Wild Hearts S on Switch 2 Revives an Overlooked Gem

Alright, so the Switch 2 has been out for a couple of months now, right? And I gotta say, I’ve been treating it like my go-to for all things Nintendo. Though, with it being new and shiny, it’s the perfect excuse to dive into some game ports I missed out on earlier. Enter “Wild Hearts S,” the Switch 2 version of that 2023 monster hunting gig from Koei Tecmo.

Now, here’s the deal with Wild Hearts S: it’s like a showcase piece for what the Switch 2 can (and maybe can’t) do with third-party ports. I mean, if it can run “Cyberpunk 2077,” we’re in interesting territory, right? Sure, it might not hold a candle to the sleek visuals on a PS5 or an Xbox Series X. Think more… a tad better than PS4 and Xbox One vibes. The graphics? Yeah, they’re decent, not spectacular. Textures are a bit meh, and framerate dips happen. But honestly, if you’re about fun over fancy graphics, there’s a lot to dig into.

Oh! Before I forget — there’s this image of a hunter facing down a massive kemono, if visions of wild beasts are what you’re missing in life.

Wild Hearts S, like its OG version, is all about creating your character and going full hunter-mode. Track down some feisty kemono and — I dunno why this stuck with me — but the blend of animals with nature is genius. Rabbits with vegetation, boars with leafy whacks. Strange but engaging.

Some kemono are pretty chill, letting you admire them like a proud kindergartener showing off a finger painting. I once offed a turtle just because — no clue why! Should’ve petted the poor thing instead. Others, like the boar boss? They’re on you like a squirrel on acorns. And fair play to them.

What’s a day in Wild Hearts S like? Well, it’s all about those epic hunts. You start by scouting for these hulking creatures. Building towers helps. There’s this cool mechanic with karakuri — wooden gizmos for all kinds of action stuff. You unlock more as you hunt, like stacking crates to make walls out of… science? Who knows! At one point, a swinging hammer rig feels strangely right. Or was it three springs?

Anyway — kemono battles are a wild ride. I mean, you’re out there fighting for ages. Days pass like you’re in some epic saga where the sun sets on your heroics. This game even convinced me that my twenty-minute Kingtusk showdown actually took hours.

Oh, and the first time I met Lavaback? Pure adrenaline. Seeing enemies wreck other enemies makes the game world pop, alive and dangerous. Imagine barely surviving a fight, only to watch Lavaback whip a Spineglider like it’s nothing. Yep, that’s Wild Hearts S for you.

The game isn’t without its quirks, though. Ever fought something so huge that the camera’s like, “Nah, I’ll just show you a random tree”? It’s a bit wonky, especially near cliffs where it gets more unhelpful than my GPS in a no-signal zone. Small price for big fun?

Even with the quirks, Wild Hearts S is a blast. It might not win any awards for graphics, but who needs shiny when you’re playing on the go? Monster hunting’s hectic and just the right kind of chaotic. Ready for the next big hunt? I know I am.