Ever since I started my journey as a gamer, there has been one mechanic that I have avoided: pets. Not because I dislike them or anything of the sort, but because, as a kid, I only had sad experiences with my real-life pets. So, having a pet around in a digital world sometimes made me teary. Even in MMOs, the games I played the most, I avoided Hunter classes like the plague. That was the case until I adopted my first cat and decided to make him my first Palico ever in Monster Hunter World.
Before I talk about my Palico, let me tell you about the handsome devil that inspired my virtual companion. His name is Dante, and he is the first cat I adopted. It’s fun because doctors always told me I was allergic to cats, but once I saw him ready to find a new home, I didn’t care a bit about it. Lo and behold, I wasn’t allergic to cats at all, and Dante quickly became my best friend.
When he arrived at my house, he was a furball with big blue eyes who used to cry out of joy when eating his food because he loved it. Little by little, he started growing and became a chaotic black cat who loved to smack his sister around (another tuxedo cat I have), destroy my curtains, and play with a plastic spring-like toy. And, of course, he loved sleeping on my lap whenever he had the chance. As he kept growing, I had to get a pillow for him to sleep next to my keyboard. Yes, he is like my supervisor when I’m working; he never lets me out of his sight. And if I stand up during work hours, he chases me around until I return to my desk.
Why am I taking the time to tell you about my lovable cat? Because this furry tornado was the one that removed the fear I had of creating virtual companions. And since I was (and still am) with cat fever, what better game to create a cat-like creature than Monster Hunter? In my case, Monster Hunter World, which I hadn’t played until a few years ago. And guess what? Monster Hunter World gave me not only one of the best and most addictive gaming experiences of those years but also made me appreciate even more the friendship and bond I had with my cat, and in that moment, my Palico.
Rise, Palico
The fated day arrived. A few of my friends convinced me to try Monster Hunter World. So, I got it on PC, fired it up, and saw I could recreate Dante in it. And guess what? I did it in the best way possible. In truth, it wasn’t so hard. As a black cat, I didn’t have to worry much about the fur details. I only needed to ensure his chubby face and tail were correct before we landed on the New World.
Quickly, Monster Hunter World became one of my favorite games ever and the one that opened the floodgates to everything related to Monster Hunter and everything else related to a Palico. Yes. The hunting part played a huge role. Tracking the creature, learning its moves, and leading it to a trap were all things I loved. However, the fact that my Palico was part of it all made it even better.
Other games that feature a pet mechanic don’t really shine a spotlight on them. Take MMOs or CRPGs, for example. In the end, your character ends up making the most choices and appears in all cutscenes. Your pet becomes an extra gameplay thing that doesn’t bring any considerable weight to the narrative. Yet, Monster Hunter World does it perfectly. I still remember how worried I was after I lost my Palico during the opening scene. I couldn’t care less about the Fifth Fleet. All I wanted was to see my furry friend safe in the Astera. The same happened during the ending. Nothing beats the final moment when you and your Palico face Xeno’Jiiva together.
Monster Hunter Has Created a Place Where Our Companions Will Remain Eternal
I’m extremely thankful that Monster Hunter has created a place where, whatever happens to our real-life companions, they’ll remain immortal as Palicoes or Palamutes. But beyond that, they play an important role in the series’ narrative and aren’t only background fluffy things that make us go “aww.” No. They are some of gaming’s best companions that stand next to us regardless of how big the threat we’re facing is. In truth, that’s one of the reasons why I’m excited about Monster Hunter Wilds.
Just by looking at the first story trial, I quickly noticed our Palico had dialogs and a role to play during the cutscene. So, you bet I’m excited to recreate Dante in Wilds again. He has already helped me in the New World, and I’m sure the wilds won’t be an exception. And yes, there are other games where pets or companions play a huge role. Still, Monster Hunter is unmatched in my eyes, and the fact that I can bring my furry best friend to do some monster-hunting is a huge selling point for me and will continue to be one of the reasons why I love Monster Hunter so much.
