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Having not played the first game, I found it easy to follow along with what was happening within Wings of Ruin itself. You don’t have to have played the first Monster Hunter Stories to enjoy Monster Hunter Stories 2. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin takes place sometime after the first game’s events. The Rider finds themselves between their desire to their Ratha companion, the mystery of the red light that causes rage in monsters, and various groups who would see the Ratha destroyed before it can fulfill the prophecy. However, a dark prophecy tells that the egg could hatch the terrifying Razewing Ratha, which is said to bring ruin to the world. Soon, Red’s grandchild (the player character) is left with little more than the last Ratha egg and their own wish to protect it. Red has since passed away, but Ratha still protected the island up until a strange occurrence turned the waters red and caused all Rathalos to vanish. One such place is Mahana Village where a young rider’s grandfather, Red, once protected the island with the aid of the great Guardian Ratha. In Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, there are groups of people known as Riders that interact so closely with wyverns that they are capable of taming them into faithful companions of exploration and battle. Mysterious disappearances & destruction foretold
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I’d argue it’s a combination that longtime Monster Hunter fans and turn-based RPG fans ought to see for themselves, though the grind might leave some more action-craving adventurers wanting. You’ll still fight lots of dragons and other wyverns in Wings of Ruin, but there’s both traditional JRPG and monster collection elements to that set it apart from the usual butchery in refreshing ways.
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Lo and behold, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin somewhat answers my call.
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For the longest time, I have always thought that in some capacity, it would be so much more fun to befriend and ally with some of Monster Hunter’s myriad of creatures rather than always fighting and carving them into parts for stronger gear.
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