Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils New Starting Weapons and Hope Series Gear - IGN First

If you ask players what gets them excited about the *Monster Hunter* series, many will enthusiastically mention the thrill of crafting new equipment from the materials they've gathered during their hunts. There's a special kind of joy in assembling a complete armor set and matching weapon, achieved through relentless pursuit of the same monster time and again.

The core concept of equipment in the *Monster Hunter* series has remained consistent since its inception: defeat monsters and harness their power by crafting equipment from their remains. Players leverage their own skills to vanquish formidable beasts, then adopt those creatures' abilities through their crafted gear, enhancing their own strength in the process.

In an insightful interview with IGN, Kaname Fujioka, the Executive Director and Art Director for *Monster Hunter Wilds*, shared the philosophy behind the game's equipment design. "While our design range has expanded significantly, we were once very focused on the idea that if you wear Rathalos' equipment, you should resemble Rathalos," he noted. This latest installment introduces new monsters, each offering unique and colorful equipment options. Take Rompopolo, for instance, a monster designed to evoke a mad scientist, which comes with a distinctive head armor resembling a plague doctor's mask. You can witness this armor set in action in the hunt video below.

Amidst the array of distinctive monster-based equipment, the developers are keen for players to take a closer look at the starting gear that hunters begin with. Fujioka elaborated, "I designed the starting weapons for all 14 weapon types from scratch. That's a first for me. Typically, players start as novice hunters with basic, primitive weapons. But in *Monster Hunter Wilds*, where you play as a chosen hunter, it wouldn't make sense to wield such plain weapons. I aimed to make the starting equipment feel as though you're already a bit of a star."

Yuya Tokuda, Director of *Monster Hunter Wilds*, added, "While *Monster Hunter: World* maintained a consistent weapon form with custom appearances based on monster materials, *Wilds* features entirely unique designs for each weapon." These starting weapons are crafted to reflect the narrative of being an experienced hunter tasked with exploring the Forbidden Lands. Tokuda also highlighted that the starting armor set, known as the Hope series, was meticulously designed to align with the game's storyline.

The Hope armor set boasts a deep emerald green base color and transforms into a striking hooded long coat upon completion. Fujioka explained the complexity of its design, "We've put more effort into the Hope series than any other equipment in this game. In past games, upper and lower body armor were separate pieces, unable to form a cohesive outfit like a coat. However, in *Wilds*, we invested significant resources to create a single flowing hooded coat. While players will encounter numerous equipment options throughout the game, and we encourage them to experiment with various weapons, the Hope series is designed to be subtly elegant yet cool."

Starting a game with meticulously crafted equipment is a true luxury. The 14 starting weapons and the Hope series armor are designed to reflect the grandeur of a star hunter. We eagerly anticipate exploring the intricate details of these items in the full release of the game.