There was a time when I thought nothing could ever beat Pokémon games. After all, they are the staple for creature collector titles. The formula became so solid that a few other companies decided to replicate it, but they never really stood out. I was okay with the new games and regions offering a Pokémon with a head ornament, a new regional form, and visuals that come straight from the PS2 era. But then I played Monster Hunter Stories 2, and my opinions changed instantly. And you know what? I’ve come to the sad realization that Pokémon has been living under its comfortable little rock and pumping out the bare minimum for a long while now. Meanwhile, Monster Hunter has created the ultimate take on the creature collector genre, and to be perfectly honest with you, it’s one that is making me not want to buy another Pokémon game ever again.
Stale Pocket Creatures, Evolving Monsters
I began my Pokémon journey as a kid after I managed to save money to buy a second-hand Game Boy Advance with Pokémon Sapphire; I was elated. At the time, roaming around Hoenn with my loyal Mudkip was all I needed. It remained as such for the next regions, all the way up to Alola, which, for me, was the last time a Pokémon game felt great.
Then, Sword & Shield arrived, and nothing really hit the mark. We had a giant fat Pikachu and a new Pokédex, but the visual style and the repetitive formula made the experience feel tedious. Then, Legends: Arceus swooped in with a promising concept, but not even the grind to create the first Pokédex ever changed the core concept that Pokémon has used over the years. Not long after, Scarlet and Violet arrived, ushering in the beginning of one of the worst Pokémon eras in history.
We got some of the worst visuals of the series, a lackluster Pokédex, terrible performance on the Nintendo Switch — which at least was fixed for the Switch 2 — and while the story and DLC were enjoyable, they’ve largely left everyone with a bit of a sour taste. And so, Nintendo decided to bring another Legends game, and, well, the excitement wasn’t there anymore.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an example of a company doing the bare minimum to sell millions. And sadly, it will work, because for the most part, the general gaming audience is a sucker for renowned and established brands, especially if it is brings nostalgia and the promise of offering even the slightest changes. Legends: Z-A “innovates” by letting you move around during combat. You don’t control the Pokémon; no. You, as the character, run around to avoid attacks and use the same turn-based system as always. And somehow, it is groundbreaking and exciting for some.
See, as someone with no knowledge of Monster Hunter Stories at the time, I also thought it was somewhat alluring. “I can finally control my Pokémon and feel like in the anime.” Yeah, right. It’s just a simple movement mechanic that could’ve been implemented and polished a decade ago. And why do I think that now? Because Monster Hunter Stories has raised the bar to a place where Nintendo and Game Freak will never reach.
The Rathalos That Will Take the Crown Away
Not long ago, I fired up Monster Hunter Stories 2 for the first time, and three hours were enough to show me what a top-notch creature collector could be like. As soon as you begin, you can see Monster Hunter Stories is in a league of its own, in terms of presentation, narrative, and gameplay.
Starting with the presentation and narrative, Monster Hunter Stories 2 opens up with a fully-voiced and gorgeous scene that shows you what the main plot will be about. Your character then starts their adventure as a fledgling Rider who gets caught in a situation involving Wyverians, a Rathalos, and a journey across some of the most gorgeous Monster Hunter locales out there. One thing to note is that Monster Hunter Stories 2 launched in 2021. That’s one year before Scarlet & Violet, and it looks miles better than the latter and the new Legends: Z-A. And yes, both run on the Nintendo Switch.
But what really exposed Pokémon laziness is the overall gameplay. See, Monster Hunter Stories 2 uses a rock-paper-scissors-like system. You need to see what types of attacks a monster does to counter them with its opposite type. Speed beats Power, Power beats Technical, etc. Then, you also have the weapons system on top of it all. I’ve played the mainline Monster Hunter titles, and it baffles me how perfectly it translated most weapons to a turn-based environment. There are weapons with different types of damage that also affect how easily you can beat a Monster or even break its body parts.
If that wasn’t enough, combat is highly dynamic. There’s a Kinship bar that fills up and lets you ride your Monster during combat. You can then perform an ultimate attack of sorts that is unique to every Monster. And in some rare cases, there are quick-time events where two monsters fight in the sky or clash their heads against each other. Imagine the day when we might see a Charizard and an Aerodactyl clashing against each other in a quick-time event. I can’t, because it will never happen. Pokémon might add a new type, a new Mega-Evolution, and sell it as the most innovative feature of the series. Oh yeah, and maybe a new sandwich-making mini-game, because that is what we need.
As I kept playing Monster Hunter Stories 2, I realized how my time and money were in the wrong place. Despite growing up with Pokémon and having a shelf full of TCG decks, I can finally admit that Pokémon, at least in its mainline games, is scraping rock bottom. Yet, in many ways, we are the ones to blame. We keep buying every new game that launches, and numbers will always send a stronger message than feedback. To be totally frank: we’re imprisoning ourselves in a cycle of mediocrity.
In The End, Competition Could Breed Excellence
However, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, or that’s what I want to believe. I’ve said this in many other articles, but competition tends to breed excellence. Monster Hunter Stories 3 is on the way, and judging by the series’ track record, it will be even better than Monster Hunter Stories 2. Pokémon already had a wakeup call with Palworld, and it could have one with the next Stories installment. The best scenario would be for Game Freak to step up to the plate and change the formula. Will it happen? That’s uncertain. There are better chances of Pokémon changing its mascot than making a good mainline game, but dreaming never hurts. In any case, Monster Hunter Stories is my new home now, and a creature collector’s paradise I don’t want to abandon anytime soon.
