REVIEW: ‘Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin’ Is Still An Excellent Entry (PS4)

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin first launched in 2021 as a follow-up to Capcom’s exciting narrative turn-based Monster Hunter spinoff, Monster Hunter Stories. The second entry also combines the beloved elements of monster hunting with a new, engaging narrative but with a new set of characters. It also builds on its predecessor’s foundations while introducing new features and improvements that make it a standout entry in the series, but not one without faults.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin follows you, the protagonist and rookie monster rider who is the grandchild of the great monster rider, Red. After going on your first quest, you meet a Wyvernian girl called Ena who informs you and your village that Red’s monster, a legendary Rathalos, has left its territory, disrupting the natural ecosystem and leaving an egg behind. The egg is considered very dangerous as it could produce a monster capable of ruining the world. So it is up to you to ensure the egg stays in the right hands and hatches safely while trying to prove yourself as a capable rider and maintaining the island’s order.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin’s narrative is simple but endearing. The story being told is almost entirely light-hearted, as while the stakes are high, each event is wrapped nicely and rarely has any dark themes. While not displaying much depth, the characters are all endearing and lovable in their ways, specifically, the kind Wyvernian girl Ena, your trusty and charismatic senior Kayna, and the game’s mascot character Navirou. So, while not awe-inspiring or grandiose, the entire narrative is still entertaining, thanks to its characters.

In terms of gameplay, Monster Hunter Stories 2 features a turn-based battle system that is both strategic and accessible. Battles revolve around a rock-paper-scissors-like mechanic with three attack types: Power, Speed, and Technical. Each attack type is strong against and weak against another. Understanding enemy patterns and choosing the right attack type gives players the upper hand in combat. However, due to this mechanic’s simplicity, combat can get repetitive quickly once you’ve played enough of the game, especially if you’re not switching things up by acquiring new armor, monsters, or weapons to use in combat.

However, the monsters you ride and fight with, Monsties, play a central role in combat, each with unique abilities and elemental strengths. Players can find and defeat strong and unique monsters in their den and then rob them of their eggs, which will hatch into a Monstie they’ll raise as their own. Later on, they can customize their Monsties through the Rite of Channeling, a system that transfers genes between Monsties, enhances their abilities, and creates unique hybrids. This mechanic adds depth to the game, encouraging players to experiment and strategize to build the perfect team.

When not in combat, players explore Monster Hunter Stories 2’s vibrant, expansive environments teeming with life while riding their Monsties. From lush forests to arid deserts, each area is beautifully crafted and filled with resources to gather, monsters to battle, and secrets to uncover. The game also includes numerous side quests and activities, providing ample content to keep players engaged for hours. This includes fishing, racing, and participating in tournaments. Moreover, players can team up and play with their friends through multiplayer modes, adding another layer of fun when hunting monsters or facing other riders.

However, the game also noticeably has some gameplay faults, such as the lack of a log function that lets you see past dialogue. This entry also only gives you a limited number of save slots, which becomes annoying in the latter half when experimenting with several things.

One of the most striking aspects of Monster Hunter Stories 2 is its art style. The game boasts a colorful, cel-shaded aesthetic that sets it apart from the more realistic visuals of the mainline series. The character designs are charming and expressive, and the world is rich with detail, making exploration always a treat.

The animation quality in battles and cutscenes is particularly noteworthy, bringing the monsters and characters to life with fluid movements and dynamic effects. The soundtrack of Monster Hunter Stories 2 is equally impressive, featuring a mix of epic orchestral pieces and serene melodies that perfectly complement the game’s tone and atmosphere.

Performance-wise, the game notably only recently added a PlayStation 4 version, so it only outputs at 1080p even when running on a PlayStation 5. However, it also runs at a stable 60 FPS with minimal frame rate dips and no lags or crashes. Overall, the game still runs about as well as the PC version without the visual capabilities but is better than the Nintendo Switch version in almost every way.

All in all, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin blends the essence of the Monster Hunter series with the charm of a turn-based RPG. It sports a fun story, strategic gameplay, stunning visuals, and memorable characters, creating an excellent experience that’s fit for any Monster Hunter or RPG fan.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is available now on PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.