User blog comment:Aandrew07/Discussion of the Week: Towns and Villages/@comment-451754-20120826192248

Jumbo Village in MH2 is my favorite. NPCs give out quests, there's a training school, mining location, and fishing spot in the village, and two mini games to try - arm wrestling and drinking.

The Hunter's (you, the player) house is upgradeable as well. Books can be purchased to increase item/equipment box capacity as well as increase the interior size and asthetic look of the house. NPCs will periodically pay you a visit and share a stat-buffing meal with you. At your bed you can sleep to save game progress, advance time to night or day, and advance to the season of your choice.

Once certain conditions are met, a ship is finally built which the player can use to travel to Kokoto Village and take on Kokoto-only quests in the Forest and Hills and the Tower.

Day/night/season cycles are real-time while in the viallage. There is also a WANTED board which has increased rewards for certain monsters and/or items (for example there might be an extra reward for catching a certain number of goldenfish).

As the hunter works through quests, the village will subtly alter in appearance, with each "upgrade" accompanied by a brief cut scene.

Anyone lucky enough to have MHP can link it with MH2, and unlock the backpack lady and Iyanguruga (for both games), whose quest is offered by one of the NPC hunters.

Because I don't read Japanese, there are some things I don't know how to interact with, such as the Afro Felyne who I sometimes find rummaging in my item box in my house. Despite the language barrier, Jumbo Village is my favorite village.

I've never played MH2 online, so I have no information about Dondruma.