Monster Hunter Wilds directors reveal a whole new locale and ferocious monster to conquer through an exclusive interview. Dive into the details about the Oilwell Basin and its ruler, the Nu Udra.
Monster Hunter Wilds Introduces The Black Flame, Nu Udra
Welcome To Oilwell Basin
In an exclusive interview with IGN, Monster Hunter Wilds directors Yuya Tokuda and Kaname Fujioka introduce players to one of the areas they'll be able to explore in the full game: the Oilwell Basin, as well as the formidable monster that rules over its lands, the Nu Udra.
Oilwell Basin stands out with its vertical structure, a departure from the series' typical horizontally expansive locales. "We had two horizontally broad locales in the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, so we decided to make the Oilwell Basin a vertically connected place. The deeper you go, the more magma-filled and hot it gets," explained Fujioka. He added that the top strata are primarily oil-like swamps, creating a "gradation" in its overall structure.
Tokuda elaborated that the entire area transforms during the event known as the Plenty. When you enter around the center or bottom level, the area resembles an underwater volcano ecosystem. The team leveraged their experience from creating the Coral Highlands in Monster Hunter World to design the Oilwell Basin in this state. "During the Fallow and Inclemency, smoke emerges from everywhere in the Oilwell Basin, resembling a volcano or hot spring. But during the Plenty, it adopts a clear, marine-like tone. If you look closely at the environmental biology, you'll discover it's a region inhabited by creatures you'd expect to find on the ocean bed," Tokuda noted.
These creatures are unique and native to Oilwell Basin, enhancing the environment's distinctiveness. Despite its seemingly lifeless appearance, the basin teems with a variety of monsters and creatures.
Nu Udra, The Black Flame
Every location in a Monster Hunter game boasts an apex predator, and the Oilwell Basin is no exception. It's home to the "Black Flame," Nu Udra. This massive, octopus-like monster has a slimy, flammable body adapted to its environment. It uses its slithering tentacles to capture prey before unleashing scorching flames, ensuring a fiery demise. With Rey Dau reigning over lightning in the Windward Plains and Uth Duna wielding water in the Scarlet Forest, Nu Udra completes the elemental trio with its fire affinity.
Nu Udra's design draws inspiration from octopuses, a choice Fujioka confirmed was intentional. "I've always wanted to add a tentacled creature at some point," he said, explaining that they modified a typically aquatic creature to create a more striking appearance. They aimed for a "demonic" look, adding horn-like elements to its head. This design is complemented by its unique battle music, which evokes demonic imagery and black magic. "We had the composers include phrases and musical instruments reminiscent of black magic. I think it ended up being a unique and good piece of music," Tokuda added.
Battling Nu Udra is a formidable challenge, as it wields multiple tentacles and can execute both focused and area-of-effect attacks rapidly. It's immune to Flash Bombs, relying instead on its tentacles to sense its surroundings.
More Monsters In The Basin
Nu Udra isn't the only dominant force in the Oilwell Basin. The huge, scaly, and monkey-like Ajarakan, covered in flames, also roams the area. It employs martial arts-inspired movements and frequently uses its fists in combat, blending massive physical strength with fiery power. Ajarakan is a thrilling addition to the series' monster lineup.
Another inhabitant is the strangely globular Rompopolo, with thin needles for a mouth, which uses toxic gases in battle. Its eerie purple color and glowing red eyes evoke the image of a mad scientist. The developers drew inspiration from this archetype in designing Rompopolo, describing it as a "tricky monster." Despite its menacing appearance, its drops yield surprisingly "cute" equipment for both the Hunter and their Palico companion.
Even a monster from previous games, Gravios, last seen in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, makes a return to the Oilwell Basin. Its rocky carapace and fiery breath make it a fitting addition to the locale. "When we were thinking of monsters that match the Oilwell Basin's environment, make sense in the game's overall progression, and don't play too similarly to any other monsters, we thought that we could make Gravios seem like a fresh challenge and decided that it would reappear," Tokuda explained.
With these exciting reveals, anticipation builds for Monster Hunter Wilds' upcoming release on February 28th.
