I find Monster Hunter Wilds' Arkveld to be a deeply mournful creature

I have recently immersed myself in the pleasantly numb Monster Hunter Wilds loop of smashing Arkvelds to bits. They are, as far as I can tell, the most profitable creature to bully, and I now find myself skinny dipping in the gulf of meaning that lies between the regal, resentful, mildly sassy chains hanging from the creature's armour set, and the deeply sad and laboured motions with which it swings its bodily inspiration for those chains. I get the sense that the series' solution to the uncomfortable implications of its lizard bashing has been, over the last few entries, to evil-fy its creature design to the point where it engenders less easy empathy. There's a lot of ugly, bugly bastards in Wilds, is what I'm saying. Less deep, sad lizard eyes and more chittering chitin and fuck-you dragon stares. The Arkveld's design is so threatening that it invites nothing if not: look mate, if four of us manage to take you down with scissors whittled from Original Recipe Chatacabra marrow, it's your own fault here, ya bish. Read more

Mar 21, 2025 - 12:11
 0
I find Monster Hunter Wilds' Arkveld to be a deeply mournful creature

I have recently immersed myself in the pleasantly numb Monster Hunter Wilds loop of smashing Arkvelds to bits. They are, as far as I can tell, the most profitable creature to bully, and I now find myself skinny dipping in the gulf of meaning that lies between the regal, resentful, mildly sassy chains hanging from the creature's armour set, and the deeply sad and laboured motions with which it swings its bodily inspiration for those chains.

I get the sense that the series' solution to the uncomfortable implications of its lizard bashing has been, over the last few entries, to evil-fy its creature design to the point where it engenders less easy empathy. There's a lot of ugly, bugly bastards in Wilds, is what I'm saying. Less deep, sad lizard eyes and more chittering chitin and fuck-you dragon stares. The Arkveld's design is so threatening that it invites nothing if not: look mate, if four of us manage to take you down with scissors whittled from Original Recipe Chatacabra marrow, it's your own fault here, ya bish.

Read more