Potential Issues with the New Armor System in Monster Hunter Wilds

The excitement surrounding Monster Hunter Wilds is palpable. As one of Capcom’s most successful franchises in recent history, this installment is set to become one of the most eagerly awaited titles in the series. It boasts impressive graphics that far surpass previous entries. While some concerns linger regarding performance, MH Wilds promises substantial enhancements in character customization. Drawing inspiration from Dragon’s Dogma 2, the updates in character creation extend well beyond aesthetics.

In what appears to be a significant evolution from MH Rise, the first open beta revealed that player characters will engage in dialogue and interact meaningfully with their environments, diverging from the previously silent protagonists. Capcom is integrating more RPG elements, allowing players to choose dialogue options, thereby broadening the title’s appeal. Although it seems to lean more towards RPG mechanics, this shift may come with potential compromises.

Monster Hunter Wilds Introduces Unisex Armor

A First in the Monster Hunter Series

Open Beta features in Monster Hunter Wilds

Traditionally, the Monster Hunter series has featured gender-locked armor, a practice that streamlined development but limited early-game customization for players. During the initial phases of Low Rank quests, players could only equip one armor design per monster, a restriction now lifted by the inclusion of unisex armor in MH Wilds. This allows all characters, regardless of body type, to don two different designs.

While the overall number of armor designs per monster remains the same as in MH World and Rise, this new system enables players to mix and match the previously gender-segmented designs. There are no combat advantages or stat differences between armor variations, yet early-game hunters are granted greater customization options ahead of progressing to higher ranks. This is particularly beneficial for newcomers, who often invest many hours into the game before reaching late-game content.

Overall, Monster Hunter can be categorized into mainline games (MH 1-4, World, Wilds) and experimental spin-offs (such as Generations, Rise, and Stories).

This new direction also aims to mitigate past criticisms regarding the portrayal of female characters in the series, who often wielded revealing armor designs. With the introduction of unisex armor, male characters can also opt for sheer styles, while female hunters can adopt traditionally bulkier designs. Players can further choose to mix and match armor styles by preference. On the surface, this unisex armor system seems beneficial, offering expansive customization options.

MH Wilds’ Unisex Armor Could Be a Double-Edged Sword

Mid- & Late-Game Characters Might Get Less Customization

A Doshaguma lunging at a player character, mouth wide open in Monster Hunter Wilds.

However, the unisex armor system could inadvertently limit customization options for Monster Hunter Wilds. Previous titles included an alpha and beta armor system after completing High Rank missions, allowing players to choose between two distinct designs that provided varying attributes. While this system was also gender-locked, it effectively doubled the available armor designs for each monster hunted, a variety that may be compromised with the introduction of unisex armor.

In addition, alpha and beta armors in MH World offered different slots for attributes and decorations, enhancing personalization.

While this perspective may seem defeatist, the franchise has previously streamlined armor types by removing features. Earlier games like MH4 and Generations distinguished between Gunner and Sword armor types intended for ranged and melee combat, providing even more customization. However, this differentiation was simplified in MH World, where melee weapons received physical defense boosts while ranged weapons offered elemental defenses. Although a universal armor system simplifies mechanics, it may also reduce design options.

Following the unisex armor model, Capcom might choose to eliminate the alpha and beta armor system altogether. The initial MH Wilds beta only provided access to early-game gear and the first area, leaving uncertainty regarding the inclusion of established armor systems. The loss of such features, particularly when defenders of aesthetic variety are taken into account, would be disappointing for longtime fans.

MH Wilds May Have Less Armor Variation

There Could Be Fewer Armor Designs in Wild

Monster Hunter Wilds Palico with a dragon — Custom image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

While the unisex armor system may theoretically offer equal customization compared to previous alpha and beta setups—since each hunter can choose from two designs—it ultimately provides only two designs per armor set instead of four. Losing variations for the sake of a unisex approach would be a disheartening trade-off. The excitement generated from envisioning armor crafted from monster parts is integral to the gameplay experience.

Conversely, an optimistic outlook suggests that Capcom might retain the alpha and beta armor systems alongside the unisex options. If this is the case, players at High Rank and beyond could experience unprecedented levels of customization, particularly if features uniform across ranks, such as Layer Armor like that introduced in MH World: Iceborne, are implemented. Given the game’s impressive graphical improvements and open world design, this combination would create a rich player experience, though it raises questions about resource allocation.

A common trend in gaming is the loss of features when a franchise evolves. However, the absence of Gunner and Sword fittings in MH World did not impede its astronomical success, firmly establishing popularity within the series. Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to introduce numerous series-first features, but it remains critical that past functionalities are not forsaken in pursuit of new innovations. Ideally, the best elements of both armor systems could coexist, resulting in a wealth of customization options that would enhance both aesthetics and functionality.

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