Wild Hearts, the collaboration between EA and Koei Tecmo that looks a lot like Monster Hunter, is getting a free 10 hour trial for anyone subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It will give anyone interested a lengthy look into how the Omega Force-developed action-RPG plays and whether it warrants a purchase or not.
Plenty of gameplay for Wild Hearts has been shown off ahead of its release date on February 17, showing how it is similar to and differs from Monster Hunter. Despite the obvious similarities it has with Capcom's popular franchise, it can potentially stand as an alternative to that game for those who would like to play something that conceptually draws parallels while still standing on its own.
In a Reddit AMA with the game's development team, a commenter asked if a demo will be available, and it was revealed that players will be able to play a 10 hour trial of Wild Hearts if they have a subscription to EA Play or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This trial will come out on February 13, 4 days ahead of the game's launch. With the latest trailer giving an extensive look at several weapon types usable against the Kemono, Wild Hearts' equivalent to monsters, it is steadily becoming more clear how it will play while also showing off the confidence the team has in the project.
This trial would be the best opportunity for anyone interested to learn how well the mechanics mesh together, most notably the Karakuri tools, which can be used offensively or defensively to gain an advantage in any battle against the Kemono. Of any trait that will help Wild Hearts stand out from Monster Hunter, Karakuri will be among the most notable given how integral it appears to be in the main gameplay loop.
If inclusions such as the Karakuri do more to enhance the gameplay than detract from it, then Wild Hearts can stand out as a solid monster hunting game that offers something new when compared to its contemporaries. While Omega Force is most well known for developing Dynasty Warriors and collaborative works with other IPs, it does have experience with games like Monster Hunter due to its work on the Toukiden games. Since those titles are similar in concept and gameplay, a trial for Wild Hearts is one of the best ways to show off what it has learned from them while introducing unique mechanics to build upon its genre.
Wild Hearts will be released on February 17 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Pure Xbox