There's a lot of hype behind page out of Dragon's Dogma 2's book, but those improvements aren't where it ends.

If the first open beta test is anything to go by, the player character will actually be a character, talking and interacting with the world, rather than being a nodding mute like in prior titles. This seems to be an evolution from MH Rise, since hunters began being vocal here, and Capcom seems to be adding more RPG elements by having the player choose dialogue options. In an effort to appeal to a wider audience, Wilds seems to be more RPG-heavy in general, with its open world and greater customization, but that might come with a sacrifice.

Monster Hunter Wilds Introduces Unisex Armor

A First In The Monster Hunter Series

Historically, the Monster Hunter series has always had gender-locked armor. This was likely done to cut the need to make armor fit different character models, saving time while still allowing characters to wear different things; however, it did restrict armor customization in the early game. During the Low Rank questing stage, players could only choose one armor design for each monster that armor was associated with. In MH Wilds this issue is alleviated with unisex armor, allowing characters of any body type to wear two different designs.

Although this means that there are technically the same number of armor designs per monster as in MH World and Rise, players can mix and match the two different designs that would have been segmented for male and female characters. There aren't any different attributes or stat changes between these armor designs, but at least early-game hunters get a bit of extra customization before getting into High and Master rank. This approachability especially helps newcomers, considering that late-game Monster Hunter usually takes place dozens of hours into a playthrough.

Monster Hunter tends to be split into mainline titles (MH 1- 4, World, Wilds) and more experimental spin-offs (like Generations, Rise, and Stories).

This also helps Capcom get away from the controversy of having female hunters in the Monster Hunter franchise typically wearing skimpier armor. Now, male characters can wear these more sheer outfits, while female characters can wear the bulkier armor designs typically associated with male hunters. Then again, female characters can still wear the lighter armor designs if the player wishes, while male characters can keep their more typical armor, or characters can mix and match. On paper, there doesn't seem much of a downside to this new unisex armor system.

MH Wilds' Unisex Armor Could Be A Double-Edged Sword

Mid- & Late-Game Characters Might Get Less Customization

There is a chance that MH Wilds' unisex armor system might not be a net positive for outfit customization. Other modern Monster Hunter games include an alpha and beta armor system after completing High Rank missions, in which players can choose from two different armor designs that will offer the hunter different attributes. Although the armor was still gender-locked, it did mean that there were four outfit designs per High Rank monster hunted, and this might be lost due to the unisex armor system.

Alpha and beta armor options in MH World have different attribute and decoration slots, depending on what is chosen.

Although this is a pessimistic point of view, Monster Hunter has lost armor types before in favor of streamlining. Older titles, like MH4 and Generations, used to have Gunner and Sword armor types meant for ranged and melee characters respectively, giving hunters even more customization for their appearance and how they would approach a hunt. This was lost in MH World in favor of giving melee weapons a physical defense buff, while ranged weapons provide an elemental defense buff. While universal armor is easier to understand, it does mean there are now fewer armor designs.

With MH Wilds introducing unisex armor, it could mean that Capcom could be cutting the alpha and beta armor system out of the game. The first MH Wilds beta test only allowed players to try out the early game gear and the first area, so it isn't known whether this is the case, but armor systems have been cut out in the past in favor of streamlining. Gunner and Sword armors offered more variation than alpha and beta armors do, so there is a chance that the system is lost for pure aesthetics, which would be a massive shame.

MH Wilds May Have Less Armor Variation

There Could Be Fewer Armor Designs In Wild

Although there would technically be just as much customization with the unisex armor system compared to the alpha and beta one seen in World and Rise, since each Hunter gets two designs to choose from per armor set, it does mean that there would be two designs per armor set instead of four. It would be a shame to sacrifice more armor designs in order to get unisex armor to work. It's always fun seeing a monster and trying to visualize how that design is going to influence the armor made from its parts.

Then again, a more optimistic point of view is that Capcom keeps the alpha and beta armor system with unisex armor instead of cutting it like Gunner and Sword armor sets. If this is the case, then High Rank and above hunters could get near-unprecedented customization, especially if MH World: Iceborne-style Layer Armor is used. Considering the strides made with the graphical fidelity of the game and the open world, it would be a lot of extra work, although the hope is that the popularity of the series will prompt Capcom to put in that effort.

Things are usually lost whenever a series attempts to make strides forward, and the lack of Gunner and Sword armor sets in MH World didn't stop it from being the explosively popular title that made the franchise as popular as it is today. Monster Hunter Wilds is doing a lot of series firsts, although the hope is that it won't forget to include prior mechanics from the series in favor of adding new ones. Hopefully, these mechanics can exist together, especially with all the customization options that unisex and alpha and beta armor sets would provide.