Summary
Minor spoiler for some Monster Hunter Wilds monsters ahead.
Monster Hunter Wildsintroduces a bunch of new monsters to the series, many of which have clear design inspirations. TheLala Barinais a spider, theAjarakana big monkey, and theNu Udra, affectionately known as the Black Flame, is a giant octopus.
While theQuematriceis somewhat based on the Cockatrice, a mythical dragon with a rooster head featured prominently in English myth, the Monster Hunter Wilds Digital Art Book confirms that its design is also based on some other creatures that actually existed.
Monster Hunter Wilds Digital Art Book Reveals Quematrice And Chatacabra Design Inspirations
On a page dedicated to the Quematrice, pre-release sketches, images, and design notes for the creature can be found. When translated from Japanese, these notes state that the creature has a skeletal structure like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, molar teeth designed for crushing like the Nile monitor lizard, and the strength and stubbornness of a hyena. It’s an interesting combination that certainly isn’t apparent at first glance.
The notes in the art book also house some humorous details about theChatacabra. It states that the reason for the monster’s bulging look is that, while half of its stomach is contained by its rib cage, the other half can’t be, so it bulges down, creating its huge, sagging belly.
Monsters aren’t the only thing to have their lore expanded in the book, either. It shares that while Alma has a tomboyish look, she carries around a range of feminine products in her bag, akin to that of a princess. The weight of her bag also affects the way she is perceived, as although she seems clumsy, her bag is so heavy that it makes balancing a challenge.
It’s little tidbits like this that make flicking through the art book worth it, provided you may read Japanese.
