(also known as ''Monster Hunter 2'') is a 2006

action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and Role-playing video game, role-playing game genres. Definition Action role-playing games empha ...

developed and published by

Capcom is a Japanese video game company. It has created a number of critically acclaimed and List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil'', ''Monster ...

for the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

. The second main installment of the ''

Monster Hunter is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fantasy-themed action role-playing video games, beginning with first installment '' Monster Hunter'' for the PlayStation 2, released in 2004. Titles have been released across a variety of pl ...

'' franchise, it was released in Japan in February 2006. The game features additions such as a day-night cycle, inclusion of seasons, monsters and weapon types that would eventually become mainstays such as the Long Sword and Hunting Horn. An English-language fan translation was released in 2023.

Gameplay

''Monster Hunter 2''s gameplay follows closely with the preceding games as well as introducing several additions. The player's character can embark on quests involving hunting large or small monsters and gathering; the rewards gained from completing quests are used to forge weapons and armor. ''Monster Hunter 2'' has an improved weapon tree and upgradeable armor. ''Monster Hunter'' games, armor pieces can be worn to obtain skills and abilities. A new feature in ''Monster Hunter 2'' is the use of gems. Gems add skill points to complement those added by armor and weapons. Gems are created by combining ore and/or monster parts. Gems can be attached and detached from armor and weapons that have special gem slots.

Reception

''Monster Hunter 2'' received generally positive reviews from Japan-based

Famitsu , formerly , is a line of Japanese Video game journalism, video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly f ...

magazine receiving a score of 37/40 from the publication.

Related games

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is a 2007 action role-playing game developed and published by Capcom for the PlayStation Portable. It is the second handheld installment in the ''Monster Hunter'' franchise. Marketed as a sequel to '' Monster Hunter Freedom'', ''Freedom 2'' is a ...

'', released in Japan as ''Monster Hunter Portable 2nd'', is a partial port of ''Monster Hunter 2'' for the PSP. ''Monster Hunter Freedom 2'' adds features and includes several changes to the original game.

Notes

References

{{Authority control 2006 video games Action role-playing video games Japan-exclusive video games Monster Hunter Multiplayer and single-player video games PlayStation 2 games PlayStation 2-only games Role-playing video games Video game sequels Video games developed in Japan Video games scored by Akihiko Narita Video games with gender-selectable protagonists