Monster Hunter fans had a great 2021 on the Switch. They not only got a new mainline entry via Monster Hunter Rise, but they also got a sequel to the spinoff series with Monster Hunter Stories 2. Both games received fairly high praise from reviewers.
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Technically, Monster Hunter Rise is better than Monster Hunter Stories 2 based solely on numbers. Is that true though? Was Monster Hunter Rise the superior Monster Hunter experience in 2021? Whether that is true or not, there’s no denying that there are things Monster Hunter Stories 2 does better and vice versa. It’s time to compare the two in a friendly match.
8 Art Style: Monster Hunter Stories 2
For a Switch game, Monster Hunter Rise looks pretty close to Monster Hunter World on the beefier systems. It’s obviously downgraded graphically but it’s pretty close.
Monster Hunter Stories 2 doesn’t look graphically as good as Rise, however, the cel-shaded art style should prove to hold out better with the test of time. It may not be as detailed but Monster Hunter Stories 2 is still a gorgeous game.
7 Multiplayer: Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Stories 2 does have multiplayer but it is very limited. The main game cannot be played with other people. Instead, it is downgraded to specific side quests. This is technically also the case for Monster Hunter Rise, but the multiplayer mode not only has more quests to tackle, but it unlocks faster too.
Monster Hunter Stories 2 doesn’t need another player in co-op to make the game easier. It actually slows things down for turn-based battles.
6 Level Design: Monster Hunter Stories 2
Like Monster Hunter World, Monster Hunter Rise does not have an open-world. It instead has open environments to explore, which was a big step for the series. However, Monster Hunter Stories 2 actually has an open-world and it’s filled with stuff to do and see.
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Some things, like the graphics, may not make the world seem that big because of a lack of detail in the environments. The egg dungeons, for example, look plain as they use repeated designs. Whatever downfalls Monster Hunter Stories 2 has to its open-world, it’s still better than Monster Hunter Rise’s.
5 Monster Design: Monster Hunter Rise
This series would be nothing without its diverse set of monsters. Monster Hunter Rise has some of the best monsters yet such as Bishaten and Rakna-Kadaki which were both new to the series. Monster Hunter Stories 2 doesn’t add much new other than redesign a few monsters to make them a bit cuter.
Both games have great designs in them but only one can be a winner. While Monster Hunter Stories 2 wins the art contest graphically, from a design perspective, the monsters just are cooler to see and battle in Monster Hunter Rise. It is a more harrowing experience with death seemingly around every corner.
4 Story: Monster Hunter Stories 2
Monster Hunter Rise has a story but it is pretty barebones. There is a giant monster terrorizing the land and that’s about it. Monster Hunter Stories 2, as the name should imply, actually has a well-written narrative.
Not only is the journey exciting, but it is filled with tons of memorable characters like Kayna and Alwin. It also has a lot of comedy bits like when Kayna stretches out Navirou’s mouth or when Navirou tells punny jokes. It’s a fun time that makes it hard not to smile while playing.
3 Gameplay: Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Stories 2 has an interesting take on classic turn-based RPG battles. While it includes some advantages above others in the genre such as a fast-forward button, it also lags behind in places. Not being able to control the full party manually can be frustrating and the rock, paper, scissors-esque system is busted. It could be better if those two things got fixed.
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The action mechanics in the main games like Monster Hunter Rise just fit what this series is all about. It makes it a more engaging experience to go toe to toe with some of these gigantic beasts. Taking them down also gives off a better sense of reward.
2 Mounts: Monster Hunter Stories 2
Monster Hunter Rise introduced one amazing thing to the main games: mounts. They existed in limited amounts before this but the inclusion of the Palamute took things to a new level. Also being able to grapple onto monsters and ride them around was like fighting in Kaiju battle at times.
Monster Hunter Stories 2 still has those experiences beat since mounts are one of the core mechanics in it. Monsters, or Monsties for the friendly versions, have special powers. Some can jump over cliffs. Some can break through rocks. Some can climb vines. This opens up the exploration capabilities more as the game goes on which is always a great feeling.
1 Verdict: Monster Hunter Stories 2
On a superficial level, Monster Hunter Stories 2 wins. Both of these games are quite different even though they exist in the same series. It’s more like comparing apples to oranges. For those who prefer realistic graphics and action gameplay, they should pick Monster Hunter Rise.
For those that like colorful anime-like games with turn-based combat, pick up Monster Hunter Stories 2. Both are good games and if some other categories were chosen, Monster Hunter Rise might have won. However, as it stands now, it looks like Monster Hunter Stories 2 has a small advantage over Monster Hunter Rise.
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