Monster Hunter Wilds' unprecedented success is a well-deserved watershed moment for the series that represents a turning point from its place as a formerly niche franchise into one of Capcom’s most important and successful IP. Accordingly, the game leans headlong into its opening hours by landing a strong impression, especially where its initial hunts and roster of monsters are concerned. But despiteMonster Hunter Wilds' more exciting opening hours and early large monster hunts that drop players into the action faster than previous entries, none of those quests compare to the final portion of the game’s first chapter, in which players take on the Alpha Doshaguma.
Before players fight the Doshaguma in earnest, the fearsome beast makes regular appearances as a territorial foe that engages in skirmishes with the initial large monster hunts, but none of those clashes compare to fighting the Alpha Doshaguma inMonster Hunter Wilds' climactic opening showdown. Between the onset of a thunderstorm and the need to divert the Doshaguma from a herd of more vulnerable monsters before beginning the battle proper,Monster Hunter Wilds' first “real” encounter is arguably a perfect introduction to the unpredictability of theForbidden Lands. That players get to take in the full splendor of the opening area after the fight’s conclusion is a fitting reward that makes the victory feel all the more satisfying.
Alpha Doshaguma Is the First Real Difficulty Spike in Monster Hunter Wilds
There’s already been a lot of conversation aroundMonster Hunter Wilds' difficultythanks to new mechanics like Wounding and Focus Mode/Focus Strikes giving players a significant edge over enemies compared to previous games in the series. Even thoughMonster Hunter Wildsdrops players right into back-to-back large monster hunts in the game’s opening hours, experienced players familiar with the franchise’s core gameplay loop — and especially those who already have a strong handle on their primary weapon of choice — are likely to burn through the first several encounters with ease. But Doshaguma presents what’s arguably the game’s first real difficulty spike, and it’s one that will probably slow down newer players.
Between the terrain that players are forced to fight on — shifting sand dunes — and the presence of a raging thunderstorm, the fight against Alpha Doshaguma has several variables working against the player. Even with the advantages afford by series familiarity and the newFocus Modemechanic to exploit monster wounds, Alpha Doshaguma is a fierce foe that requires players to be on their toes and use every opportunity to press the attack while avoiding lightning strikes, devastating counter attacks, and ground that erodes away under their feet during the encounter. For a lot of hunters, Alpha Doshaguma is like to be the first fight that they suffer a faint and get carted off back to camp.
The Alpha Doshaguma Fight is the Perfect Climax to Monster Hunter Wilds' Opening Salvo
But the rewards for defeating Alpha Doshaguma are fitting given how challenging the encounter can be. Beyond opening up the next quest chain and granting access toWilds' second major biome, defeating Alpha Doshaguma clears away the sandstorm obscuring players' view of the Windward Plains. Following a much-earned victory, the sky clears, allowing players to take in the impressive vistas on display inMonster Hunter Wilds' large and dense open world sandbox.
It’s a fitting climax to an already exciting beginning, representing the crescendo of a rising tension from each preceding large monster hunt. There’s a sense thatAlpha Doshagumais whereMonster Hunter Wildsbegins in earnest, and the aftermath of the fight gives way to a succession of increasingly challenging and rewarding hunts against monsters both old and new as players continue their journey through the Forbidden Lands.
