How a designer's desire for verticality created a medieval Japanese landscape
In short: When developing Monster Hunter Rise, the team aimed for vertical gameplay rather than a specific aesthetic. However, the introduction of tools like Wirebugs to scale environments unintentionally birthed a world inspired by Far Eastern architecture and ninja-like movement.
The design philosophy behind Monster Hunter Rise, directed by Yasunori Ichinose, focused on verticality. To facilitate this, the developers introduced the Wirebug, a tool similar to the Clutch Claw from Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. This mechanic allows players to grapple across gaps, scale heights, and even engage in Wyvern Riding to control certain monsters. This emphasis on vertical movement fundamentally shaped the game's level design, resulting in a seamless map approach that favors climbing and swinging over the traditional zoned areas of earlier titles.
This focus on verticality led to an unexpected aesthetic outcome. While the team did not initially set out to create a specific cultural setting, the vertical nature of the levels naturally evolved into a medieval Japanese or Far Eastern aesthetic. Director Ichinose, who previously worked on the Asia-exclusive Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, sought a setting for Kamura Village that shared the Japanese-inspired spirit of Yukumo Village without being a direct reuse. This environment complemented the new gameplay mechanics, allowing for a style of movement reminiscent of ninjas.
The development of Kamura Village and its surrounding world was also influenced by the technical constraints of the Nintendo Switch. To ensure the game felt modern, the team utilized Capcom's RE Engine, though implementing the zoneless approach of Monster Hunter: World on the Switch caused production delays. To maintain portability and ease of use, the developers specifically designed the Palamute—a new dog-like companion—to allow players to navigate the map quickly without depleting their stamina.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Monster Hunter Rise
- Also: Wikidata — Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Demo · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Monster Hunter Rise · CC0
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