Monster Hunter Wilds might be the talk of the town, no thanks to it underperforming as well as its endless performance issues. But it seems a new behind-the-scenes look has Hunters buzzing for a very different reason. Wilds director Yuta Tokuda stirred controversy by admitting he wanted Lagiacrus underwater combat to feel more obtuse. Even when younger devs pushed for a gentler, tutorial-like approach. This was revealed in a recent episode of Japanese broadcaster NHK’s Game Genome TV documentary.
As someone who’s been involved in many Monster Hunter games, Tokuda might’ve a deep attachment to the monsters he helped bring to life. He was the planner for Monster Hunter Tri and this time, he wanted Lagiacrus to flex its strength once again.
However, Tokuda recalled that there’s something off when his team showcased the new Lagiacrus fight in Wilds. “The moment you enter the water, it feels like suddenly the monster’s holding back,” he commented.
On the other hand, though, younger staff disagreed, suggesting that there should be a tutorial segment for underwater combat. “But, that part’s actually a tutorial to teach the switched controls,” one of them replied. It makes sense, as players will have to adapt to a sudden ‘switch’ of ground control scheme to underwater. They suggest making the opening section more forgiving so players could adjust before gradually turning hard.
But Tokuda pushed back, saying that made the monster look like they were ‘going easy’ on the Hunters. “Just show Lagia[crus]’s strength already,” he kept insisting.
The exchange was shown almost casually in Game Genome as part of its behind-the-scenes look at Capcom’s game development process. Yet Japanese fans wasted no time roasting Tokuda, calling his stance a ‘classic old-man move.’ Stubborn, dismissive of younger people, and convinced he’s always right.
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“It felt like [the Director] and the others completely shut down the opinions of the new staff who were former players, just pushing their own agenda…” observed @LossTina0w0 on X.
“if this continues, won’t it just lead to talent drain and the destruction of the IP…?” asked @372aporo. He pointed out that younger developers who were actually fans themselves might eventually leave if their feedback keeps being dismissed.
“Their [Artist Kaname Fujioka and Tokuda] comments on Lagiacrus’ underwater battles were laughable, they were completely oblivious to players’ perspective,” wrote @akatan123. “Focusing on flashy graphics while neglecting the core of the game, turning it into [Final Fantasy]-ized Monster Hunter.”
In the end, Game Genome didn’t just offer a fun glimpse behind game development. It ended up showing a studio where fresh concepts from actual players get swatted down so higher-ups can flex their ideas. If Capcom wants Wilds and the Monster Hunter series to thrive, maybe it’s time to let the Hunters who grew up with the series steer the hunt.
