The monsters play the most important role in Monster Hunter Wilds. Therefore, the lineup of monsters in every game is a factor that is hotly debated among fans. The developers explain in an interview how they decide which opponents should be included.
Why is the lineup so important? Hunting monsters is the core element of every Monster Hunter game. As a result, the choice of opponents has an immense influence on the players’ experience. For fans, it’s not only significant which new or familiar monsters will be part of the game, but also the difficulty and order of the beasts are crucial.
All these factors are considered by the developers when making decisions about the selection for a new title in the series. Other aspects also play a significant role in their approach, as they explained in an interview with IGN.
Actors are involved for the animations of the monsters:
“If this monster exists in this place, how does the ecological pyramid work here?”
What factors influenced the developers’ decisions? As Executive and Art Director Kaname Fujioka and Director Yuya Tokuda reported in the interview, the selection of monsters for the lineup depends on many aspects.
At the beginning, the following questions are posed:
We first think about what we want to offer the players when they face large monsters like Arkveld, as well as the setting, the ecosystem, and so on, which is unique to each title. We then consider the types of monsters that are necessary for that. In a way, we start putting puzzle pieces together, such as: ‘If this monster exists in this place, how does the ecological pyramid work here?’
In this process, the focus is not on how many new or old monsters would be included in relation to each other. Rather, it’s about the overall package of level design, and above all, the order of opponents that hunters will face.
But the ecological pyramid also plays a crucial role in the selection. Which monster makes sense in which setting, and what impact does it have on the environment and other monsters? The developers emphasize that it is especially important to them that the world is coherent and provides an immersive experience.
The order of the monsters is also a huge focus during the decision-making phase because it determines how players will enter the game and what their learning curve will look like. At the beginning, there need to be monsters that introduce the basics to the hunters without overwhelming them. Good teaching monsters are needed, which is why, for example, Yian Kut-Ku was chosen as one of the first monsters, which is even known among fans by the nickname “Sensei” (Japanese for “teacher”).
What aspects play a role, especially in the return of monsters? When it comes to deciding whether and which monsters from previous titles should make an appearance again, additional factors are important. Especially concerning them, it’s significant not just to bring them back into the game but also to let them “grow” with the titles:
Even when we choose old monsters for the game, we have to ensure that we remain true to the concept of the monster, while also considering how much room each monster has to develop when it is reborn with today’s technology and game design.
The goal is to ensure that fans of the series can meet old acquaintances again, but also discover new aspects of them that surprise them. They wanted to create constants that accompany the series and evolve with it and the hunters. The popularity of monsters in the community is also an important point that is taken into account.
During the interview, they particularly referred to Lagiacrus and Brachydios in this respect, as fans have wished for their return for a long time. Gore Magala is also mentioned. Overall, many flagship monsters are very popular, which is why they think particularly carefully about whether they could make a return.
We also thought about which flagship monsters were actually the coolest. This led us to names that featured in the interview. Perhaps in Monster Hunter Wilds, we have the chance to meet some of them again. For our number one, things are looking very good: Monster Hunter: The 10 Coolest Flagship Monsters in Power Ranking – You might finally meet number one again soon
