Monster Hunter Wilds is set to introduce players to a whole new world of adventure with the unveiling of the Oilwell Basin and its formidable ruler, the Nu Udra. In an exclusive interview with IGN, directors Yuya Tokuda and Kaname Fujioka provided exciting details about this new locale and the monstrous inhabitants that players will encounter.
Welcome to Oilwell Basin
Oilwell Basin stands out with its vertical structure, a departure from the traditionally broad horizontal locales of the series. "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. The top strata feature oil-like swamps, creating a unique "gradation" throughout the environment.
Tokuda added that during the Plenty event, the Oilwell Basin transforms into an underwater volcano ecosystem. The team drew inspiration from the Coral Highlands in Monster Hunter World to craft this dynamic environment. "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. 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," he elaborated. This unique setting is home to a variety of distinct and native creatures, making it a vibrant, yet seemingly lifeless, ecosystem.
Nu Udra, The Black Flame
Dominating the Oilwell Basin is the apex predator known as the Nu Udra, dubbed the "Black Flame." This massive, octopus-like creature boasts a slimy, flammable body adapted to its environment. It uses its slithering tentacles to capture prey before unleashing devastating flames. Alongside Rey Dau of the Windward Plains, who controls lightning, and Uth Duna of the Scarlet Forest, who wields water, Nu Udra completes the trio with its fire affinity.
Fujioka shared that the design of Nu Udra was inspired by the desire to include a tentacled creature. "I’ve always wanted to add a tentacled creature at some point," he noted. The team transformed the typically aquatic octopus into a more striking and demonic figure by adding horn-like elements to its head. The battle against Nu Udra is accompanied by unique music that evokes themes of black magic and demonic imagery, as Tokuda explained, "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."
Fighting Nu Udra is a formidable challenge due to its multiple tentacles and rapid succession of both focused and area-of-effect attacks. Its immunity to Flash Bombs, as it relies on its tentacles to sense its surroundings, adds an extra layer of difficulty.
More Monsters in the Basin
The Oilwell Basin is not solely ruled by Nu Udra. Another formidable creature, the Ajarakan, a huge, scaly, monkey-like monster covered in flames, roams the area. It uses martial arts-inspired movements and powerful fist attacks, blending massive physical strength with fiery power.
The Rompopolo, a globular monster with needle-like teeth, also inhabits the basin. It employs toxic gases in combat and sports a menacing purple color with glowing red eyes, reminiscent of a mad scientist. The developers drew inspiration from this archetype, describing Rompopolo as a "tricky monster." Despite its eerie appearance, it drops materials that can be crafted into surprisingly "cute" equipment for both the Hunter and their Palico companion.
Returning to the series is Gravio from Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. Its rocky carapace and fiery breath make it a fitting inhabitant of the volcanic regions of the Oilwell Basin. "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 stated.
With these exciting reveals, anticipation is high for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28th.
