I'm In Love With a Turn-Based Spinoff | Monster Hunter Stories 2 Reviewmpressions 

So about the required download. I only had to download a small update, not the 15GB one people have been talking about. My physical copy of the game does say on the box that it requires a 15GB download though, so I don't know what's up. It's possible that the big download is only for doing multiplayer? Whatever the case though, I was able to play the game without the big one, so maybe you won't either? Wish I could clear it up better than that.

It kinda just sounds like what everyone has always wanted from pokemon

The thing about MhStories is that it manages to feel like Monster Hunter, without playing nothing like Monster Hunter and instead going to a turn based combat system simple enough to understand, yet complex enough to spend hours experimenting with different set ups. The 3DS game was a gem

As a fan of the series, I'd like to clear something up: In Monster Hunter, technically *only* the story centered fights count in terms of slaying Monsters. So all the side/subquests, etc... they are non-canon, no matter how many you do. This is because, in lore, the Guild exists to keep balance between the natural world and the human/wyvernian world, so they don't fall into the same trap that the Ancient Civilisation fell into and get destroyed again. So, you may be farming Rathalos for days on end to get that Ruby drop, but it doesn't happen in the "main story". In the main story, you've only taken down one Rathalos in total.

I seem to recall a certain blue boy saying he wasn't very interested in this game... Oh how the turns have tabled.~

I legimately never thought this game would get a sequel and I am so happy to be wrong.

The first one was always a hidden gem on the 3ds. I hope the sequel can bring the series to a wider audience.

It always comes as a surprise when a franchise releases 2 games close to each other and both look and play completely different.

Is it bad my immediate reaction to this notification was "as you should be"?

The animations are much better than anything from a pokémon game.

Pokemon should really borrow ideas from this game. Rideable monsters, finding eggs in the wild, battles where the monsters actually fight and not just awkwardly gesture at each other....

I still have no idea why people sleep on this so hard, I'm really glad you like it arlo! These pokemon fans are really missing out lol.

I know the "lore" does not really matter in a Monster Hunter game but all the monsters you fight are upsetting the ecosystem so that is why the hunters kill/capture them. All the grinding is just for the gameplay.

I named my Kulu-Ya-Ku "Bird Up", because I couldn't resist. Honestly its between him and Basarios for my favorite MH Monster.

Arlo I just wanted to say I was in hospital for several days and watched so many videos from you and you helped me really much to get through these days! Thank you very much and keep up these wonderful videos

As someone who’s not a Monster Hunter fan, I REALLY wanna try this game out, it’s looks VERY fun lol

After being disappointed with the new Pokémon games, I feel like MH Stories has more or less everything I want from a modern Pokémon game: Monster companions that walk with you and that you can ride on, more rewards from defeating wild monsters other than exp, battle mechanics that revolve around your friendship with your monsters (which Pokémon always totes about narratively but never incorporate it into the gameplay), An open and connected world to explore, etc.

0:58 Arlo kissing the Amiibo is too precious. ☺️❤️

Haven't been this excited for a turn based game since Pokémon Gold!

Yeah, I agree on morality issue, it was super weird to have those two groups argue and then go and raid a den of a monster, kill it, steal one egg and leave rest to presumably die.

I've never really played any MH games and I wasn't intending on picking up Stories 2, but I made the mistake of playing the demo, and now my wallet is gonna suffer for it.

Arlo, aren’t you a monster? If so, be careful. Don’t get hunted. 😬

I can't speak for the full game, but in the demo I also had some gripes with the controls, this was made slightly better by going into the settings and turning off the camera auto-track feature that centres the camera behind you as you move. Just a small tip for anyone thinking about trying out the demo.

I love how Arlo tried to make himself with the character creator by giving it blue hair and big eyes.

I personally love turn based games due to the varying strategies.

13:25 To be fair, they indicate that a lot of the time you aren't actually killing the monster. The parts you get for instance you get even if the monster retreats (and it will still count as "slain" in your game's records) and often make no sense (you can get multiple tails from one monster), and in one early quest you fight a Velocidrome that has apparently been a sparring partner for Riders for years and the quest is to fight it the same way, yet you still "slay" it. Not to mention how sad an event killing the Anjanath boss is treated as.

This game seems like my favorite parts of Monster Hunter (the looting, the exploration, the gear crafting) minus the parts I don't like (the combat) plus one of my favorite genres (turn based RPG with stats and levels). Can't wait for it. Gonna try out the first game on my 3DS for a taste test of this game :D

Something I liked is monster stats themselves don't matter that much, it is just that monsters found later have stronger genes and moves to choose from but if you put in the effort to train your early game monsties, get some eggs, do the right of channeling and so forth the same monsties that have been your buddies for a long time can stay with you the whole game and even hold their own into post game and multiplayer.

I still consider it a miracle this game even exists. Last I checked, the first Stories really didn't sell all that well. I'm just immensely glad I got to see a sequel to one of my favourite games ever. And while I'm not too far in, I am in love with it already. It takes everything that worked about Stories 1 and builds upon it. It's brilliant.

I actually prefer MH Stories to any traditional Monster Hunter game

I love how Arlo's character looks like him! Too bad he couldn't do a monster character

I'm glad this series is getting more attention loved it on 3ds can't wait to play the sequel on switch

Yall have turned Arlo into a MH fan methinks

As far as the Switch, this is the game i'm looking forward to the most from the rest of the year.

We should start calling arlo a “Monsty”

I played Most of the first one and fell in love with mh through it, I'm soooooooo happy to see this game is gunna be big and be a good seller!

First MH Rise, now MH Stories Ando? You’re becoming a fellow Hunter dude. Don’t worry, we welcome you with open hands! And as a personal thought, ENVYYYYYY!!!! THAT COLLECTOR EDITION IS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!

I really want some more continuity in the Stories side games connecting to the main series. Like maybe in future DLC or a third game you meet the protagonist of MH3 and he's all like "I came here to investigate some dangerous monster activity that reminds me of my time a few years back defending a village from the might of the Ceadeus"

Arlo the monster has turned against is own kind by becoming a Monster Hunter fun

Arlo: So they’re called monsties Me: sold! Say no more

3K of us loved your Reviempressions. 30 were jealous of your CAPCOM GIFTED COLLECTOR's EDITION. So awesome you got that recognition from CAPCOM!

I should've received it on day one, but for reasons it's actually coming tomorrow, so it's a lucky coincidence that this video came out today. It's reassuring having confirmation that this game is still Monster Hunter at its core, but as an RPG with various mechanics that are more up my alley than the ones in Rise!

So you’re telling me that it’s basically pokemon? I’m sold.

I love the first MHS on 3DS and i can't wait to play this on the Switch

Just finished the game and I can say its a 9/10 for me. It provided a good challenge to me.

0:31 The world needs more Arlo unboxings, because that was just wonderful. XD

Played 150 hours of the first game on the 3DS. EXCITED to play this game in a few months

we're not murdering indiscriminately, we're culling them before they destroy humanity. It's the exact same as clubbing seals. We don't WANT to do it, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

"I'm in love with a turn-based spin-off" Literally every Persona fan ever:

2:05 "Oh, it's a TEAGREX!" *Angry fan noises

Monster friend = Monstie Arlo = our monster friend Arlo = Monstie

The fact that you can continue from the demo, blows my mind!

same with the Monstie sentiment that's just something Capcom added in the western version in the Japanese dub they don't call them Monsties they just call them Monsters

"He's your average 'loves-to-eat-donuts' kinda sidekick guy."

You're one of us now, welcome to the rider club myman. Refreshments are over at the table on the left.

Oh! Man, the interface of this game look really good.

I loved the ds one and love this one. definitely recommended for people who hate how Pokemon is handled. this game has such a beautiful world to explore and the monsters look amazing in battle. there's so much I enjoy that I'm still playing the ds one. I hope they do a third version with even more monsters or new ones.

Also, about the morality issue of stealing monsters babies & raising them as your own. I just see it as a more reallistic pokemon. They don't faint, they die. Its a curiously morbid take on monster collecting that I appreciate (i say this as a huge undertale fan)

Havent seen Arlo himself on camera for a while. Unboxing looking good!

I played Monster Hunter Stories and that game basically got me into the franchise, granted I couldn't really get into it until Rise. But I am excited about MHS2 coming out. I was excited when I saw its announcement trailer along with Rise. But I must say, I've been try to get a collectors edition but Gamestop never has them available. Same with the Amiibo, you'd think Capcom would have realized the potential problem when they sold out of Collectors editions and Amiibo quickly with Rise. But that's all just some minor complaints, all in all I'm just excited to play the next installment to Stories. (Another aside, did anyone else notice how wrong the girl on Nintendo Treehouse when describing the story? She said that the grandfather, Red, is actually the main protagonist from the first game. But that's wrong, because we have Navirou, Lillia, Avinia, and Reverto that were all characters in the first game returning. And even Navirou talks about his previous partner, who was the main protagonist from the first game!!!) Sorry about that just needed to vent that. lol

People! U can play the long prolog that is like 3 hours for a free trial. So cool.

I played the first game kind of accidentally. Nobody really was talking about it and it was sth I wanted to try out. Most of the great stuff Arlo is saying here is what hooked me to the first MHS and I was BEYOND excited when the sequel was announced. And wow, Stories 2 was one of the best gaming experiences I had. It's funny, because on surface level it looks like a pokemon game, but it is sooooooo much more than that. Like easily hundreds of hours of playtime, crazy good fighting system and the list goes on. One problem is, that Stories 2 is actually so good that it makes Stories 1 almost unbearable imo. The quality of life improvements make MHS 2 great - It is basically the almost perfect version of MHS 1 gameplay. I couldn't imagine people going back to the first game even if they'd already played it before, but maybe that's just me. 2 just offers the exact same thing, but better in every capacity.

1:51 Also being familiar with the main franchise and seeing the items like whetstone, paintballs or sonic bombs adapted to work in a turn based JRPG is kinda cool

I'm really really loving this game. A much better pokemon game than any pokemon game I played

Butternut Squash? Yes Please!

Seeing you so excited about your collector's edition is absolutely adorable.

That walking thing is an issue I've had numerous times on the Switch. The dead zones are so massive (probably cause they knew about the drift risk) that tilt based walk/run mechanics always have this awkward, "I need to move the stick a lot just to walk and then suddenly I'm running" type of feel. The pro controller doesn't even fix it cause the dead zones seem to be programmed in at a system level. They added in button mapping but left out dead zone mapping. Really sucks. Nintendo, the kings of almost

Unironically some of the most fun mh experience I’ve ever had was from this game

Just when I had fully suppressed my memories of navirou..

I've never followed the Monster Hunter series, so I didn't even know about this game. Though, this sounds like a fun time. I might give it a shot! I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think Arlo really likes this game! 😅

the amount of references to the first mhstories was really fun when I played, since it acknowledged the old mc. my only problem with mhstories2 was the entire ratha main monster thing, since I had already had one and it just didn’t click well

Monster Hunter stories man:look after my monstie okay Mhr man: okay Mhs man: oh fuck he’s a hunter

This Pokémon game is pretty good, been having a lot of fun.

Awesome reviewmpression! Thanks for your thoughts, it's just confirmed what I already felt from the trial. So excited to play the rest of it!

Loved seeing the footage of you opening the cap com gift it’s always good to see you it makes me smile ^^

In Stories cannon the Riders don't actually kill monsters, their main role is to intervene rampaging monsters who for whatever reason left their typical natural habitat. Their main role as a culture is to ensure the safety of the environment and that of monsters - including the rampaging ones. Riders believe that all monsters are capable of understanding and coexisting with humans thus developing bonds of kinship between riders and young monsties. This is in contrast to Hunters who are individuals tasked with protecting human settlements from wandering monsters that pose a threat to human civilisation. All hunts are issued by the world government body known as the Hunter's Guild meaning hunting for sport is not common practice. Concerning why our Riders are seen with traditional Hunters equipment can be attributed to the role they play in the games, as unlike normal Riders ours are tasked with tackling a looming threat that are at times equal to a major event for Hunters. Riders are primarily weaker compared to Hunters, their strength comes from their overall bonds with their monster companions, throughout the Stories franchise we witness Riders and Hunters engage with one another sharing their cultures giving Riders a means to learn to handle Hunting equipment. This is also reflected in actual gameplay as you are rewarded with new Weapon Skills and new equipment for assisting Hunters and Guild members with quests.

It's actually nice seeing arlo try out more Jrpgs. For so long he has been saying xenoblade is a game he knows he won't like, but all the systems of the game and the story seems rigjt up his alley, so it's nice to see him dip his toes into a great genre.

Since Gamefreak doesn't do Pokémon justice anymore, there are others more than happy to step in. I can feel it, this is gonna fill the gap quite nicely. Also check out Digimon Story Cybersleuth.

I was lucky to preorder the collectors edition but after playing the demo. Good gah I will be that which has no life

I've had so much trouble getting into the mainline Mh series and this has finally given me a way for me to enjoy it.

I love Monster Hunter so much and the Stories spinoffs are so good. They just announced a remaster of the first game coming to everything, but Xbox. I'm so excited to get to play it on my PS5 and for people like you who only played played this one to get to play the original.

I just realized... Arlo is an analogue vtuber...

@6:51 That kid looks like he just killed his first Monster, but he didn't really want to, just got pressured into it and is now horrified.

Been playing this on PC at a constant, smooth 60 FPS and I absolutely love it. I played the demo first and I was instantly hooked, so much so that I even bought it without even finishing the demo first, which by the way, I highly recommend playing the demo before deciding to buy it or not; it's pretty lenghty, clocking at about 3 or 4 hours and the save data can be carried to the full game -just make sure to make a manual save, for some reason, autosaves don't work to transfer them to the full game, but other than that, it's a fairly smooth process.

I never played monster hunter before but thought the new one looked cool. Played the demo last night and absolutely fell in love with it! I was so enthralled by it that when I finally looked at the clock it was already 3am. I bought the physical copy today and I cannot wait for it to come in the mail.

The way I always sorta interpreted the Monster Hunter story is that only the first completion of a hunt is actually canon. So like when you're playing through the story and you first meet and have to hunt the Tigrex it's canon, but then going back and killing a dozen more Tigrexes so that you can get the armor set is not actually part of the canon story and is instead a game-design focused decision. Like how I'm pretty sure in the canon story of pokemon your character isn't actually setting up mass breeding farms to try and get a pokemon of a different color.

The slash, pierce, and blunt weapons sound like persona 3 😎

Am I the only one who thinks it's cute and adorable when they're called Monsties? I love my Monsties 💕

Currently playing it. Can wait. Man you're hooked. Cant blame you.

I'm more interested in this than in Rise, but I've only played a bit of Rise and I'm not gonna get a second Monster Hunter game while there's another one still waiting for me to finish it, especially since I got that one as a birthday gift.

3:25 Of course Arlo doesn't like the term "monstie"...it'd be like calling you or I a "humie".

Loved the first one and can't wait for the second one! My fears were confirmed about the performance on the switch though. Glad I bought it on the pc.

I think I sometimes forget that Arlo is a person. Like when I hear his voice all I can picture is the Cookie Monster puppet

I'm so hyped for this game. I'll be honest after World Rise was a bit of a disappointment: - No Multiplayer Story - No Cool Story Journey - Village/HUB are separated - They brought back Key Quests - The Environments can look super dead and boring and the color pallet is ugh - There's no Resource Center, No Bounties, No Dailies, No Weeklies, No Limited Bounties, No Investigations - There's no Tempered Endgame equivalent - 16-Player Lobbies have been reduced to 4-Players - The pace of the game is getting much too far away from what separates MH from most ARPGs. I could go on and on, but I honestly would rather just play Stories 2. I just need something to heal my heart while I wait for the true sequel to World to come out and hopefully give me that same awe and shocking experience. Stories 2 looks amazing visually, I love the depth of the game and giving Monsties new moves they shouldn't even be able to use, The cool Gene and channeling system, getting gear for your Rider, Being able to ride all Monsties, The Cinematic Kinship attacks, the incredible depth is what I need. I've already put 90+ Hours into the Demo. Just give me the game Capcom but- Add Gore Magala, Namielle and make sure Odogaron is in the game. Thanks.

I played the original Stories game and I really enjoyed it. As a fan of RPGs and a big Pokémon fan, the gameplay was very familiar but I loved the differences like the egg/den system, the combat is really enjoyable with the 3 attack type counter system and as someone who’s tried the main Monster Hunter games and found it to have a massive difficulty spike (I tried World and got stuck really early at the Barroth fight) but love the designs of the monsters, stories is a great way for me to enjoy the series. I’ve only played the demo and managed to beat it in less than a day, but I love the new additions like having 3 separate weapons that you can equip and having different weapons that are (and I’ll state it in my own way) sharp, pointed, or blunt and they each counter different monsters better. The original didn’t have multiplayer which made me and my brother upset since we both love the stories game but now they’ve added it and we’re excited to do tons of co-op. Honestly, hope more people grow to love this spinoff since it’s really solid and great in its own way

This video convinced me to buy the first game on the 3ds store, because I didn't want to wait until tomorrow for the 2nd to come out.

from my experience with the demo, turning off the camera snap in the settings helped with the clunky controls a bit

I can hatch an Anjanath and infuse it with dragon genetics, and proceed to name it Barney. Fucking 10/10

I love the running away with the egg action lol, it's so funny

I have such a huge rpg backlog. And I just keep adding more.