The Nintendo Switch 2’s been around a couple months now, and its game lineup just keeps growing. As someone who juggles multiple gaming platforms, I still see it as my go-to for Nintendo exclusives. Funny thing, though, its novelty’s given me the excuse to dive into ports of games I missed out on earlier. Yeah, like Wild Hearts S—never got around to it back in 2023 when it first hit. Now, here’s the Switch 2 edition, and, well, I’m intrigued.
Wild Hearts S is kind of an early showcase for how the Switch 2 handles third-party ports. This baby’s gearing up for games you wouldn’t have dreamt of on the original Switch, like the awesome Cyberpunk 2077 at launch. Sure, Wild Hearts S doesn’t exactly sparkle as much as on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. We’re talking graphics a notch above old-school PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, okay? Textures could use a bit more shine, and the framerate? Yeah, it sometimes stutters during intense scenes. But if you’re about substance over style, dive in, there’s plenty to enjoy.
In this game, you build your character, head out, and hunt down these things called kemono. The little ones, they’re no sweat. But it’s the big guys—the giant kemono—that bring the heat. Imagine animals blended with a splash of nature—like a rabbit all decked out in vines. Or a boar with a bulb appendage ready to smack you silly. They’re both stunning and a bit horrifying. Not gonna lie, I once killed a turtle with coral on its back—didn’t mean to. Sorry, turtle!
The real deal? It’s all about those big hunts. You scout around, track these beasts, and use towers to pinpoint their spots. Here’s where it gets interesting—the karakuri. Think magical wooden gadgets that help explore and commit a little mayhem. The more hunts you embark on, the more karakuri you pile up. Like, in a battle, stacking six crates makes a wall to block a boar’s rampage. Or three gliders can whip up healing mists. It’s crafty, wild stuff.
When you finally square off against a kemono, with your karakuri arsenal, it’s epic. These battles are long hauls—feel like a warrior going toe-to-toe with nature’s meanest. Oh, and as you’re bruising up these beasties, time passes, like sunset to starry skies. I mean, sure, twenty minutes feels like a whole day slaying a Kingtusk!
Ever see a Lavaback toss around a Spineglider like it’s weightless? It’s chaos. Wild Hearts S feels alive, and, well, peril is everywhere. Just beat a Spineglider and then, bam, Lavaback’s all swinging it around like Hulk and Loki. Yup, no breaks for me.
The downside, though—camera jank exists. Big kemono battles had me reminiscing about large creature face-offs in FromSoftware games. Camera goes all wonky, glitching through models, showing a kemono’s empty insides. Cliffs? Avoid them. Yeah, getting too close means losing sight of my character, instead, watching the critter’s backside while it squashes me. Charming, right?
Despite the quirks, Wild Hearts S fits snugly in the Switch 2 collection. No jaw-dropping graphics here, but who cares with handheld gaming, anyway? Chasing these beasts is a wild, addictive loop, and I’m all in for more monster hunting while I’m out and about.
