Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

Monster Hunter as a series has a very distinct and unique identity, but it’s also a series that likes to branch out and experiment. 2017’s Monster Hunter Stories was a traditional Pokemon-style turn-based RPG, and though it obviously didn’t catch on as well as the main series, it garnered a solid fanbase nonetheless. Now, Capcom is ready to expand on that formula. With Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin almost upon us, here, we’re going to talk about a few key details that you should know about the game.

STORY DETAILS

Monster Hunter Stories 2 sees you playing as a Rider once again- the grandchild of another legendary Rider, Red, who has mysteriously vanished. Meanwhile, Rathalos and wyverns all over the world have also started vanishing, and no one can figure out why. With new companions and a newly hatched Rathalos, you will set out on a journey that will take you to a variety of locations, as you try and unravel the mysteries and figure out how to save the vanishing Rathalos.

CHARACTERS

Monster Hunter Stories 2 is also promising a large and varied cast of characters. In addition to the protagonist and the aforementioned Red, you can also expect to meet the likes of Ena, a Wyverian who knew Red and is determined to finish his work; Navirou, an adventurous Felyne who will act as your guide; Kayna, a free-spirited fellow Rider; Alwin, a Wyverian Rider who also used to be friends with Red; and a mysterious group of masked Riders who impede your progress at every step and are attempting to capture Ratha, the baby Rathalos traveling with you.

MONSTERS

Monster Hunter is all about the monsters, of course, no matter how much the gameplay changes, so exactly which monsters can we expect to see in Stories 2? While it remains to be seen whether there will be any brand-new monsters in the game, quite a few returning favourites have been confirmed already. These include the likes of Astalos, Barioth, Rathian, Diablos, Tobi-Kadachi, Bazelgeuse, Pukei-Pukei, Mizutsune, Anjanath, Kulu-Ya-Ku, and more.

RAGE-RAYED MONSTERS

A very interesting new element being introduced in Monster Hunter Stories 2 is Rage-Rayed Monsters. All over the game’s world, mysterious pits emitting lights called “rage-rays” have started opening up, and any monster effected by these rage-rays gains vicious and formidable powers, becoming “Rage-Rayed” variants of themselves. It remains to be seen exactly how this will play into the story and how it will translate as a gameplay mechanic, but we’re curious to find out.

AREAS

Monster Hunter Stories 2’s premise is clearly setting up the kind of globe-trotting adventure that any JRPG fan would enjoy, so exactly what sort of locations will we be traveling to in the game? Well, there’s quite a few. There’s the frigid icy region Loloska; there’s Pomore Garden, a vibrant location full of blooming flowers and lush vegetation; there’s the volcanic trail of Terga; there’s Kuan Village, located in Loloska; there’s the tropical Hakolo Island; your hometown of Mahana Village; the vast and arid desert region of Lamure; and more.

CUSTOMIZATION

Like its predecessor, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin will also let you create and customize your character. Exact details on how extensive the options here will be haven’t yet been confirmed, but you can expect options for everything from your gender and your skin colour to your hair, eyes, and more.

RIDING ACTIONS

Monster Hunter Stories 2 will let you hop on the backs of your tamed monster companions, which will also entail a feature called “Riding Actions.” What exactly does that mean? Well, it’s basically what it sounds like. Depending on what sort of monster you are riding, you will be able to dash, fly, or swim, and will also be able to use these abilities to get to otherwise inaccessible areas.

WEAPONS

Monster Hunter Stories 2 might not have as many weapons as World or Rise, but it will have more than the first Monster Hunter Stories. From the first game, the Greatsword, the Hunting Horn, the Hammer, and the Sword and Shield are all returning in Stories 2. Meanwhile, two more weapons have also been added, with the Bow and the Gunlance, for all the Hunters/Riders out there who prefer ranged combat.

VERSUS BATTLE MODE

Versus Battle mode is also returning, which will allow up to four players to battle each other at once. Various ruleset options will also be available, including Quick Rules (in which each player only has one Heart), Balanced Rules (in which all players will be set to the same levels), and No Limit Rules (which, as the name suggests, won’t set any limits on player levels whatsoever).

CO-OP

Co-op has also been confirmed for Monster Hunter Stories 2, and will include various kinds of exclusive quests set in areas only accessible via multiplayer. There’s Expedition Quests, which will let you explore nests and get new eggs, if you have Expedition Tickets; there’s Trial Quests, in which players will fight together to take down specific monsters and meet several conditions and requirements during combat; and there’s Slaying Quests, which good old monster hunting quests.

CROSS-COMPATIBILITY WITH RISE

Monster Hunter Stories 2 will also have some level of cross-compatibility with Monster Hunter Rise. Specifically, if you have a Rise save file, you will get the Kamura Garb Layered armor set for your character in Stories 2. Obviously, this will only be available on the Switch at launch, what with Rise not having launched on PC yet. Whether or not that changes once Rise comes to PC remains to be seen.

AMIIBO

Three new amiibos have also been confirmed to go along with the looming launch of Monster Hunter Stories 2. Namely, these are the Ena amiibo, the Tsukino amiibo, and the Razewing Ratha amiibo. As you’d expect, each of these amiibos will unlock a different special layered armor set in the game for your character.

PC REQUIREMENTS

A bunch of people are probably going to play Monster Hunter Stories 2 on Switch, but the game is also releasing for PC. Thankfully, the game’s PC requirements are not very demanding. On minimum settings, you’ll need an Intel Core i5-3470, a GeForce GTX 650, and 4 GB RAM. Meanwhile, on recommended settings, you’ll need an Intel Core i5-4460 and a GeForce GTX 760, while RAM requirements will stay at 4 GB.

PRE-ORDER BONUS

If you pre-order Monster Hunter Stories 2, you’ll also get an extra cosmetic goodie in the game. Specifically, pre-orders will unlock the Kamura Maiden Outfit for Ena in the game, which is something that fans of Monster Hunter Rise might be interested in. Capcom has noted that this outfit might be made available in the game after launch as well, so there’s that.

DELUXE EDITION

If you choose to get the Deluxe Edition of Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, you’re going to get plenty of additional stuff on top of the base game. The Kuan Coat outfit for Ena, Pukei-Pukei and Nergigante costumes for Navirou, the Spiky Nergal hairstyle for your Rider, the Razewing Armor and Alpha Razewing Armor Beta layered armor, and two Adventure Buddies sticker sets are all going to be included in the Deluxe Edition.