How Old is the Player Character in Monster Hunter Stories 2?

The customizable player protagonist in Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is depicted as a passionate 14-year-old Rider from Mahana Village, regardless of whether you choose the male (Leo) or female (Leia) character.

Why the Consistent Young Protagonist Age?

As a long-time Monster Hunter gamer and fan of the Stories spin-off series, I‘ve given some thought as to why Capcom has stuck to a young teen protagonist in both the original game and sequel. While the protagonists are highly customizable in name, gender, and appearance, their age and background of being a new Rider from a small village remains locked in.

In my opinion, this consistency serves both practical and thematic purposes:

• It allows returning Stories 1 players to step back into the role of their original 14-year old protagonist. This sense of continuity with the previous game‘s adventure adds emotional investment.
• A plucky monster hunting rookie provides an relatable underdog perspective for players of any age. We get to mature alongside the protagonist.
• Writing younger heroes embarking on epic quests allows for more character growth opportunities compared to say, an adult protagonist who already has battle experience and maturity.

There‘s also likely some adherence to long-standing Monster Hunter lore and traditions, where hunters take up training very early to hone their combat abilities over time.

Table: Protagonist Ages Across Monster Hunter Franchise

Connections to Previous Game‘s Story and Characters

While Stories 2 stands on its own, eagle-eyed fans will notice direct callbacks to characters and events from the previous Stories game released in 2016. Without getting too deep into series lore, here are some relevant connections:

• The protagonist‘s grandfather is confirmed to be Red, the Legendary Rider who mentored the first game‘s protagonist decades ago.
• Navirou, your quirky Felyne companion, aided Red‘s previous apprentice on their quest around Hakum Village before embarking on a new journey with you.
• Riders Hazel and Vil are older versions of NPCs you befriended during the prior game‘s story.

So while you embark on an original legend focusing on the Winged Ruin, Capcom has taken care to maintain continuity with returning characters. This allows your 14-year old protagonist to further the legacy of the previous young Rider you may have bonded with in Stories 1.

Conclusion: Tradition of Inexperienced Youths Taking on Epic Quests

The Monster Hunter series has thrived onthrusting underdog hunters into daunting trials that push them to the limits, and the Stories sub-franchise follows suit with its spunky young Riders.

By maintaining the linkage of a fresh-faced, eager protagonist across both Stories games, Capcom has upheld a focus on telling coming-of-age narratives where not-yet-battle-hardened youths gain experience and maturity while saving the world. It makes for heroic storytelling that anyone can picture themselves rising up to meet, regardless of age or hunting pedigree.

So while many gaming franchises allow players to insert themselves as grizzled veterans, Monster Hunter Stories stands out by reminding its audience that even unproven 14-year old rookies have strength and determination enough to bond with fierce Monsties and restore balance to the world.