How might one craft a novel beast for a game such as Monster Hunter Wilds?
With each installment in the franchise unveiling fresh creatures for players to pursue, some of which ascend to icon status or reappear in sequels, the pressure on Capcom to birth something new for an impending release like Monster Hunter Wilds is immense. Among the debutants at Summer Game Fest this year is Wilds’ latest monster, Balahara.
Balahara is a colossal Leviathan creature, akin to a serpentine or worm-like behemoth, that lurks beneath the sandy expanse of Windward Plains. It lies in wait, poised to pounce on unsuspecting players or other creatures traversing the territory above where it and its brethren rest. I conversed with Monster Hunter Wilds‘ Mastermind, Kaname Fujioka, at Summer Game Fest to glean insights into Capcom’s process of crafting a monster like Balahara. According to Fujioka, it all commences with determining the role the monster will play in the game, setting off a collaborative exchange between gameplay engineers and visual artists.
“Gameplay is envisioned as an odyssey, encountering a succession of beasts as you journey through the narrative,” Fujikora enlightens Moyens I/O. “Each new creature fulfills a purpose, whether it be an inaugural adversary, a tutor in a particular game mechanic, or a narrative catalyst.
“The conception of the creature, from appearance to behavior, is then deliberated from a design standpoint. How will it look and move? There is a considerable back and forth between our gameplay and visual experts … This iterative process enables us to transcend the creature beyond a mere boss or foe. It is transformed into a living, breathing entity that is interwoven within an ecosystem. While serving a gameplay or educational intent, it exudes an essence of existence, engaging with you on a primal level. It is arduous, yet immensely gratifying”
Regarding Balhara specifically, Fujioka discloses Capcom’s ambition to fashion a creature capable of traversing desolate terrains in packs in a distinctive manner. Thus, the concept of a creature capable of burrowing in and out of the sand and maneuvering beneath the dunes emerged. This notion influenced both its visual aesthetics and the gameplay aspect of the Balahara, with its quicksand traps scattered across the Windward Plains. “The expedition from functionality to ecological feasibility to gameplay contribution was a fascinating journey,” Fujioka admits.
Though Capcom was on the hunt for another monster during the hands-off demonstration of Wilds I witnessed at Summer Game Fest, the memory of Balahara lingers on. I am eager to delve deeper into the genesis of such a formidable creature when I embark on the odyssey of Monster Hunter Wilds post its launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2025.
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