From the arid expanses of deserts to the lush canopies of bustling forests, the fiery eruptions of volcanos, and the icy expanses of frozen tundra, the Monster Hunter series showcases a diverse array of environments, each teeming with its own unique ecosystem shaped by an assortment of monsters. The thrill of exploring these uncharted territories and traversing their landscapes in pursuit of prey is a quintessential joy of playing Monster Hunter.
This holds especially true for Monster Hunter Wilds, the latest addition to the franchise. Following the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, adventurers will journey into the unforgiving terrain of the Oilwell Basin, a region characterized by its fiery landscapes and oil-saturated soil. At first glance, it might appear as a desolate, lifeless expanse, yet closer inspection reveals the subtle movements of small creatures navigating the sludge. Scattered throughout the Oilwell Basin are remnants that hint at an ancient civilization's past presence.
Yuya Tokuda, the director behind both Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Wilds, elaborates on the Oilwell Basin's unique characteristics:
"During the Fallow, the Oilwell Basin is dominated by mud and oil. However, when the Inclemency, known as the Firespring, occurs, it burns away the oilsilt. During the Plenty, the burned-away oil and soot dissipate, unveiling the underlying minerals, microorganisms, and the original hues of the manmade artifacts hidden beneath," he explains.
Down in the Muck
When asked about the concept behind the Oilwell Basin, Kaname Fujioka, the director of the original Monster Hunter and the executive and art director for Wilds, shared his insights:
"Given that the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest were expansive horizontally, we envisioned the Oilwell Basin as a vertically layered area," he explains. "The environment shifts subtly as you move through the top, middle, and bottom layers. Sunlight reaches the upper strata, where oil accumulates like mud, and as you descend, the temperature rises, with lava and other substances becoming more prevalent."
Tokuda adds: "From the middle to the bottom layers, you'll encounter creatures reminiscent of aquatic life, evoking images of deep seas or underwater volcanoes. In World, we conceptualized the Coral Highlands as an ecosystem where aquatic creatures adapted to surface life, and we've applied this knowledge to craft the Oilwell Basin's unique ecosystem and its inhabitants."
Fujioka highlights the contrast in the Oilwell Basin's environment: "During the Fallow and Inclemency, smoke emanates from every corner, giving the impression of a volcanic or hot spring area. Yet, during the Plenty, it transforms into a clear, almost marine-like environment. A closer look at the environmental biology reveals a region teeming with creatures akin to those found on the ocean floor."
The Oilwell Basin's ecosystem is distinct, thriving on geothermal energy rather than sunlight and vegetation like the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest. Beneath the oilsilt, a variety of life forms, from shrimp and crabs to small monsters providing raw meat, coexist. Larger monsters prey on these smaller ones, which in turn feed on microorganisms that harness the earth's heat for energy.
The monsters inhabiting the Oilwell Basin are equally unique. Take Rompopolo, for instance, a globular, toxic creature with a needle-like mouth. Fujioka elaborates on its design:
"We conceptualized Rompopolo as a cunning swamp-dweller that disrupts players with its toxic gas. The idea of a mad scientist influenced its design, leading to its chemical purple hue and glowing red eyes. Interestingly, the equipment crafted from it has an unexpectedly cute aesthetic, as does the Palico gear."
Tokuda describes the Rompopolo Palico gear as "amusing," a sentiment I found true when I tried it out myself. I encourage you to craft and explore it as well.
Flames of Ajarakan
Another new addition to the Oilwell Basin is Ajarakan, a monster resembling a massive, flame-enshrouded gorilla with a slender silhouette, distinguishing it from the Scarlet Forest's Congalala. In this video, we witness Ajarakan engaging in turf battles with Rompopolo, showcasing its martial arts-inspired movements and powerful grappling techniques.
Tokuda explains the design philosophy behind Ajarakan: "Typically, fanged beasts have low hips, positioning their heads at eye level with the hunter, which can diminish the sense of threat. We aimed to create a more imposing silhouette with Ajarakan, emphasizing its towering presence and incorporating flame elements that resonate with the Oilwell Basin's environment. Its wrestler-like grabbing attacks highlight its physical prowess, blending strength, direct attacks, and fiery assaults, such as melting and throwing objects."
Fujioka adds: "With a series of unique monsters making their debut, we wanted Ajarakan to be straightforward, embodying strength through its simple, yet powerful attacks. It uses punches and ground slams to unleash flames, making it a formidable opponent."
Ajarakan holds a high position in the Oilwell Basin's ecosystem, its flashy appearance and flame-infused attacks distinguishing it from the more subtle Rompopolo. Fujioka shares insights into the design process: "Initially, Ajarakan was just a physically strong monster. We worked closely with our artists and designers to add more personality, leveraging the fiery setting. We wanted to avoid the cliché of fire-breathing; instead, we envisioned Ajarakan wearing flames like a mantle, inspired by the Buddhist deity Acala. This concept of rising internal temperatures, enabling it to melt anything in its path, added a unique character to Ajarakan. We aimed to make its grappling attacks, like hugging Rompopolo or the hunter, evoke a sense of danger due to its extreme heat."
Despite Rompopolo's trickiness, Ajarakan's design focuses on raw power. Fujioka notes that the team continuously added more dynamic moves as development progressed: "We kept introducing various intriguing techniques, like Ajarakan jumping into the air, curling up, and crashing down."
A Monster Generations in the Making
Dominating the Oilwell Basin as its apex predator is Nu Udra, known as the "Black Flame." This octopus-like creature secretes flammable oil, its tentacles stretching and weaving through the basin. Like Rey Dau of the Windward Plains, which commands lightning, and Uth Duna of the Scarlet Forest, enveloped in water, Nu Udra is cloaked in flames. Fujioka confirms the inspiration behind Nu Udra: "Yes, it was octopuses. We aimed for a striking silhouette when it rises, giving it demonic horns, yet keeping its face ambiguous."
Tokuda notes that even the music accompanying Nu Udra battles draws from demonic themes: "We incorporated phrases and instruments reminiscent of black magic into the composition, resulting in a unique piece."
Nu Udra's tentacle movements echo those of past monsters like Lagiacrus from Monster Hunter Tri. Tokuda shares his long-held vision: "During the development of Tri, I proposed an octopus-like monster for underwater combat, focusing on its distinctive movements. Despite technical challenges, I held onto that concept. With Nu Udra, we've finally brought it to life."
Fujioka acknowledges the influence of previous tentacled monsters like Yama Tsukami and Nakarkos: "We're drawn to using such monsters to create standout moments, as their silhouette and presence differ significantly from standard monsters. Including them sparingly enhances their impact, evoking a sense of adventure akin to encountering cryptids."
Tokuda adds nostalgically: "I placed Yama Tsukami in Monster Hunter 2 (Dos) to leave a lasting impression, despite the technological limitations at the time."
The development team's dedication to crafting monsters is evident throughout the interview. Even when technology posed challenges, they stored countless ideas, drawing upon them for new titles. Nu Udra represents a significant achievement for both Tokuda and Fujioka, utilizing its cephalopod traits to navigate the terrain freely, a gameplay innovation.
Fujioka explains the technical challenges: "Controlling tentacled monsters in relation to terrain and targets is complex. However, with Wilds, our technical team's tests were promising, allowing us to realize this vision."
Tokuda adds: "Seeing the tests, we decided to make Nu Udra the apex predator of the Oilwell Basin, given its impact."
The attention to Nu Udra's animations is meticulous. After taking significant damage, it wraps around ancient, ruined pipes to maneuver through the area, seamlessly entering small holes in the terrain. Fujioka shares the challenges faced by the art team: "We focused extensively on depicting flexible bodies with Nu Udra. We start with ambitious ideas, challenging ourselves to bring them to fruition, which, though demanding, results in remarkable final products."
Tokuda recalls a memorable moment during development: "An animator insisted I watch Nu Udra retreat into its nest after being weakened. The satisfaction on their face when I praised the animation was unforgettable."
Fujioka expresses pride in the team's efforts: "The way Nu Udra squirms around pipes is meticulously crafted. It's a real-time depiction that showcases our team's hard work."
Battling Nu Udra proved challenging, its flexible body making it difficult to find openings. Its severed tentacles continued to thrash, requiring strategic targeting. Tokuda explains: "You can sever many tentacles, though they eventually rot. Attacking its sensory organs, which emit light to indicate its targets, can help manage its attacks."
Nu Udra's unique tempo of attacks, combining focused strikes with area-of-effect assaults, adds complexity to the fight. Tokuda offers advice for hunters: "Its body is soft with many breakable parts. Strategically targeting these can shorten its reach. It's a monster well-suited for multiplayer, where its targets can be split, enhancing the experience with SOS flares and Support Hunters."
Fujioka adds: "Like Gravios, where breaking its armor reveals a strategy to defeat it, Nu Udra's design encourages players to observe and react to its movements, aligning with Monster Hunter's core gameplay."
A Welcome Reunion
Fujioka mentions Gravios, a monster returning to the series since Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, perfectly suited to the Oilwell Basin with its rocky carapace and hot gas emissions. Tokuda explains the decision to bring Gravios back: "We considered monsters that fit the Oilwell Basin's environment and the game's progression, ensuring it offered a fresh challenge."
In my encounter with Gravios, its hardened body posed a significant challenge, yet the satisfaction of inflicting wounds and executing a Focus Strike was immense. Tokuda elaborates on its design: "We wanted to preserve Gravios's signature hardness while making it a late-game challenge, encouraging hunters to use the wound system and part breaking to uncover its vulnerabilities."
All Monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds
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While Gravios returns, its juvenile form, Basarios, will not appear in this game. Fujioka confirms: "Sorry, but Basarios will be taking this one off." The Monster Hunter team carefully considers monster reintroductions, ensuring they enhance the game. Although Basarios won't be featured, numerous other monsters will inhabit the Oilwell Basin, and I eagerly anticipate exploring this area, Cool Drink in hand.
