While Capcom has spent much of the past week hyping up the next installment in its Monster Hunter series, today the publisher released two older spin-offs on modern consoles.Both Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin launched today on new platforms.
Monster Hunter Stories, a remaster of the original Nintendo 3DS spin-off, is now playable on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam. Changing up the formula from the mainline series, Monster Hunter Stories puts you in the role of a Rider instead of a Hunter. Rather than slaying monsters, you befriend them by stealing eggs and hatching them. These monsters then fight alongside you, executing special kinship techniques. Monsters' appearances and abilities can also be customized. Another big change from the main games is the gameplay and combat, which shifts from an action-RPG to a turn-based RPG.
As a remaster, players can look forward to a slew of new features and improvements, including enhanced visuals with improved modeling, textures, and lighting on larger screens, full English and Japanese voice acting, a Museum Mode with over 200 pieces of concept art, background music, and developer sketches. The game also features content previously exclusive to Japan, including Title Updates 1.20 and 1.30.
Also arriving on PlayStation 4 today is Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. In this sequel released on Nintendo Switch and PC back in 2021, you "follow the legendary Rider Red’s legacy and join Ena, a Wyverian girl, on a quest to protect a Rathalos egg that could hatch into a monster of immense power."
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin features an even more expansive and dynamic world with more monsters to befriend. It retains the turn-based combat of its predecessor while delivering a captivating narrative that delves into "ancient legends and the deep bonds between Riders and Monsties."
Although Wings of Ruin is technically releasing on PlayStation 4, you'll still be able to play it on PlayStation 5 through the system's backward compatibility. However, it won't natively take advantage of the PS5's improved hardware.
Monster Hunter Stories is available for $29.99 and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is available starting at $39.99. For those who want to experience both titles, you can get the Monster Hunter Stories Collection, now available on Nintendo Switch for $59.99.
For those who prefer the traditional Monster Hunter experience, you can look forward to Monster Hunter Wilds releasing in 2025.