the game, such as timing the transformation of the "Karakuri Sword," timing the input of "Deploy" for the "Hammer," and combining the "A" and "B" arrows for the "Bow," make the game more interesting and appealing to experienced hunters as well.

In addition, the "magic strings" that are needed can be gathered here and there, so the restrictions are not too restrictive. It is a refreshing feeling to be able to utilize the "karakuri" skillfully in a fierce battle with a giant beast. The most obvious example is the "box," which looks like a block. Place a "box" between you and the Giant Beast to prevent it from attacking you, and when it is downed, pile it up, climb on top of it, and dive attack it to inflict massive damage. A single karakuri is useful for both offensive and defensive purposes. Karakuri can also be used to compensate for weaknesses in weapons. The "mallet" is a powerful weapon, but it moves slowly and is not very effective when used with a drawn sword. The spring-loaded karakuri "hachi" sends the mounted beast-hunter flying forward at high speed. If you need mobility when you are far away from a huge beast, you can just put down the "Hatsu" and fly away.

Other ways to use karakuri are to hold on to the portable helicopter-like wings and attack from the air, or to use the "Henshin no Toro" (Lantern of Transformation) to increase your resistance to dangerous attribute attacks. In some cases, karakuri can be used to block the great moves of giant beasts, and the combination of skill and knowledge in construction will increase efficiency. The materials obtained can be used to strengthen weapons and armor, a familiar feature in hunting action games, making repeated hunts more fun than the first, or even the third .......

Block-like "boxes" can be stacked.

You can also dive from the top of a "saggar" to attack.

Hold on to the "wings" and you can fly!

While hunting, you may come up with a special "connecting mechanism. This wall has higher durability than the saggar and can defend against attacks from giant beasts.

Enjoy Koei Tecmo Games' signature detailed character creation.

Develop and explore a three-dimensional field by using karakuri, and place karakuri well in hunting to take advantage of the development. With the addition of karakuri to the fun of hunting action against huge enemies, this title offers a different play experience from other titles. After the game's official release, multiplayer play will be available, and regular updates are planned, including the addition of new giant beasts, so we can look forward to more excitement in the future.

[Title Information
■ "WILD HEARTS
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Origin, Steam, Epic Games Store)
Genre: Hunting action game
Price: 9,700 yen (tax included)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: ω-Force (Koei Tecmo Games)
Release date: February 17, 2023 (Friday)
CERO: To be reviewed
Dubbing: Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish

Official website: ##