Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin Reviews
The PS4/PS5 port of Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin looks a bit lackluster on both graphical and technical standpoints compared to what was done to the remaster of the first episode. The sequel taking inspiration from Pokémon to the Monster Hunter formula is still pretty good to this day, and you should get it if you don't have a PC or another console. We however think that 40 euros is quite expansive considering the overall quality of the port.
Review in French | Read full review
Combining the best aspects of other genres and series, Monster Hunter Stories 2 offers up a charming reimagining of the franchise's tried-and-tested gameplay.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a great turned base JRPG ideal to everyone. It doesn't matter if you are new to the genre or the Monster Hunter series, this a game that you can pick up and have a lot of fun with it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Developers have put all efforts into making a game that will accompany the players during all summer and even after. Very solid and more profound than it seems, the combat system benefits of dynamic cut scenes during special attacks that make every battle enjoyable. Alas, the first half of the game might seem too bland and the egg searching and hatching concept quite tedious, but there's no doubt that many players will get fun out of it.
Review in French | Read full review
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is confirmed as a solid and enjoyable JRPG, as well as a respectful spin-off to the main series from which it is drawn. The product boasts an incredible variety of arrows (both in terms of monsters and equipment), a more engaging story than the original and above all an attractive and less childish visual rendering.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin will serve as a great game for welcoming series newcomers into this vast and vibrant universe, but it might not be your cup of tea if you’re already invested in the mainline series.
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.
. If Monster Hunter Stories 2 allowed the player full control over the party and made it more about customizing a team, then the overall experience would make it an excellent entry in the franchise. Even without, it's a very good turn-based monster collector with broad appeal that's worth a look for fans of the genre.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin breathes new life into the world of Monster Hunter. The shift to a turn-based RPG is handled so well, with an addictive and fast-paced combat system that's just as rewarding as traditional Monster Hunter. Complementing that is a genuinely engaging story full of wonderful characters, all rendered in an incredibly beautiful art style. Whether you're a newcomer or a series veteran, this is a must-play RPG.
Once in a while, you come across a game that surprises you in the most pleasant ways. Monster Hunter Stories 2 went above and beyond my expectations for the sequel with its wonderful visuals as well as a story with plenty of heart, poignancy as well as some good old fun thrown in between. It’s obvious that a great amount of effort was put in this game and it shows. Given how the first game underperformed, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a game that shouldn’t have been made. Thank goodness that it was.
Although clichéd and in need of some sharpening, Monster Hunter Stories 2 offers a fun and lighthearted take on the world of Monster Hunter. At the same time, it improves on the Pokémon formula and is much more than just another clone.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a content-heavy, heartfelt monster-collecting adventure.
Despite my gripes with the narrative and framerate, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is an exhilarating ride from start to finish. I had a blast getting lost in its addictive combat, collection, and customization systems and appreciating its wondrous visual style. Whether you want to collect Monsties or battle them, or if this is your first or fifth foray into Monster Hunter, you’d be remiss to overlook Monster Hunter Stories 2. Regardless of whether it dethrones Pokémon as the king of monster collecting games, you’ll find it injects welcome innovation into the subgenre and stands on its own merits as an RPG well worth your time.
Monster Hunter Stories 2 manages to improve upon nearly every aspect of the original game, though some lingering issues continue to hold the series back from true greatness.
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 even more enjoyable than the original. Small and meaningful improvement build on the same addictive formula and rewarding battle system, with an endearing story to boot that'll hook in any fan of the franchise. The current state of the Switch version is a shame, but if you can get past the problems, Wings of Ruin has a lot to offer.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is somewhat imperfect, but the flaws don’t quite eclipse its strengths. Despite the annoying party AI and grind, the combat has the right level of tactical depth I would expect from a turn-based Monster Hunter game. With its adorable Monsties and a wide-open world to explore, gamers looking for a new JRPG to dive into can certainly do a lot worse. As long as you are prepared for some irritating supporting cast members and a somewhat repetitive gameplay loop, fans of the monster-collecting genre will get a lot out of this game.
Monster Hunter Stories 2 isn't extraordinary by any means, but it's a charming, engaging, colourful experience that's still easy to recommend to fans of traditional JRPGs.