Monster Hunter Wilds has definitely brought a new coat of paint to our favorite franchise and is a very ambitious title. The game features a new open world, dynamic weather, and improved mechanics from previous titles. But wait, we don’t get new weapons at all? What is Capcom cooking?
Let’s take a moment to remember that it’s been over a decade since the Monster Hunter franchise last introduced a new weapon. We haven’t gotten anything since the introduction of the Charge Blade and Insect Glaive way back in 2013’s Monster Hunter 4. It’s been two entire generations, refining existing weapons is one thing, but ten years is a stretch.
Capcom has had far too long, and there are no excuses
It’s no surprise that the 14-weapon system has been a staple of Monster Hunter, given that it’s been around for a decade. And we’re not saying it lacks anything or is bad either. Monster Hunter games offer a lot of different playstyles. It doesn’t matter if you want slow heavy hits, or fast and complex attacks, there’s a weapon for you.
That isn’t to say the developers haven’t considered it. The studio’s reluctance to introduce a 15th weapon class isn’t due to a lack of ideas. According to Monster Hunter Wilds‘ director Yuya Tokuda, creating a new weapon type is an incredibly difficult process. This is what he said when speaking to PCGamesN ahead of the Monster Hunter Wilds release.
It’s a very difficult thing. With each title we always adjust all the weapon types and maybe bring new concepts to them… The resources and time that it takes to do that is something that we’ve always decided were better spent bringing the whole lineup to a better place than to simply start adding another new one in.
You can’t deny the fact that making a new weapon for a Monster Hunter game isn’t just about designing a fresh moveset. There are a number of steps, including extensive balancing, new animations, and integration into the existing game mechanics. Then there’s the addition that it has to be different enough from what already exists, too. So we get that it’s hard. But not one in a decade? Really?
We’ve been fine without a new weapon type, but that’s not the point
One thing we can point out to justify this is the fact that once a weapon is introduced, it sets the expectation that it will return in future games. This undoubtedly adds pressure onto the developers to get it right. This difficulty, combined with the team’s focus on improving existing weapons, may have ultimately led to the decision not to add a new weapon type in MH Wilds.
It’s easy to see both sides of the argument, even community discussions have gone the same way. There are fans who believe that Capcom made the right choice by focusing on balance and polish rather than forcing a new weapon into the game. But the argument that the series has had enough time to add a new game is also valid.
In typical Capcom fashion, we really have no idea exactly what the studio is cooking up. The idea of adding new weapons is never completely off the table. And since MH Wilds has stuck with the 14 established weapon classes, maybe the next one will finally be the one. It definitely won’t be out of a popularity or revenue problem, that’s for sure.
The learning curve that comes with each of the 14 currently available weapon types is a big part of what makes a Monster Hunter game. While this variety is impressive, the franchise is overdue for a new addition.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
