The debate around weapon designs in Monster Hunter: World left many fans wondering if Monster Hunter Wilds would follow a similar path. While we've had a glimpse of a few weapons from Wilds, it hasn't been enough to fully grasp the overall design philosophy—until now. Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda has shed light on this crucial aspect.
Speaking about the Hope series armor and weapons, Tokuda clarified, "Incidentally, weapon designs in Monster Hunter: World generally retained a certain form, but they featured a customized appearance based on which monster materials were used. However, in Wilds, each weapon has its own unique design."
This direct comparison to Monster Hunter: World's weapon designs answers the question decisively—we can rest assured that weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds will not look too similar to each other. Although some weapons in Monster Hunter: World evolved to become uniquely designed, many others remained quite similar. For instance, the final aqua line Sword and Shield closely resembles the final Pukei-Pukei Sword and Shield, and the final bone line Long Sword is nearly indistinguishable from the final Jyuratodus Long Sword. These were the most upgraded versions available at Monster Hunter: World's initial release.
From Monster Hunter World, captured on the PS4. Compare those to the designs we've seen in Monster Hunter Wilds so far in the slideshow below. All are, without a doubt, entirely unique.
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We learned about this detail while discussing Monster Hunter Wilds' new approach to starting weapons and Hope series gear, where we reveal brand-new concept art of the decidedly cool Hope armor and weapons, so don’t miss it! Also be sure to check out the in-depth interview about the Oilwell Basin and its inhabitants, including the locale's Apex, The Black Flame, named Nu Udra.
Monster Hunter Wilds is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 28. For even more, check out our exclusive 4K gameplay videos hunting Ajarakan and Rompopolo, our interview with the development team on how Monster Hunter has evolved over the years, and details on the game’s delicious food system. And look out for more a few final exclusives throughout January as part of IGN First!