Overall, Monster Hunter Stories 2 provides a great way to hunt alongside favorite monsters from the franchise in a charming world with an interesting story to discover.

I went into this expecting little more than a second-tier spinoff from the “real” Monster Hunter, and I’ve walked away with it being one of my favourite JRPGs of the year, in a year that has included Bravely Default, NieR, Atelier Ryza 2, and Scarlet Nexus. That is some incredible company to be in.

Masterful storytelling, building on the successful elements from the first game and amplifying the diversity available in gene mechanics all help make Monster Hunter Stories 2 a top-class RPG for Nintendo Switch. Aside from the poogies' absence and minor issues, there is no doubt that both returning and new fans will dive into monster hunting being impressed by the attention to detail in game design and execution that makes it accessible and highly enjoyable. It is a must buy game, and it can only be hoped that one day there will be another released to make it a trilogy.

Despite a few things holding it back, I fell in love with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, and it’s all I want to play now.

Wings of Ruin may not make a hardened hunter of you, but nor does it want to. It would rather bring you along for its own wondrous ride.

Yes, Monster Hunter Stories 2 has all the cards in hand to be the J-RPG of this early summer on Switch. With its original and rich combat system, generous content and charming graphics, the title offers an enjoyable experience that will keep you busy for part of your vacation. Faced with this interesting proposal, we can blame it for its very, even too classic scenario, as well as its technique which does not always manage to offer a stable rendering. In itself, nothing to spoil this invitation to travel which shines with the originality of its confrontations and the good humor it exudes.

Ultimately a Monster Hunter game for people who don't like Monster Hunter, Wings of Ruin offers enough spectacle to keep players engaged before surprising them with unexpected depth in combat and customisation. It's let down by repetitiveness in exploration and a slower pace, and Switch players will see how much it strains the hardware, but it's still a good time for JRPG fans.