Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils New Weapon Start and Hope Series Gear - IGN First

If you ask avid players what excites them about the *Monster Hunter* series, many will undoubtedly mention crafting new equipment using materials gathered during their hunts. The thrill of piecing together a complete armor set and matching weapon, after relentlessly pursuing the same monster, is a joy every hunter knows well.

The concept of equipment in the Monster Hunter series has remained consistent since the earliest games: defeat monsters and harness their power by crafting equipment from their remains. Players rely on their own prowess to take down these formidable creatures, then equip themselves with the monsters' abilities to become even stronger.

In an insightful interview with IGN, Kaname Fujioka, the Executive Director and Art Director for *Monster Hunter Wilds*, elaborates on the series' equipment philosophy. "While our design range has expanded, we were initially very focused on the idea that wearing Rathalos' equipment should make you look like Rathalos." The new title introduces fresh monsters, each with distinctive and vibrant equipment sets. For instance, Rompopolo, designed to resemble a mad scientist, features a unique head armor piece reminiscent of a plague doctor's mask. You can see this armor set in action in the hunt video below.

Amidst these unique monster equipment sets, the developers emphasize the importance of the starting equipment that your hunter wears at the beginning of the game.

Fujioka shares, "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. But in this game, as the protagonist is a chosen hunter, it didn't feel right for them to carry such plain gear. I wanted to make it feel like you're a bit of a star, even with starting equipment."

Yuya Tokuda, Director of *Monster Hunter Wilds*, adds, "In *Monster Hunter: World*, weapons retained a consistent form but had customized appearances based on monster materials. However, in *Wilds*, each weapon boasts its own unique design."

These starting weapons are crafted to reflect the narrative that you are an experienced hunter, chosen to explore the Forbidden Lands. Tokuda notes that the starting armor also reflects meticulous design to align with the game's story.

"The starting armor for this game is the Hope series," he states. "The design is so striking that you could wear it until the game's end without it feeling out of place."

The Hope set, with its deep emerald green base, transforms into a hooded long coat when completed. Fujioka explains the complexity behind the set's construction, highlighting how each piece stands alone yet forms a cohesive ensemble.

"We've given more attention to the Hope series than any other equipment in this game," he says. "Previous games featured separate upper and lower body armor, and it was challenging to depict them as a single unit like a coat. Due to gameplay design, we had to treat each piece individually, but I wanted to create a flowing hooded coat. We achieved this in *Wilds* by dedicating significant in-game resources to it. Of course, as players progress, they'll discover numerous equipment options, and we encourage them to experiment with various weapons. That's why we designed the Hope series to be subtly elegant yet stylish."

Starting a game with such thoughtfully crafted equipment is a luxury. The 14 starting weapons and the Hope series are meticulously designed to resemble the gear of a distinguished star hunter. We eagerly anticipate exploring every detail of these in the final game.