Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

Monster Hunter Stores 2: Wings of Ruin has made me a believer that not all JRPGs will rub me the wrong way. Its charming, lovely story mixed with its wonderfully engaging combat and being able to kidnap monsters create a fantastic experience which also adds to the depth of Monster Hunter's world and lore.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 is very different to the main series of Monster Hunter games. It puts an emphasis on the story and replaces the action-packed fights with a more traditional RPG system. Overall, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a great story-driven game which we highly recommend.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a fun, anime-inspired ride that gets better the further you delve in. It has a huge roster of Monsties to tame, a simple to learn but difficult to master combat system, and an insanely addictive Monstie development system.

Monster Hunter Stories remains a blast from beginning to end, offering tons of content and a unique take on the Monster Hunter formula.

The PC version is absolutely the definitive way to play the game, while environments can be a bit flat in terms of detail and the draw distance leaves a lot to be desired, it’s gorgeously animated, has a beautiful art style, jaw-dropping models, and steady performance. Not once did I have a technical issue aside from one that I assume was related to Steam, it was a joy to play from start to finish and is the version this review is based on.

This sequel is very similar to the first chapter in terms of feel and structure, but that does not mean that it is not a valid and better game: those who have enjoyed the first will surely love Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.+

Wings of Ruin is specifically developed to entertain the fans of Monster Hunter series, but by offering a different approach that feels a lot like JRPG games.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 strikes the right balance between depth and simplicity, presenting an experience that could be enjoyed by both casuals and RPG veterans.

While it can get repetitive and you don't have as much control over combat as I'd like, this is undoubtedly a very strong entry in the series on its own merits. If the idea of raising a horde of monsters and having them knock the crap out of others sounds good to you, I can't imagine you won't find anything to enjoy here.

Geared towards a younger or perhaps less experienced player base, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin carves off a big piece of hunting joy while trimming away the fat.

While the repetitiveness of its turn-based battle system can become frustrating, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is more than a novel twist on the main series' core components.

Fans of the Monster Hunter series – even the main games – will have a real hit on their hands here, with a pleasant change of pace from the usual Monster Hunter antics. That doesn’t mean that there’s not plenty here for the layman too, and if you’re looking for a fun, if a bit easy, title to run you through to that huge release window in October than this is definitely worthy of your consideration.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a beautifully presented JRPG with a plethora of fun things to do and deep systems I happily got lost in – but a few issues leave it short of being flawless.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a win, with so many quality of life changes from its predecessor on 3DS. It’s welcoming and accessible, familiar yet new, complex but not too confusing, and has plenty of surprises waiting for players and I can see myself playing it way beyond this review.

I greatly enjoyed my time with Monster Hunter Stories 2, but if this review reads more restrained than the score might make you feel - it's because as much as I enjoyed the game, it still has its fair share of flaws, and I'm unsure if players with less of a history with the franchise might be willing to overlook them. Your mileage may vary, but one thing's for sure - it's great to see that Monster Hunter: Stories isn't dead, and hopefully this is just one of many more sequels to come.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 may look cute, but it still retains the huge amount of depth the series is known for. No, it's not as expansive or as fast-paced as the likes of Monster Hunter World but that works in its favour. Stories 2 is the approachable series entry point I've been waiting for and has inspired me to return to other games in the series to test out my skills again.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a long-lived, colorful and fun title, which takes the classic mechanics of RPGs and reimagines them in a Monster Hunter way; it's also a good sequel to the Nintendo 3DS spinoff title. Its only flaw is having dared little on the visual front, perhaps held back by the hardware limits of Nintendo's hybrid console.

Ultimately, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin marks an excellent sequel to its 3DS predecessor. By offering a vibrant setting, open-ended gameplay, an engaging story and mostly entertaining combat, this is one entry that’ll suit both established series veterans and Monster Hunter newcomers alike. If you consider yourself a fan of RPGs, you won’t want to miss it.

Far from being a childish little game, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is an excellent spin-off that skillfully takes the universe and the mechanics of the license before adapting them brilliantly in a very different genre. The story is easy to follow, the art direction is not lacking in charm, and the fights are satisfying. Exploring the world in order to get your hands on all the possible monsters, then tinkering with their genes in order to make a great team is very satisfying, even if there are some clumsinesses in the interface and it can be a bit repetitive. We highly recommend it, both to Monster Hunter fans and to those who are looking for an alternative to Pokémon.

MH Stories 2 suffers from limited variation but is a tactical role-playing game with cool monsters and a lovely storyline.