“When we created Monster Hunter Stories 1, we wanted to reach a wider audience so the art direction reflected that,” Tsujimoto said. Monster Hunter Stories’ visual style especially impacted the perception of the game, according to Tsujimoto. For some within the community, the spinoff was viewed as Monster Hunter for kids. At the same time, it also presented a conundrum within a fan base that was used to the main Monster Hunter series’ more mature presentation and challenging gameplay. Often described as Monster Hunter meets Pokemon, the original’s core gameplay attracted a new group of fans thanks to its more accessible gameplay and the ability to ride monsters instead of hunting them. Tsujimoto is well aware of the issues with the first game. For some reason, however, it just did not click with a larger gaming audience. The game itself was well-designed for a portable game and received generally positive reviews among critics. Capcom admitted in a financial report in early 2017 that sales for the first Monster Hunter Stories on the Nintendo 3DS were “soft” and underperformed expectations in its domestic market. Then you have the original’s previous track record for sales. Its cartoonish art style is also a complete 180 from the main series’ grittier aesthetics. For starters, the role-playing game features vastly different gameplay from the compelling action that carried the original franchise to new heights. While the mainline Monster Hunter games have soared to new heights outside of the series’ traditional market of Japan in recent years following the release of World, Monster Hunter Stories is a less-proven commodity. The improvements further lend to what feels more like a living, breathing ecosystem.Īt the same time, Monster Hunter Stories 2 represents a huge gamble for Capcom. Areas, meanwhile, feel more vibrant and colorful, serving up picturesque scenes ranging from snowy mountains to fiery autumn foliage with swaying grass. Mannerisms like a monster curiously tilting its head or occasionally fluttering its ears, for example, make the game’s trademark creatures feel more alive. Monster and character models, for example, are vastly improved from the game’s predecessor, boasting a lot more detail and personality quirks that Monster Hunter fans will quickly pick up on. To see just how much Monster Hunter Stories 2 means to developer Capcom, one only needs to look at it.ĭespite being a sequel to a less popular spin-off game, Monster Hunter Stories 2’s production values reflect a great amount of care, man-hours and resources being poured into the game. “But there’s still a lot to do and we’re not out of the woods yet.” Some older players felt the first Stories wasn’t made for them “We’re really excited to bring the game to everybody,” Tsujimoto said. After all, you only have one chance to release a game right. Tsujimoto, a well-known face within the Monster Hunter community, described the lead-up to the launch as a crucial time. While it’s good to see all their hard work finally reaching a culmination, the team’s job is not done, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto said. Behind the moment of levity, however, everyone knows just exactly what Oguro is talking about. The comment elicits laughs from Oguro’s colleagues. “More than being excited, I feel tired,” game director Kenji Oguro quipped from his little corner of a Zoom call in mid-June. More coverage: Capcom producer credits fans for making Monster Hunter Stories 2 possible Instead, the development team’s mood reflected the last-minute grind toward the finish line - not to mention the high stakes behind Capcom’s decision to go all-in with a surprisingly ambitious followup to a lesser-known game. Given the mostly positive response from fans so far thanks to the high level of polish shown in previews of the spin-off game, one would expect a sense of excitement or anticipation from the staff as Monster Hunter Stories 2’s worldwide release draws near. Just ask the team behind Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin at Japanese game developer Capcom, which found itself in a rather pensive mood just three weeks prior to the game’s release. Game development is not all fun and games. Watch Video: Watch video: Monster Hunter Stories 2 'Power of Kinship' trailer
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