Monster Hunter 2
Second main Monster Hunter installment, released in Japan in 2006.
Monster Hunter 2, also called Monster Hunter Dos, is an action role-playing game from Capcom that came out for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. As the second major entry in the Monster Hunter series, it launched in Japan during February of that year. This installment brought in a day-night cycle, changing seasons, and weapon classes like the Long Sword and Hunting Horn, all of which became regular fixtures in later games. An unofficial English fan translation was made available in 2023.
The core gameplay sticks close to earlier titles while adding new mechanics. Players take on quests to hunt large or small monsters or gather materials, using the rewards to craft weapons and armor. The weapon tree was improved, and armor could be upgraded. As in other Monster Hunter games, equipping armor pieces grants skills and abilities. A fresh addition here is the gem system: gems provide skill points that work alongside those from armor and weapons. Players create gems by combining ore and monster parts, then attach or remove them from armor and weapons that have special gem slots.
Reception was generally favorable, with Japan's Famitsu magazine giving it a score of 37 out of 40.
A related game, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd), is a partial port of Monster Hunter 2 for the PSP. It adds new features and makes several changes to the original.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Monster Hunter Dos
- Developer
- Capcom
- Director
- Kaname Fujioka
- Designer
- Keni Kinoshita / Tsuyoshi Nagayama / Shintaro Kojima
- Composer
- Masato Kohda / Yuko Komiyama / Akihiko Narita
- Series
- Monster Hunter
- Released
- JP · February 16, 2006
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Monster Hunter 2's gameplay follows closely with preceding games while introducing several additions. Players embark on quests to hunt large or small monsters and gather resources, using rewards to forge weapons and armor. The game features an improved weapon tree and upgradeable armor, with armor pieces providing skills and abilities. A new feature is the use of gems, which add skill points to complement those from armor and weapons; gems are created by combining ore and/or monster parts and can be attached to or detached from armor and weapons with special gem slots.
Reader's Guide
Monster Hunter 2 is significant as the second main entry in the Monster Hunter franchise, establishing mechanics that would become series staples. Its introduction of a day-night cycle and seasons added environmental depth to gameplay. The Long Sword and Hunting Horn weapon types debuted here and later became iconic. The game received generally positive reviews, with Famitsu magazine awarding it a score of 37/40. An English-language fan translation was released in 2023, broadening access for non-Japanese players. A partial port, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd), was later released for the PSP, adding features and changes. The game's gem system and improved armor customization influenced subsequent titles in the series.
Did You Know?
- Monster Hunter 2 is also known as Monster Hunter Dos.
- The game features a day-night cycle and seasons.
More in Monsters & Creatures
Elsewhere in Monster Hunter
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