As Senior Editor at In Game News, we often face the dilemma of reviewing games that arrive on new platforms well after their initial release. Such is the case with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin on Xbox Series X|S. Originally a Nintendo Switch title from 2021, its arrival on Microsoft's current-gen consoles in late 2025 gave us pause. We opted to hold our editorial until the new year, not due to "real-life" getting in the way, but because we wanted to properly assess its standing in the turn-based RPG landscape, especially after the genre's significant renaissance last year. Our verdict? While it presents a vastly improved visual facade, *Wings of Ruin* largely plays it too safe, delivering a familiar, albeit sometimes repetitive, experience that struggles with fundamental performance issues on Xbox.
A Familiar Monster-Catching Odyssey, With Ethical Ambiguities
Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a standalone narrative, thoughtfully designed to welcome newcomers without demanding prior knowledge of its 3DS predecessor. Here, players step into the boots of a Monster Rider, a refreshing departure from the traditional hunter role. The core gameplay loop is immediately recognizable: explore vibrant maps, locate Monster Dens, and hatch new "Monsties" from collected eggs. This cycle, inherently reminiscent of the *Pokémon* formula, sees you building a diverse team to fight alongside you in turn-based combat.
However, true to its roots, your control over your Monsties' actions is intentionally limited. Success hinges on strategic monster selection, understanding their innate abilities, and leveraging them against specific threats. It’s less about micromanaging and more about establishing a synergistic team for the situation at hand. Yet, this simplicity can frustrate those who prefer tighter tactical control. Our veteran team found themselves wishing for more direct input, particularly during prolonged encounters.
Then there's the 'Rite of Channeling.' While the game frames it as a powerful customization tool, allowing players to gene-splice stats and moves from one Monstie to another, the underlying implication is stark. "Donors" simply "disappear." The game's narrative doesn't shy away from this, with NPCs eagerly pushing you to unlock this ability. It’s a playful, yet pointed, jab at the often-unquestioned ethics of monster-catching games – a nuance we, as seasoned players, appreciated even if it's never deeply explored.
A Story That Adheres to the Script
The narrative arc of Wings of Ruin, we must admit, feels decidedly conventional. Our Rider embarks on a journey from town to town, solving local dilemmas while slowly uncovering a larger, more existential threat: Rathalos disappearing and a mysterious pink light causing Anjanaths to rampage. This procedural structure, common in many RPGs, leads to a parade of temporary "buddies" who join your Rider for specific segments. While some offer momentary charm, most blend into a forgettable supporting cast by the game's final acts. There's a distinct lack of standout personalities or truly memorable arcs here.
Navirou, the wise-cracking Felyne sidekick from the first game, makes a return, serving as the voice for your silent protagonist. While his obnoxiousness has been notably toned down – a welcome quality-of-life adjustment – he still has a penchant for getting the player into far more trouble than feels necessary, often leaving you to deal with the fallout. For players accustomed to nuanced narrative companions, Navirou remains a largely functional, rather than endearing, presence.
Combat That Fails to Evolve
The core combat system in Monster Hunter Stories 2 largely rehashes its predecessor's 'rock-paper-scissors' foundation. Power, Technical, and Speed attacks form the tactical bedrock, demanding players discern enemy attack patterns to counter effectively. While this system works, its simplicity means that after a few encounters, new enemy types quickly become a memory test rather than a fresh challenge. It’s a basic loop that provides minimal strategic depth, a critical failing for a game that touts a 35+ hour campaign.
To its credit, the sequel introduces some much-needed refinements. The ability to switch weapons mid-battle and earlier access to new weapon types are genuine quality-of-life improvements. Furthermore, targeting specific monster body parts, each with its own vulnerabilities to different weapon types, adds a welcome, albeit minor, layer of strategic consideration. This was a direct response to criticisms of the first game's overly simplistic battles. However, these tweaks, while appreciated, are insufficient. They don't fundamentally overhaul the combat loop, which quickly becomes repetitive and struggles to maintain engagement across the game's significant runtime. For seasoned RPG players, the grind becomes evident far too soon.
Sub-Optimal Performance on Current-Gen Hardware
Visually, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a stark improvement over its 3DS-native predecessor. The transition to the Nintendo Switch's capabilities, and now to Xbox Series X|S, means this is a far better-looking game. The classic Monster Hunter creatures are rendered beautifully, and the world itself feels more expansive and detailed.
However, this visual upgrade comes at a significant cost on Xbox Series X|S. Performance and optimization are, simply put, sub-par. The most egregious offender? Loading screens. Transitioning from the world map into a battle, or moving between larger areas, consistently results in delays of several seconds. These aren't just minor hitches; they are prolonged pauses that momentarily lead us to question if the game has crashed. In an era where seamless transitions and near-instant loading times are the benchmark for current-gen consoles, these jarring interruptions are an unacceptable blight on the experience. It breaks immersion and feels fundamentally out of step with modern gaming expectations. While the game itself may be "new" to Xbox, its technical execution feels decidedly aged.
A Better-Looking Sequel That Struggles to Overhaul
Ultimately, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin on Xbox Series X|S is a conflicting experience. It undeniably looks better, leveraging more powerful hardware to deliver a more visually appealing world and character models. The combat system receives some welcome quality-of-life tweaks, but these additions aren't enough to evolve what remains a fundamentally repetitive gameplay loop over the long haul. The story, while functional, adheres too closely to genre tropes, failing to deliver memorable characters or a truly compelling narrative.
With Monster Hunter Stories 3 on the horizon, now is indeed an opportune moment for players to jump into these earlier titles. But for Wings of Ruin, particularly on Xbox, our advice remains: temper your expectations. While it offers a charming monster-catching adventure, its technical shortcomings and lack of true innovation hold it back from being a standout title.
Review Summary
| Category | Details |
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| Overall Score | 3/5 |
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