So about the required download. I only had to download a small update, not the 15GB one people have been talking about. My physical copy of the game does say on the box that it requires a 15GB download though, so I don't know what's up. It's possible that the big download is only for doing multiplayer? Whatever the case though, I was able to play the game without the big one, so maybe you won't either? Wish I could clear it up better than that.

The thing about MhStories is that it manages to feel like Monster Hunter, without playing nothing like Monster Hunter and instead going to a turn based combat system simple enough to understand, yet complex enough to spend hours experimenting with different set ups. The 3DS game was a gem

I seem to recall a certain blue boy saying he wasn't very interested in this game... Oh how the turns have tabled.~

I legimately never thought this game would get a sequel and I am so happy to be wrong.

It kinda just sounds like what everyone has always wanted from pokemon

As someone who’s not a Monster Hunter fan, I REALLY wanna try this game out, it’s looks VERY fun lol

As a fan of the series, I'd like to clear something up: In Monster Hunter, technically *only* the story centered fights count in terms of slaying Monsters. So all the side/subquests, etc... they are non-canon, no matter how many you do. This is because, in lore, the Guild exists to keep balance between the natural world and the human/wyvernian world, so they don't fall into the same trap that the Ancient Civilisation fell into and get destroyed again. So, you may be farming Rathalos for days on end to get that Ruby drop, but it doesn't happen in the "main story". In the main story, you've only taken down one Rathalos in total.

The first one was always a hidden gem on the 3ds. I hope the sequel can bring the series to a wider audience.

It always comes as a surprise when a franchise releases 2 games close to each other and both look and play completely different.

The animations are much better than anything from a pokémon game.

I still have no idea why people sleep on this so hard, I'm really glad you like it arlo! These pokemon fans are really missing out lol.

Is it bad my immediate reaction to this notification was "as you should be"?

Arlo I just wanted to say I was in hospital for several days and watched so many videos from you and you helped me really much to get through these days! Thank you very much and keep up these wonderful videos

I named my Kulu-Ya-Ku "Bird Up", because I couldn't resist. Honestly its between him and Basarios for my favorite MH Monster.

Pokemon should really borrow ideas from this game. Rideable monsters, finding eggs in the wild, battles where the monsters actually fight and not just awkwardly gesture at each other....

I know the "lore" does not really matter in a Monster Hunter game but all the monsters you fight are upsetting the ecosystem so that is why the hunters kill/capture them. All the grinding is just for the gameplay.

Sounds like a cross between Dragon Quest and Pokemon, I can’t wait!

0:58 Arlo kissing the Amiibo is too precious. ☺️❤️

“How to train your Rathalos”

I was hesitant about this game but I tried the demo and fell in love. I put 8 hours into it! I pre-ordered the deluxe version and cannot WAIT for that baby to unlock 😎

Arlo licking the pin summarizes why I love this channel

Haven't been this excited for a turn based game since Pokémon Gold!

After playing the original Stories MHS2 blows it out of the water even in the demo. The presentation is better, the mechanics are better, monsters are better to raise and are more viable in the long term, its just a far more polished game. It also helps that the dev team listened to fans and changed things in accordance to what we wanted and it shows what happens when game companies don't fight their playerbase, but embraces them.

Didn't give it 5 Monsties out of 7, unforgivable.

After being disappointed with the new Pokémon games, I feel like MH Stories has more or less everything I want from a modern Pokémon game: Monster companions that walk with you and that you can ride on, more rewards from defeating wild monsters other than exp, battle mechanics that revolve around your friendship with your monsters (which Pokémon always totes about narratively but never incorporate it into the gameplay), An open and connected world to explore, etc.

I can't speak for the full game, but in the demo I also had some gripes with the controls, this was made slightly better by going into the settings and turning off the camera auto-track feature that centres the camera behind you as you move. Just a small tip for anyone thinking about trying out the demo.

I love how Arlo tried to make himself with the character creator by giving it blue hair and big eyes.

This game seems like my favorite parts of Monster Hunter (the looting, the exploration, the gear crafting) minus the parts I don't like (the combat) plus one of my favorite genres (turn based RPG with stats and levels). Can't wait for it. Gonna try out the first game on my 3DS for a taste test of this game :D

I think I saw the “BIRD UP” monster from TerminalMontage’s videos! That made me giggle to see that!

I personally love turn based games due to the varying strategies.

I still consider it a miracle this game even exists. Last I checked, the first Stories really didn't sell all that well. I'm just immensely glad I got to see a sequel to one of my favourite games ever. And while I'm not too far in, I am in love with it already. It takes everything that worked about Stories 1 and builds upon it. It's brilliant.

I just picked this up and I have to say, aside from the frame rate issues, I am absolutely loving this game. It's everything I have wanted from a Pokemon game for so long, plus IT'S MONSTER HUNTER! Collecting these amazingly designed monsters that I've been slaying all this time and actually getting to fight alongside is like a dream come true! I can't wait to get deeper into and farm some monsties! (Stupid name but it is what it is lol)

I've never really played any MH games and I wasn't intending on picking up Stories 2, but I made the mistake of playing the demo, and now my wallet is gonna suffer for it.

Arlo, aren’t you a monster? If so, be careful. Don’t get hunted. 😬

First MH Rise, now MH Stories Ando? You’re becoming a fellow Hunter dude. Don’t worry, we welcome you with open hands! And as a personal thought, ENVYYYYYY!!!! THAT COLLECTOR EDITION IS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I agree on morality issue, it was super weird to have those two groups argue and then go and raid a den of a monster, kill it, steal one egg and leave rest to presumably die.

I just can't process in my brain how incredible fu***ng good you are with the hand puppet!!!! I watched 0:33 - 1:02 multiple times! The kiss to the amiibo, the pin lick, the shaking of the game with exitement The head movement while inspecting the figurine! I am an adult and when I see you playing Arlo my inner child just bursts out of me and is overcome with joy :D It's so authentic and so well just perfect! You really need to make more videos with an increased Arlo screentime! :D Maybe a little show if you find the time and desire ^^

I love how Arlo's character looks like him! Too bad he couldn't do a monster character

Watching arlo open that special edition was so freaking adorable

Something I liked is monster stats themselves don't matter that much, it is just that monsters found later have stronger genes and moves to choose from but if you put in the effort to train your early game monsties, get some eggs, do the right of channeling and so forth the same monsties that have been your buddies for a long time can stay with you the whole game and even hold their own into post game and multiplayer.

I'm glad this series is getting more attention loved it on 3ds can't wait to play the sequel on switch

Yall have turned Arlo into a MH fan methinks

0:31 The world needs more Arlo unboxings, because that was just wonderful. XD

I’m so glad to see the transformation of Arlo who couldn’t care less about monster Hunter and now he’s hooked! I played monster hunter back In the day on the ps2 at a friends house and thought it was awesome. But I didn’t pick one up myself until world and man I got hooked! And today I watched Arlo’s video on rise and stories 2 and now I need to buy them both! Thanks Arlo for the great content!

As far as the Switch, this is the game i'm looking forward to the most from the rest of the year.

13:25 To be fair, they indicate that a lot of the time you aren't actually killing the monster. The parts you get for instance you get even if the monster retreats (and it will still count as "slain" in your game's records) and often make no sense (you can get multiple tails from one monster), and in one early quest you fight a Velocidrome that has apparently been a sparring partner for Riders for years and the quest is to fight it the same way, yet you still "slay" it. Not to mention how sad an event killing the Anjanath boss is treated as.

3K of us loved your Reviempressions. 30 were jealous of your CAPCOM GIFTED COLLECTOR's EDITION. So awesome you got that recognition from CAPCOM!

I played Most of the first one and fell in love with mh through it, I'm soooooooo happy to see this game is gunna be big and be a good seller!

See this, THIS is what I would want out of a Pokemon RPG. Thanks for showing this, Arlo! It'll be a bit, but I think I'm picking up this one.

Never played a Monster Hunter game before, but Arlo is making some very nice sounding points to wanting this game.

I actually prefer MH Stories to any traditional Monster Hunter game

Arlo: So they’re called monsties Me: sold! Say no more

I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this excited over a game reviewmpression, Arlo. I’ve seen you excited for full reviews, but this was really different. But hey, I love how you acted during the reveals, so kiddy! Also yeah, I’m the same about turn-based RPGs, I love ‘em!

I should've received it on day one, but for reasons it's actually coming tomorrow, so it's a lucky coincidence that this video came out today. It's reassuring having confirmation that this game is still Monster Hunter at its core, but as an RPG with various mechanics that are more up my alley than the ones in Rise!

2:05 "Oh, it's a TEAGREX!" *Angry fan noises

Arlo the monster has turned against is own kind by becoming a Monster Hunter fun

You're one of us now, welcome to the rider club myman. Refreshments are over at the table on the left.

I really want some more continuity in the Stories side games connecting to the main series. Like maybe in future DLC or a third game you meet the protagonist of MH3 and he's all like "I came here to investigate some dangerous monster activity that reminds me of my time a few years back defending a village from the might of the Ceadeus"

I was def a bit iffy on the game. I wasn't to sure if I was looking to play the game, but I tried the demo and dang, I loved it. Its not crazy or anything, but its a really feel good game; its just fun to play. Definitely recommend just from the demo.

I've got to say. I love an Arlo Reviewmpressions in the morning. PLUS ITS MONSTER HUNTER!

We should start calling arlo a “Monsty”

The part where arlo looks at the unboxed stuff was absolutely the most adorable thing i have seen this year

Havent seen Arlo himself on camera for a while. Unboxing looking good!

Played 150 hours of the first game on the 3DS. EXCITED to play this game in a few months

I love the first MHS on 3DS and i can't wait to play this on the Switch

that's it. I'm undecided no more. I gotta get this game

"He's your average 'loves-to-eat-donuts' kinda sidekick guy."

Monster friend = Monstie Arlo = our monster friend Arlo = Monstie

Loved seeing the footage of you opening the cap com gift it’s always good to see you it makes me smile ^^

Awesome reviewmpression! Thanks for your thoughts, it's just confirmed what I already felt from the trial. So excited to play the rest of it!

"This is me opening it up" this acting is great, i love it xD

The fact that you can continue from the demo, blows my mind!

arlo has somehow found a way to make monster hunter sound fun to me :0

Oh! Man, the interface of this game look really good.

So you’re telling me that it’s basically pokemon? I’m sold.

Seeing you so excited about your collector's edition is absolutely adorable.

Just finished the game and I can say its a 9/10 for me. It provided a good challenge to me.

Hearing Arlo describe the controls - an expanded dead-zone meaning it's very hard to walk rather than run - my immediate thought is that it sounds like a workaround for the joycon drift issue - make the dead zone large enough that any drift is unlikely to register as motion...

This game was my childhood and I’m so happy people are talking about it again.

I've never followed the Monster Hunter series, so I didn't even know about this game. Though, this sounds like a fun time. I might give it a shot! I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think Arlo really likes this game! 😅

Excellent video as always (I'm curious to investigate the game further now!), but watching Arlo play with the collector's edition items around 0:34 through 1:02 was really something special =D

I played Monster Hunter Stories and that game basically got me into the franchise, granted I couldn't really get into it until Rise. But I am excited about MHS2 coming out. I was excited when I saw its announcement trailer along with Rise. But I must say, I've been try to get a collectors edition but Gamestop never has them available. Same with the Amiibo, you'd think Capcom would have realized the potential problem when they sold out of Collectors editions and Amiibo quickly with Rise. But that's all just some minor complaints, all in all I'm just excited to play the next installment to Stories. (Another aside, did anyone else notice how wrong the girl on Nintendo Treehouse when describing the story? She said that the grandfather, Red, is actually the main protagonist from the first game. But that's wrong, because we have Navirou, Lillia, Avinia, and Reverto that were all characters in the first game returning. And even Navirou talks about his previous partner, who was the main protagonist from the first game!!!) Sorry about that just needed to vent that. lol

Butternut Squash? Yes Please!

One of these days I may try this franchise our, but they've never looked like my cup of tea. That footage though of you with the collector's edition game, all incredible.

I love the fact that Arlo is a Monster Hunter fan now.

I loved the ds one and love this one. definitely recommended for people who hate how Pokemon is handled. this game has such a beautiful world to explore and the monsters look amazing in battle. there's so much I enjoy that I'm still playing the ds one. I hope they do a third version with even more monsters or new ones.

1:51 Also being familiar with the main franchise and seeing the items like whetstone, paintballs or sonic bombs adapted to work in a turn based JRPG is kinda cool

I have very little interest in the og Monster Hunter, but THIS, this is absolutely my jam, really hope my pc can handle it

we're not murdering indiscriminately, we're culling them before they destroy humanity. It's the exact same as clubbing seals. We don't WANT to do it, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

I love the running away with the egg action lol, it's so funny

It's actually nice seeing arlo try out more Jrpgs. For so long he has been saying xenoblade is a game he knows he won't like, but all the systems of the game and the story seems rigjt up his alley, so it's nice to see him dip his toes into a great genre.

Currently playing it. Can wait. Man you're hooked. Cant blame you.

I'm really really loving this game. A much better pokemon game than any pokemon game I played

Arlo!! I was waiting for you to review this game!! I love it!! Thank you for this review!! 💕😌

"I'm in love with a turn-based spin-off" Literally every Persona fan ever:

Unironically some of the most fun mh experience I’ve ever had was from this game

same with the Monstie sentiment that's just something Capcom added in the western version in the Japanese dub they don't call them Monsties they just call them Monsters

This Pokémon game is pretty good, been having a lot of fun.

I played the first game kind of accidentally. Nobody really was talking about it and it was sth I wanted to try out. Most of the great stuff Arlo is saying here is what hooked me to the first MHS and I was BEYOND excited when the sequel was announced. And wow, Stories 2 was one of the best gaming experiences I had. It's funny, because on surface level it looks like a pokemon game, but it is sooooooo much more than that. Like easily hundreds of hours of playtime, crazy good fighting system and the list goes on. One problem is, that Stories 2 is actually so good that it makes Stories 1 almost unbearable imo. The quality of life improvements make MHS 2 great - It is basically the almost perfect version of MHS 1 gameplay. I couldn't imagine people going back to the first game even if they'd already played it before, but maybe that's just me. 2 just offers the exact same thing, but better in every capacity.

I've had so much trouble getting into the mainline Mh series and this has finally given me a way for me to enjoy it.