Nintendo and Capcom are in the middle of something of a Monster Hunter blitz. Monster Hunter Rise was released to rave reviews and has become a massive hit for the Nintendo Switch, and now the Monster Hunter fever is continuing with a new JRPG entry.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin releases in just a few weeks, and is the latest entry in the popular Monster Hunter spin-off series. This turn-based, story-driven adventure should prove a welcome change of pace for gamers who love Monster Hunter's world but aren't as interested in the series' more traditional combat style.
Raise a Ratha to Save the World
In the original Monster Hunter Stories, players took on the role of a villager who hatched and bonded with a Rathalos they named Ratha. Ratha seemingly is killed when their village is destroyed by a Nargacuga that is under the control of the Black Blight. One year later, the villager attains the title of Rider and finds themself thrust into an epic journey to cure the Black Blight.
Wings of Ruin begins when Rathalos have all disappeared from the world. The player character, said to be the granddaughter of the legendary Monster Rider Red, is entrusted with an egg believed to contain the last Rathalos in the world. Your companion, the Wyverian Ena, believes the egg will bring hope to the village, but a Rathalos is said to be the monster that destroyed the village generations ago. Will the hatching of the Rathalos egg bring salvation or destruction to the world?
At the recent Monster Hunter Digital Event, more details emerged about Stories. The turn-based mechanics of the first game return, with Power, Speed and Technical attack types. Players can also target specific monster parts with attacks, allowing them to break off parts for crafting, similar to how it works in the mainline games. You'll also receive additional party members (dubbed "Battle Buddies") and "monsties" to help you in battle. Speaking of "monsties," there are plenty of monsters included in Stories 2; the Digital Event showed off Bazelgeuse, Tobi-Kadachi, Paolumu, Glavenus and Gammoth, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
At Summer Games Fest Kickoff, a new trailer was released which showcased more of the game's story mode.
Monster Hunter Stories 2 DLC Costumes, Amiibo & More
Wings of Ruin was revealed during the September Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase, at the same time Nintendo also revealed new information about Monster Hunter Rise. The game will boast a harrowing story with RPG progression and the ability to collect and hatch "Monsties," companion versions of popular Monster Hunter monsters. This party-building mechanic and turn-based combat set Stories apart from the mainline series's traditionally action-oriented RPG nature.
In addition to Stories, a set of three amiibo will be released as well. Enz, Razewing Ratha and Tsukino will each get their own amiibo, which will unlock a special layered armor design in the game. This layered armor is purely cosmetic, allowing you to customize your appearance outside of the armor you choose for your character without affecting your stats.
The Deluxe Kit edition includes the additional Razewing Armor Alpha and Beta layered armor for the Rider. The Deluxe Kit also includes a Kuan Coat for Ena, Pukei-Pukei and Nergigante costumes for Navirou, the Spiky Nergal hairstyle for the Rider and two sticker sets for co-op communication. A Kamura Maiden outfit for Ena is also available as a pre-order bonus. Players who have Monster Hunter Rise save files will also be able to unlock the Kamura Garb layered armor for the Rider, resembling the default armor set from Rise. Pre-orders are currently available on both Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Monster Hunter Stories 2 Release Date
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a spin-off that replaces Monster Hunter's traditional action-RPG combat with a more conventional, turn-based battle system. The original Stories, released in 2017 for the Nintendo 3DS, proved a surprise hit for the system, and Stories 2 is expected to be a similar hit.
Developed and published by Capcom, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin releases July 9, 2021, for Nintendo Switch and PC.