Capcom have detailed the post-launch plans, co-op, and more for upcoming RPG Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.
The Special Pre-Launch Program was hosted by producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, along with director Kenji Oguro. Along with a narrator, they highlighted the game’s features, co-op gameplay, and opening song Scarlet Land Lit Up By The Heavens by Misaki Fukunaga.
The host in co-op games will need to spend an expedition ticket to create a a quest room, even with local play. Co-op dens can also allow players to fund multiple eggs from one den. Players can still fight foes on their own, but their ally can jump into the fray whenever they wish.
All Co-Op quests can also be played solo, with an NPC as the partner. It was emphasized how monsters will change the types of moves they’ll use when enraged or on low health, demanding different tactics.
You can find the opening and co-op gameplay below.
As previously reported, the series focuses on working alongside monsters as Riders. Wings of Ruin focuses on a newborn Rathalos runt that cannot fly, while others have fled the land. However, this Razewing Rathalos is foretold to bring about the end of the world with the titular Wings of Ruin, and Hunters and Riders alike want to use it for their own ends.
Discover the mystery behind the beast and the Rage Rays breaking out across the land, beat back foes in turn-based battles along-side your monster allies, and use your bonds to bring down devastation on your foes.
The Special Pre-Launch Program details how players will enter tactical RPG battles against classic monsters, and exploit their weaknesses. You can also raid their dens to steal eggs to raise your own Monstie, and transfer their genes to gain skills they typically cannot learn. Players can also use them to climb up walls, swim, sneak past foes, and find items.
After completing the base game, players will unlock the Elder’s Lair. There, players will challenge high rank monsters in quests. Players will also gain access to riding Deviant Monsters (such as Dradqueen Rathian, Thunderlord Zinogre, Teostra, and Nergigante).
As detailed in the launch trailer, the game will have post-release content; with the Special Program stating most of these are focused on post-game content. Free Title Update #1 launches July 15th, and brings the Palamute Monstie (unlocked via an egg from a Co-Op Expedition Quest).
The August 5th Title Update #2 will bring the Co-Op Quest exclusive monster Kluve Taroth (which grants special materials for powerful equipment), the Hellblade Glavenus Monstie, and Boltreaver Astalos Monstie. Free Title Update #3 will launch early September 2021, and brings the Soulseer Mizutsune Monstie, Elderfrost Gammoth Monstie, and Oroshi Kirin Monstie.
Free Title Update #4 will launch Late September 2021, and brings the Co-Op Kulve Taroth quest at a higher difficulty, the Dreadking Rathalos Monstie, and Molten Tigrex Monstie. October 2021 will introduce the fifth title update, with the Silver Rathalos Monstie, Gold Rathian Monstie, and unrevealed co-op exclusive high difficulty monster.
Tsujimoto and Oguro also shared their insights into how the game developed. You can find that segment (55:23), and the entire Special Pre-Launch Program below.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin launches July 9th for Windows PC (via Steam), and Nintendo Switch.
