Volt Kraken

"This is how you greet me after so long? No "Nice to meet you again", or "I'm sorry"... not even a "Hello". How rude."

- Squid Adler

Squid Adler, known as Volt Kraken (ボルト・クラーケン) in Japan, was a retired kraken-based Maverick Hunter before being affected by the Sigma Virus and turned into a Maverick during the events that took place in Mega Man X5.

Squid Adler resigned as a Hunter due to growing doubts about his job. He later became a researcher to lead a peaceful life and moved to an energy engineering facility located near the Korea Strait, hoping it was far from conflict. He was acquainted with Launch Octopus, whose name was mistranslated as "Octopardo" in the English language versions of the game. Adler held an Energy Cart needed for the Enigma laser cannon, but suddenly went Maverick before turning it over, forcing X or Zero to destroy him.

Strategy
Squid will not only fire electrical bolts, but will also create blocks in random places (some of which have electricity covering them). As the fight presses on, he will also cover the floor in electricity to force X and Zero into relying on the walls or his blocks to avoid damage. When his health is at a low enough level, he will extend his tentacles to send out a barrage of bolts. Goo Shaver and F-Splasher will short circuit him. The electric balls that Squid Adler releases can also be destroyed by Zero's C-Flasher.

Stage Enemies

 * Spark Gunner
 * Death Press D

Powers and Abilities

 * Tri-Thunder (トライサンダー) - Squid Adler shoots three slow electric arcs which go up, forward and down, and turn into lightning balls after making contact with the walls.
 * Grand Spark (グランドスパーク) - Squid Adler will hit the floor and leave it electrified for some time. Only used after losing 25% of his health.
 * Body Blow (体当たり) - Squid Adler chases his opponent to cause contact damage. Usually used after Grand Spark.
 * Horizontal Tri-Thunder (橫長トライサンダー) - Squid Adler goes to one side of the room, extend his tentacles and shoot 6 electric arcs that go forward, covering most of the screen. Only used after he lost 75% of his health.
 * Vertical Tri-Thunder (縱長トライサンダー) - Squid Adler will go to the bottom of the room, extend his tentacles and shoot 6 electric arcs that go up, covering most of the screen. Only used after he lost 75% of his health.

When playing as X
Needing the Energy Cartridge= X: Squid Adler! Will you do me a favor?

Squid Adler: This is how you greet me after so long? No "Nice to meet you again", or "I'm sorry"... not even a "Hello". How rude. You have not changed at all.

X: I'm sorry about Octopardo...

Squid Adler: I wasn't referring to such an old story. You destroyed him because you are a Maverick Hunter... It's your duty... your mission... Well. I got fed up with the hunter jobs, that's why I quit, not because of Octopardo.

X: Please... We have little time left... Give me the Energy Cartridge...

Squid Adler: You are free to take such a worthless thing... But what a simpleton you are. Even if you get it, you can't change the fate of the Earth! Every Reploid has been infected by the Virus and become... Ma Ma Ma Mave...ve veR...

X: No! He has been infected, too!

Squid Adler: Wooooo! Maverick Hunter? You will be terminated! Just like you did to Octopardo! Without needing the Energy Cartridge= Squid Adler: Ghaaa ha ha ha ha! What made you come here, X?

X: Darn, he's already become a Maverick. So, I have lost another comrade... Have I lost everything...? I don't want to have to fight you.

Squid Adler: Ghaaa ha ha ha! Then, be a nice boy and die here! I will terminate you just like you did to Octopardo!

When playing as Zero
Needing the Energy Cartridge= Squid Adler: Zero, I never expect you to come here... It must be an emergency...

Zero: You assumed right. You don't need me to explain any more, do you?

Squid Adler: Always so pushy... You haven't changed at all... I made the right choice when I resigned as a Hunter... I don't want to be a rude jerk like you.

Zero: Oh, come on. I just have a hard time listening to you babble... You know what I want, don't you?

Squid Adler: You're free to take such a worthless thing... But what a simpleton you are. Even if you get it, you can't change the fate of the Earth! Every Reploid has been infected by the Virus and become a... Ma Ma Ma Mave ve veR...

Zero: No! He's been infected! Relax... I'll put you out of your misery. Good bye, Squid Adler... Without needing the Energy Cartridge= Squid Adler: HA HA HA HAAAAAAA! ANOTHER FISH HAS BEEN TRAPPED! I'M A MAVERICK HUNTER! I'LL RETIRE YOU.

Zero: He's already become a Maverick... I'll put you out of your misery now... Say your prayers, Squid Adler...

Archie Comics
Squid Adler appears in the Worlds Unite crossover event as part of Sigma-1's Maverick Army. However, he instead goes by his Japanese name of Volt Kraken, and joins Sting Chameleon in attacking the world of Viewtiful Joe.

Production Notes
Developer Comments I decided from the start I was going to combine a squid with electricity. I fiddled comparatively with his movement in the game up until the very end. Previously, I wanted to invent a pretext for fighting with Octopuld, but when it came time to start thinking up the dialogue, it came to me in a flash: I'll make this guy XXX(?)! (grin) Thinking up the dialogue myself, I got a bit worried...well, no, I got sick of it, so I had Zero express my feelings at that point. (sweat)

Designer Comments Seeing as he's a squid, he'd have plenty of legs, but if we honestly gave him all ten, he'd end up all pulpy-looking. I therefore tried giving him arms, legs, and two tentacles (equivalent to squid arm tentacles) always out for normal attack, plus two more stored away. These two would serve as his shoulder armor. He has a section pointing down from his waist, which is supposed to give the impression of the remaining two tentacles bundled together.

I tried to convey a real sense of speed while designing Kraken, especially around the lines of his back. -Haruki Suetsugu, Mega Man X Official Complete Works, 2009

Trivia

 * While he is stated as being based upon a squid in the American version of the game, the original Japanese game states that he is in fact based upon the mythological sea monster Kraken (which is believed to be in reality a giant squid).
 * According to the English translation of Mega Man Xtreme 2, Volt Catfish had the Tri-Thunder before Squid Adler did. It should be noted, however, that Volt Catfish's weapon is referred to as "Triad Thunder" in the original Japanese version of Xtreme 2.
 * Squid Adler makes a cameo appearance in the Rockman Zero manga.
 * Squid Adler's American name comes from Steven Adler, a member of the band Guns N' Roses.
 * Viewtiful Joe briefly mistook him for Dr. Cranken in Worlds Unite.