Wild Hearts S on Switch 2 Revitalizes a Hidden Gem

Okay, so I’ve got this thing for gaming. Like, big time. And the Nintendo Switch 2? Yeah, it’s been hanging out for a couple of months now. Somehow, it always ends up being my go-to for all things Nintendo. Dunno why. Feels like it was meant to be that way. But anyway, during my last gaming spree, I stumbled on this gem — Wild Hearts S. Never got around to it when it first dropped.

Now Wild Hearts S is like a sneak peek into the kind of hefty games the Switch 2 can handle — like Cyberpunk 2077. How cool is that? But I wouldn’t say it’s on par with PS5 or Xbox Series X graphically, that’s for sure. It’s like if PlayStation 4 and Xbox One had a better-looking sibling. Yeah, textures are kinda meh, especially when things get crazy on-screen. But who cares about looks when there’s so much fun to be had, right?

You’re this character — totally your creation, by the way — off hunting kimono. Small ones are less of a fuss, but then you’ve got these hulking beasts, like nature’s version of Frankenstein’s creations. Picture a rabbit dressed in vines or a boar wearing leaves. Seriously, some designer must’ve had a wild imagination. It’s all about hunting these creatures, but sometimes I feel a bit sorry for them. Like that turtle… I found it with coral all over its shell. Weird moment of guilt hit when I killed it instead of just petting it. Oops.

And those battles? Whoa! There’s something exhilarating about facing off these creatures. You sort of wander around first, build these towers to locate them and then boom! You’re in. There’s this wooden stuff you can whip up — they call it karakuri. Mix six crates, and you get a wall to mess up a boar’s charge. Or go fancy with a swinging hammer or a healing mist. It’s creativity meets chaos.

Okay, now let’s talk battles. Imagine this: your fight drags on from bright daylight to a sky full of stars. It’s intense and feels like you’ve been at it for—what?—hours? Makes me chuckle. The Lavaback shows up too, smashing another creature like it’s nothing. Seriously, it’s like watching Hulk smash around poor Loki. Unexpected, but awesome. Except, right after I put all my energy into beating that first monster. Fun times!

Though, gotta admit, the camera has a mind of its own when these big baddies are around. Sometimes I’d end up on a cliff or lost inside a creature thanks to the wonky camera. Left me swearing at my screen, but hey, it adds character, right?

Despite the quirks, Wild Hearts S makes my top list on the Switch 2. Maybe it doesn’t pack a visual punch, but who cares when you’re stalking beasts on a handheld? It’s frantic, addictive, and pure gold for those quick gaming fixes. Counting down to my next hunt already!