Monster Hunter Wilds directors reveal a whole new locale and ferocious monster to beat through an exclusive interview. Read on to find out more about the Oilwell Basin and its king, 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 gallant monster that rules over its lands, the Nu Udra.Oilwell Basin stands out with its unique vertical structure, a departure from the series' typical horizontally broad 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," said Fujioka, explaining that the top strata mostly consist of oil-like swamps and that there's a "gradation" in its overall structure.
Tokuda added 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 drew on 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 comes out of everywhere in the Oilwell Basin like it's some sort of volcano or hot spring. But during the Plenty, it takes on a clear, marine-like tone as we just mentioned. Look closely at the environmental biology and you'll find that it's even a region inhabited by the kinds of creatures you'd expect to find on the ocean bed."
These creatures are distinct and native to Oilwell Basin, making the environment truly unique. It may look lifeless, but it's teeming with a variety of monsters and creatures that call it home.
Nu Udra, The Black Flame
A location in a Monster Hunter game isn't complete without its apex predator. The harsh and desolate environment of the Oilwell Basin is ruled by the "Black Flame," Nu Udra. This massive, octopus-like monster has a slimy and 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 an octopus, a typically aquatic creature. Fujioka shared, "I’ve always wanted to add a tentacled creature at some point," and they modified this aquatic creature to create a more striking look and feel. They aimed for a "demonic" appearance, 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 noted.
Battling Nu Udra is a formidable challenge, as it is equipped with numerous tentacles and can attack with both focused and area-of-effect (AoE) moves in rapid succession. It's immune to Flash Bombs since it doesn't rely on vision to sense its prey, using its tentacles to feel the environment instead.
More Monsters In The Basin
Nu Udra isn't the only formidable creature in the Oilwell Basin. The huge, scaly, and monkey-like Ajarakan, covered in flames, also roams the area. It attacks with martial arts-inspired movements and frequently uses its fists in its moveset. Ajarakan combines massive physical strength with fiery power, making it a thrilling addition to the series' monster lineup.
Another intriguing inhabitant is the globular Rompopolo, with thin needles for a mouth, which uses toxic gases in combat. Its purple color and glowing red eyes give it a menacing, mad scientist-like appearance. The developers drew inspiration from the mad scientist stereotype when designing Rompopolo, describing it as a "tricky monster." Despite its eerie features, its drops can be crafted into 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 this volcanic region. "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 is high for Monster Hunter Wilds' upcoming release on February 28th.
