Sure thing, here we go:
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Oh man, the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s been out for, what, two months now? And already it’s got a bunch of games. I mean, I’m all about playing everything everywhere, but for some reason, I’ve decided my Switch is strictly for Nintendo stuff. But that fresh console smell? It’s got me poking around ports of games I’ve totally missed. Take Wild Hearts S, for instance. Didn’t catch it back in 2023, so here I am.
Now, Wild Hearts S is like this big ol’ billboard for what Switch 2 can handle with third-party stuff. Games that’d probably laugh at the old Switch’s attempts to load ’em up—like Cyberpunk 2077, they actually launched with that. What a flex, right? Anyway, Wild Hearts S doesn’t quite sparkle like it does on PS5 or Xbox Series X. I mean, duh, we’re operating on maybe slightly dialed-up PS4 graphics. Think meh textures and frame drops when things get intense. But if you’re here for gameplay over graphics, there’s some fun stuff happening.
You’re back in the driver’s seat with your own character, off hunting these things called kemono. They’re like regular animals but juiced up with nature — vines, leaves, you name it. You see a turtle and it’s got coral sticking out, and I’m like, sorry buddy, no hard feelings as I, um, accidentally take it down instead of petting it. Then there’s the boar boss, charging like it’s trying out for an RPG-action movie or something.
Most of your time? Chasing down these huge beasts. You build towers to track them, which is cool, and the karakuri—these wooden-magic-thingamajigs—come into play. They’re like your Swiss Army knife for quests. Stack some crates to make a wall, boom! Stops that angry boar in its tracks. Or mix up some springs, and suddenly you’ve built a giant hammer. Yep, pretty sweet.
And these fights? Epic. You’re there swinging and dodging for what feels like forever. Sun goes down, stars come out, like you’ve been battling for ages. Then there’s these wild beast-on-beast showdowns. I saw this Lavaback grab a Spineglider, and I’m like, okay, Wild Hearts S, you’re showing off now. Just after I’ve barely dealt with the Spineglider myself and then the Lavaback’s all, “Watch me toss it.”
Anyway, there’s a bit of a camera mess when you’re up against these gigantic creatures. I’ve kind of ventured into Monster Hunter territory by accident, it seems. Occasionally, the camera decides it’s better friends with the kemono’s backside than with me. It’s fine, though—mostly.
In the end, Wild Hearts S is fun on the Switch 2. Not going to win awards for looks, but heck, that’s not why I play on a handheld. Give me a big monster to chase down, and I’m all in for more monster mayhem. Onward to more hunts!
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