Monster Hunter Wilds: Developers Discuss Weapon Updates - IGN

With each new release in the Monster Hunter series, fans eagerly anticipate how their beloved weapons will evolve and feel within the new game's mechanics. Monster Hunter: World broke away from segmented areas, while Monster Hunter Rise introduced the innovative Wirebug mechanic. Now, Monster Hunter Wilds promises a seamless hunting experience, prompting curiosity about how its 14 weapon types have been tuned to fit this vision.

To shed light on these crucial gameplay elements, IGN interviewed Monster Hunter Wilds' art director and executive director, Kaname Fujioka, and the game's director, Yuya Tokuda. Fujioka, who directed the first Monster Hunter game, and Tokuda, who has contributed to the series since Monster Hunter Freedom, offered insights into the design philosophies guiding weapon adjustments in Wilds.

IGN First Monster Hunter Wilds Oilwell Basin Artwork

6 ImagesIn our discussion, we delved into the conceptualization and development of various weapons, highlighting the adjustments made post-feedback from the November 2024 Open Beta Test.

Adjustments for a Seamless World

Tokuda explained that Wilds' seamless map and dynamic weather necessitated significant changes to weapon mechanics, particularly for ranged weapons like Light and Heavy Bowguns and the Bow. Traditionally, these weapons required returning to base for restocking, a process Wilds eliminates. To adapt, Tokuda revealed, "We designed it so that basic damage sources can be used without expending resources. Normal, pierce, and spread ammo for Bowguns, and coatings for Bows, can fire unlimited times while managing a gauge." This change balances the gameplay while allowing players to use prepared or field-found materials for powerful attribute-enhanced ammo.

Fujioka emphasized that these changes extend beyond mechanics into visual and animation design. "We wanted to show the movement of charging a Bowgun for a special shot convincingly," he noted, highlighting the visual clarity in depicting player actions, which is enhanced by technological advancements.

Focus Strikes

A new system in Wilds allows players to wound monsters through sustained attacks on specific body parts. Hunters can then use Focus Strikes in Focus Mode to deal massive damage to these wounds. Fujioka and Tokuda emphasized that while Focus Strikes are visually distinct for each weapon, their effects are standardized to avoid extreme disparities between weapons. "We aimed to show each weapon's uniqueness through animations, but we're tuning them to be more standardized for the official release," Tokuda explained.

The wound system introduces strategic depth, allowing hunters to exploit monster weaknesses and create scars that alter future interactions. Tokuda noted that environmental interactions and monster turf wars can pre-wound creatures, offering strategic advantages and potentially extra rewards like gems.

The Tempo of the Great Sword

Tokuda discussed the development process, revealing that the Great Sword serves as a prototype for weapon animations. "We begin with the Great Sword when creating animations," Fujioka added, emphasizing its role as a versatile weapon that sets the standard for other weapon designs. The Great Sword's heavy tempo is a hallmark of Monster Hunter, and its animations inspire the development of other weapons to ensure a balanced gameplay experience.

Weapons with Personality

Both directors stressed the importance of maintaining each weapon's unique identity. Fujioka remarked, "We focus on designing what makes a weapon unique rather than making all weapons equally easy to use." Tokuda exemplified this with the Hunting Horn, designed to excel in area control and utilize its unique sound element. He noted adjustments to prevent the Hunting Horn from being an overpowered secondary weapon choice, ensuring balanced gameplay.

Build Your Own Skills

Discussing endgame content, Tokuda explained that Wilds' decoration system allows for personalized skill builds, similar to Monster Hunter: World. Players can create single-skill decorations through alchemy, ensuring they can tailor their equipment to their playstyle without being hindered by RNG.

Fujioka shared his personal experience with World, lamenting his inability to complete his build due to a missing Shield Jewel 2. This highlights the importance of accessible skill customization in Wilds.

When asked about their favorite weapons, Tokuda mentioned his preference for long-range weapons like the Heavy and Light Bowguns and the adaptable Sword and Shield. Fujioka, a dedicated Lance user, appreciated the subtle yet impactful changes made to the Lance in Wilds, which enhance positioning and minor adjustments during combat.

Community Feedback and Future Adjustments

The open beta test provided valuable feedback, particularly regarding the Lance. Tokuda acknowledged the community's concerns, stating, "The Lance wasn't embodying its concept as a weapon." He assured that the development team is making significant improvements to ensure the Lance meets player expectations in the final release.

The Monster Hunter Wilds developers are committed to refining the game based on player feedback, ensuring that the 14 weapon types offer a diverse and engaging experience. For a detailed look at these adjustments, check out the official community update video where Tokuda discusses performance enhancements and weapon changes in depth.

Through this interview, it's clear that Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to deliver a seamless and richly detailed hunting experience, with weapon tuning that respects both the game's heritage and the evolving expectations of its passionate player base.