Creating some of the most memorable monsters in gaming can't be easy, but Capcom seems to nail it time and time again with its Monster Hunter series.
Really, these fearsome beasts are the star of the show, but it's not just their designs that catch the eye — it's the way they move, the way they're so deliberately animated.
Capcom actually uses motion capture as a basis for its creatures, which results in some truly fascinating behind-the-scenes footage. It just doesn't get much better than seeing a motion capture actor get down on all fours are roar towards the sky (and yes, they really do roar).
A quick video from PlayStation Access perfectly sells the process. It shows some previously unseen motion capture performances for Monster Hunter Wilds, and it's a thoroughly entertaining watch.
Capcom's dedication to motion capturing Monster Hunter's often absurd animations is commendable — and it's worth pointing out that the company's spent a lot of money on state-of-the-art studios and technology.
Last year, Capcom opened a huge motion capture studio in Osaka, Japan, and we're pretty sure it's the same studio that you can see in the above video.
New previews are positive
It's all in motion
And hey, if it keeps delivering quality entertainment like this, we think it's worth every penny.
Robert (or Rob if you're lazy) is an assistant editor of Push Square, and has been a fan of PlayStation since the 90s, when Tekken 2 introduced him to the incredible world of video games. He still takes his fighting games seriously, but RPGs are his true passion. The Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales — he's played 'em all. A little too much, some might say.
Funny! They had a ball doing that.
So the monsters don't move like wild animals, they move like human beings pretending to be wild animals?
If it works, it works.
The real monsters were the humans all along.
The best in gaming? Nah.
But among other Capcom games, I think their DMC 3 mocap is still
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