Monster Hunter Wilds players use the Palico character creator to remember lost pets: "I have shed tears multiple times but I also feel happy that I can still fight monsters with my buddy"

gamesradar.com:

Monster Hunter Wilds beta players were quick to recreate their old Monster Hunter World characters and craft countless cosplays and lookalikes. Another, more heartwarming character creation trend stood out to me, too. Plenty of players designed their cat-like Palico companions to resemble their real-life pet dogs or cats, sometimes in tribute to a late furry family member. I reached out to several players remembering their lost pets to talk about their experience – and, obviously, ask about their cute pets.

NahricNovak told me about Sparky, the Australian Shepherd pictured above. "I named him when I was super young," they say. "He ran so fast sparks flew behind him." Sparky was notorious for briefly running away in his young years, but he eventually "retired" and stuck around full-time, eventually helping to oversee another family dog named May'ah and "show her how to act." He was here for Monster Hunter World but has since passed away. Now he'll live on as NahricNovak's trusty Palico. 

"My brother picked him out and he was technically a gift for my birthday," NahricNovak recalls. "I think I was around 4 or 5. He lived for 18 years, finally passing after a series of health issues starting when he was 17. We don't really know what happened to his left eye. One day it was just hurt in a way that couldn't be saved. Knowing how he'd chase animals I can't help but think something finally fought back."

"It's a mix of emotions," they say of their Palico. "I teared up recreating him. It made me think of everything. From braving the dark after a nightmare to get him to help me sleep, sneaking him into hotels on family trips, to feeling his heart stop as I held him in his last moments. During a long 18-year life a dog stops being a pet and becomes a brother, a son, a member of the family. I usually don't make my character in Monster Hunter look like me. I couldn't help putting a little more of myself into my character this time though. I know he'd want me beside him as