User blog comment:Lord Loss/Discussion of the Week: Generation 2/@comment-5043481-20130211160446

I have to say that 2nd gen has got to be the peak of monster hunter (but maybe not for long - MH3U). This has got to be due to the sheer mass of content that exists.

Monsters: I like most of the 2nd gen monsters. Most are very good, like lavasioth, a great monster. The new subspecies were great too. The monkeys were great fun, and gave us the terrifying rajang. Lots of lovely monsters in the new pseudo wyvern family, the tigrex is great. I remember he owned me first time, but now he isn't too hard. One thing I don't like in this generation is shoguns cheap moveset. Triple clothsline charge - seriosly?

Areas:

Jungles: Old jungle was much more like a jungle, with bad visibility that adds a unique challange. And it had interesting caves and statues everywhere. But 2nd gen jungle, not really a jungle at all. Not enough foliage! I liked the beaches though, and the island only reachable in the day.

Swamps: 2nd gen swamp was bland but not entirely awful. Problem is it is basicly a reworking of the old swamp. Same random wheat feild, same marshy and solid areas.

Volcano: Bit split here. 2nd gen volcano had better caves, but the 1st gen one had better foothills.

I do like the 2nd gen origional areas (snowy mountains and tower). I think they are much better, maybe because they had not been done before, so they could use origional ideas designing them.

Weapons: Longsword - epic. Gunlance - awesome. Bow - just cool. Not very powerful though. Hunting horn: shit.

Dual blades were not 2nd gen at all!