Wild Hearts, EA and Koei Tecmo's surprise hit hunting action game that has understandably often been compared to Monster Hunter, has been entertaining fans of the genre since its trial version launched just a few days before the launch of the full game.
Wild Hearts also seems like it's similar to recent mainline Pokemon games, especially due to their similar mythological inspirations. A handful of both bigger and smaller monsters, known in Wild Hearts as Kemono, are separated between small and giant Kemono classifications. They even look quite a bit like a few Pocket Monsters across the series' multiple generations.
8 Lavaback
The Lavaback, a fire element baboon-like Kemono with the unique ability to extend its arms, has several similarities with various simian Pokemon. While its fire element is similar to the Fire-typing of the Infernape line from the fourth Pokemon generation, it's more similar in appearance to the third-generation Pokemon Slaking and the eighth-generation Pokemon Rillaboom and Zarude.
Like the Lavaback, these three Pokemon are based on various simian creatures. Slaking and Rillaboom are partially inspired by gorillas, and Zarude is inspired by black lemurs, baboons, and mandrills, with the latter two also seeming to inspire the Lavaback and its Cobalt variant.
7 Earthbreaker
The Earthbreaker, a key giant Kemono in the story of Wild Hearts, is a massive bear-like creature that looks mostly made of rock. As such, it appears somewhat similar to the first-generation Pokemon Golem and the third-generation legendary Pokemon Regirock.
Both with bodies primarily made out of solid rock; Golem is a Rock and Ground-type Pokemon, while Regirock is a pure Rock-type, though neither of these Pokemon is also mammalian, as Earthbreaker is. Golem's rock hides can withstand dynamite explosions, and older members of the species don't shed their hides and grow moss as a result, similar to the Earthbreaker's durability and the plant life growing on its body.
6 Fumebeak
The Fumebeak, a poison-flinging black bird commonly found in Harugasumi Way, looks similar to the eighth-generation Steel and Flying-type Pokemon Corviknight and its Gigantamax form. Corviknight's standard form looks like the Fumebeak's standard form, while its Gigantamax form looks more like the Fumebeak's enraged form due to both having glowing marks on their bodies.
Interestingly, despite their similarities, Corviknight would be immune to the Fumebeak's poison because of its Steel typing, as Steel-type Pokemon are immune to poison. Strangely enough, the Fumebeak seems to be negatively affected by its own toxic vapor, and it sometimes seems to be in pain when spreading it.
5 Deathstalker
The Deathstalker is a giant wolf-like Kemono, the first giant Kemono you encounter in Wild Hearts. It also resembles the Midday and Dusk forms of seventh-generation Pokemon Lycanroc and the eighth-generation legendary hero duo Pokemon Zacian and Zamazenta.
Like the Deathstalker, all of these Pokemon are based on wolves, with the specific forms of Lycanroc being inspired by Hokkaido Wolves and Zacian and Zamazenta being inspired by both real-life and mythological wolves. The Deathstalker may be based on Hokkaido Wolves due to its ice-related abilities, but it looks more similar to the hero duo.
4 Golden Tempest
The Golden Tempest, a ferocious saber-toothed tiger-like Kemono found in the Golden Sea area of Wild Hearts, looks similar to the second-generation Electric-type Legendary Beast Pokemon Raikou. These marvelous saber-toothed beasts are known for their impressive lightning-fast speed and ability to control certain weather phenomena.
The Golden Tempest can summon powerful winds to blow back even the most experienced of hunters, becoming even stronger when it's enraged. At the same time, Raikou carries rainclouds that allow it to summon lightning bolts whenever it wants. It can also absorb electricity to heal itself when using its Volt Absorb ability.
3 Icebloom Hound
The Icebloom Hound is a small Kemono that appears in the Fuyufusagi Fort area of Wild Hearts. It also resembles a more realistic version of the second-generation legendary Pokemon Suicune. Suicune is a pure Water-type Pokemon but learns several Ice-type moves naturally. It is also associated with the north wind, can purify any nearby water it touches, and tends to avoid humans when possible.
Icebloom Hounds prefer to live in packs and will prey on any larger Kemono they scavenge food from if the latter shows any signs of weakness. Regarding their habits and abilities, Suicune and Icebloom Hounds couldn't be more different, but their similar canine influences cause them to resemble each other.
2 Goldshard
The Goldshard, a giant Kemono that appears in the Akikure Canyon area of Wild Hearts, looks similar to the first-generation Pokemon Sandslash and its seventh-generation Alolan variant. Both are seemingly based on porcupines; these spiny creatures have similar color schemes. In fact, because of its characteristics, the Goldshard is almost like a combined version of the regional Sandslash variants.
The Goldshard has golden brown spines similar to Sandslash but can crystallize them and then shoot them out, giving them a bluish-white hue in the process, which makes them look more like Alolan Sandslash's ice-covered steel spines.
1 Ragetail Pup
One of the first Kemono you encounter in Wild Hearts is Ragetail Pups, the juvenile form of the Ragetail. These flowery rodents look like the Land Forme of Shaymin, a mythical fourth-generation Grass-type known as the Gratitude Pokemon.
Shaymin is not a rat, but more similar to a hedgehog, and can change into its Sky Forme when exposed to a Gracidea Flower, which gives it a secondary Flying-type and allows it to Fly. In a way, both adult Ragetails and Shaymin are related to gratitude, as Ragetail Pups are hungry little scamps that are said to consume the food equivalent of a house every day, and only one out of a hundred live to adulthood.