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

If you ask players what gets them excited about the *Monster Hunter* series, many will enthusiastically mention crafting new equipment using materials gathered from their hunts. Every seasoned hunter has experienced the thrill of completing a head-to-toe armor set paired with a matching weapon, achieved through relentless pursuit of the same monster.

The concept of equipment in the Monster Hunter series has been a cornerstone since the earliest games: defeat the monsters and harness their power through equipment crafted from their remains. Players leverage their own prowess to slay formidable monsters, then adopt those monsters' abilities to become even more powerful.

In an interview with IGN, Monster Hunter Wilds Executive Director and Art Director Kaname Fujioka elaborated on the philosophy behind Monster Hunter's equipment. "While our design range has expanded significantly, we used to be very focused on the idea that wearing Rathalos' equipment would make you resemble Rathalos." The latest installment introduces new monsters, each with their own unique and colorful equipment. For instance, Rompopolo, designed to resemble a mad scientist, sports head armor reminiscent of a plague doctor's mask. You can view the armor set in the hunt video below.

Amidst the array of distinctive monster equipment, the developers emphasize the importance of the starting equipment that your hunter wears at the beginning of the game.

"I designed the starting weapons for all 14 weapon types from scratch," Fujioka revealed. "This is the first time I've done this, to the best of my recollection. Previously, new hunters began with basic, primitive weapons. However, since the protagonist in this game is a chosen hunter, it didn't feel right for them to carry something so plain. I wanted the starting equipment to make you feel like a star right from the start."

Hope armor and weapon concept art. Courtesy Capcom. Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda added, "In Monster Hunter: World, weapon designs maintained a consistent form but varied in appearance based on the monster materials used. In Wilds, each weapon boasts its own unique design."

These starting weapons are crafted to reflect the narrative that you are an experienced hunter, selected to explore the Forbidden Lands. Tokuda also noted that the starting armor is meticulously detailed to align with the game's story.

"The starting armor for this game is called the Hope series," he said. "Its design is so striking that you could feasibly use it throughout the entire game without it feeling out of place."

Hope armor concept art. Courtesy Capcom. With its deep emerald green base color, the Hope set transforms into an outfit featuring a hooded long coat upon completion. Fujioka explained that creating the set was no small feat, with each piece designed to stand alone yet harmonize to form a cohesive ensemble.

"We've actually devoted more attention to the Hope series than any other equipment in this game," he said. "In previous games, armor was split into upper and lower body parts, and we couldn't depict them as a single flowing garment like a coat. Due to gameplay mechanics, each piece had to be separate, but I wanted to see if we could create a seamless hooded coat. We achieved this in Wilds by investing significant in-game resources. Of course, players will discover a variety of equipment as they progress, and we encourage them to experiment with different weapons. That's why we designed the Hope series to be understated yet elegantly cool."

It's a true luxury to begin a game with equipment that the creators have poured so much effort and thought into. The 14 starting weapons and the Hope series are meticulously crafted to resemble the gear of a distinguished star hunter. We eagerly anticipate examining their intricate details in the final game.