Volt Kraken (ボルト・クラーケン), also known as Squid Adler, is a Maverick from the X era, appearing as one of the main bosses in Mega Man X5. He is an electricity-themed Reploid based on a squid, who attacks by firing lightning from his tentacles. He is a former Maverick Hunter turned power researcher who possesses the Energy Cart required for the Enigma project.
Volt Kraken debuted in Mega Man X5 as one of the eight Mavericks on the Stage Select screen. He holds the Energy Cart for the Enigma project, serving as the boss of Super-Electromagnetic Lab Stage. The game's Japanese manual states he was formerly a Maverick Hunter, but became dissatisfied and left to become an energy engineering researcher instead.[2]
Volt Kraken hovers through the air and can control the entire stage with his bolts and spheres of lightning, making him a troublesome opponent. Defeating Volt Kraken grants Tri-Thunder to X and E-Blade to Zero. His weakness is the Goo Shaver or F-Splasher from Tidal Whale, which briefly stuns him. A boss attack rematch with Volt Kraken later occurs in Zero Space Stage 4: Birth.
A squid Reploid who was once a member of the Maverick Hunters' 6th Naval Unit. He was a good friend of Launch Octopus, but had doubts about solving every conflict with brute power, and resigned from the Hunters. Since then he lived a peaceful life as an energy engineering researcher. His Tri-Thunder fires an experimental electromagnetic shot from his tentacles. Due to his job as a researcher, he possesses an Energy Cart which can be used for the Enigma.[3][4]
The head of the super-electromagnetic research laboratory, who resembles a squid. Several of his attacks use electric waves that cover the entire arena, which spans two whole screens.
Attack:
Effect:
Tri-Thunder
Shoots three electric shocks upwards, forwards, and downwards.
Ground Spark
Descends to generate an electric shock along the floor.
Kraken was once a Maverick Hunter, but resigned when he started to disagree with the work he was ordered to do. Since then he has worked in energy research, devoting himself to a peaceful lifestyle. His Tr-Thunder weapon was developed as a remote manipulator for use in experiments, but can be overcharged for use in combat as an electromagnetic energy blast.
Behind the Scenes
Developer Commentary
"I had already decided from the start to combine a squid with electricity, so I was tweaking his movements in the game until the very end. Previously, I wanted to invent a pretext for fighting using Octopus, but when it came time to start writing his dialogue, it came to me in a flash: I'll make this guy ___![note 1] (laugh) He was writing his own lines, and I was a little excited about it... No, I was getting tired of it, so I had Zero express my feelings at that point. (sweat)" - (Developer Comments)[4]
"Since he's a squid he should have plenty of legs, but honestly if we gave him all ten, he'd end up a mess. So I tried giving him arms, legs, and two tentacles always out for normal attack, plus two more stored away (corresponding to a squid's ten tentacles). These two also serve as his shoulder armor. There is a pointed part below the waist, which is supposed to give the impression of the remaining two tentacles bundled together." - (SENSEI, Designer Comments)[4]
"I tried to convey a real sense of speed while designing Kraken, especially around the lines of his back." - (Haruki Suetsugu)[1]
Nomenclature
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
Volt Kraken (ボルト・クラーケン)
"Kraken" is a word used to describe legendary giant sea monsters, usually squids.
English
Volt Kraken / Squid Adler
"Squid Adler", his name in the initial English release of Mega Man X5, was inspired by Steven Adler, a former drummer of the rock band Guns N' Roses. In the game's Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2 re-release, his name was changed to "Volt Kraken" to match his original Japanese name.
Notes
↑The last word is redacted, written as "○○○" in place of characters.
References
↑ 1.01.1MM25: Mega Man & Mega Man X Official Complete Works. 2013.
Tri-Thunder
E-Blade
Goo Shaver
F-Splasher
