For fans of the *Monster Hunter* series, one of the most thrilling aspects is crafting new equipment using materials gathered from their hunts. Every hunter knows the satisfaction of completing a full armor set and matching weapon, achieved through repeated battles with the same monster.
The core concept of equipment in the Monster Hunter series has remained consistent since the earliest games: defeat monsters and harness their power through equipment crafted from their remains. Players rely on their skills to take down formidable monsters and then use those monsters' abilities to enhance their own strength.
In an interview with IGN, Monster Hunter Wilds Executive Director and Art Director Kaname Fujioka elaborated on the philosophy behind the game's equipment. "While the range of our designs has expanded, we used to focus heavily on the idea that wearing Rathalos' equipment would make you resemble Rathalos." The new title introduces fresh monsters, each with unique and colorful equipment. For instance, Rompopolo, designed to resemble a mad scientist, features a head armor piece styled like a plague doctor's mask. You can view the armor set in the hunt video below.
Amidst these distinctive monster equipment sets, the developers encourage players to pay special attention to the starting equipment worn by your hunter at the beginning of the game.
Fujioka shared, "I designed the starting weapons for all 14 weapon types from scratch. This is a first for me. Traditionally, new hunters start with basic, primitive weapons. However, as the protagonist is a chosen hunter in this game, it felt inappropriate for them to carry such simple gear. I wanted to make players feel like stars, even with their starting equipment."
Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda added, "In Monster Hunter: World, weapons generally maintained a consistent form but varied in appearance based on the monster materials used. However, in Wilds, each weapon boasts a unique design."
These starting weapons are crafted to reflect the narrative where you play as an experienced hunter chosen to explore the Forbidden Lands. Tokuda further noted that the starting armor is meticulously designed to align with the game's storyline.
"The starting armor for this game is called the Hope series," he explained. "It's designed to be so stylish that you could feasibly wear it throughout the entire game without it feeling out of place."
The Hope set, characterized by its deep emerald green base color, transforms into an outfit with a hooded long coat when fully assembled. Fujioka detailed the complexity of its creation, "We've put more effort into the Hope series than any other equipment in this game. In previous titles, upper-body and lower-body armor were separate, and it was challenging to create a cohesive look like a coat. We managed to achieve a single flowing hooded coat in this game by dedicating substantial in-game resources to it. Of course, players will discover numerous other equipment pieces as they progress, and we encourage them to experiment with different weapons. The Hope series is designed to be subtly elegant rather than overly conspicuous."
Starting a game with equipment that has received such meticulous attention from the creators is a true luxury. The 14 starting weapons and the Hope series are crafted to appear as gear worthy of a star hunter. We eagerly anticipate examining their intricate details in the final game.
