Completing the Monster Hunter Stories line-up on Xbox for now, Capcom have also ported Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. It is a more modern game than the original, having launched in 2021.
While the first game was a Nintendo 3DS release, the sequel arrived on Switch and builds on the core ideas of its predecessor.
Gameplay follows the same loop as previous spin-off Monster Hunter Stories. The series’ usual hunt–kill–craft–repeat cycle is gone, replaced with a more traditional JRPG structure. If this sounds familiar, it is because much of the story and gameplay sticks closely to the first game’s framework.
Pokémon-esque
You play as a Rider who befriends monsters rather than hunting them. This gives the game a clear Pokémon-like feel as you form a party from different beasts, although you will still craft armour from parts gathered in battle.
Your Rider is far from weak. There are six core weapon types, each with its own attacks, handling and effects. You can freely swap between them in battle, which encourages experimentation.
Read More: Monster Hunter Wilds review – Mild Hunt
Combat is turn-based and uses a rock–paper–scissors system, but there is more depth to uncover. You can now target specific monster parts to break, and enemies have readable attack patterns that hint at how you should counter them.
A major draw for fans is the story, which has real charm and personality and is told through impressive cutscenes. It follows directly from the first game, with you playing as the grandchild of that game’s hero.
Usefully, it avoids long plot dumps and instead ticks along in the background.
Side Side Story
Outside the main missions, there is plenty to do. Side quests, multiplayer missions and general exploration offer hours of distraction, especially once you are free to roam the world in search of new monsters.
You can find nests containing eggs which, if stolen, can be hatched and raised into custom monsters. There are 80 to discover. The more you hatch, the more genes you unlock, acting as abilities you can slot into your hatchlings.
Read More: Monster Hunter Rise review – World Beater Cracks Hard
It is easy to lose hours hunting for rare eggs, chasing powerful genes and tweaking your monsters. This system can become complex quickly, so it helps to keep track of what you have and what you still need.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a 90-hour-plus adventure packed with content and systems to master. It improves on the original in many ways and sets the stage nicely for the third instalment next year.