Let’s Ride
Monster Hunter Stories is the RPG sub-series of the Monster Hunter games. The spin off series takes the monsters and equipment of its originator and puts makes it into a more traditional role-playing game. With less emphasis on hunting your prey and more on a narrative experience. Now on its third instalment, Twisted Reflection. Have Capcom mastered distilling the unbridled action of Monster Hunter to capture in an RPG? Let’s find out!
Beginning the game we are thrust into a character creation scene. Bizarrely the feature of creating the Palico (Your In-Game Cat) is absent. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal in any other game. The past few Monster Hunter titles have gone to town on Palico creation. As a cat owner I’m a tad disappointed I can’t venture with a digital attempt at my pet. I do understand this decision however. As the main characters Palico mostly serves as a narrative tool.
Speaking of narrative. Monster Hunter Stories 3 follows the Prince/Princess of the Azuria kingdom. An ecological disaster know as Crystal Encroachment is sweeping the land. This sparks tensions with the rival kingdom of Vermeil. Tensions explode into all out conflict. Unearthing the existence of two Rathalos, which were previous thought to be extinct in this world. One of which our protagonist is a proficient rider, the other mounted by the villainous queen of Vermeil. The story is admittedly quite run of the mill for a fantasy game. Two waring kingdom with unknown powers and forces at play. However it’s quite captivating filled with many twists and turns. Considering the mainline franchise is largely plotless for the most part. Monster Hunter Stories 3 does a great job with its titular story.
A group of other riders known as the rangers are our main party. Serving both as battle companions and narrative set pieces. Each of these characters have their own branching side stories. Allowing you to earn invaluable rewards and learn more about this world. Personally I found some of the side stories more entertaining than the main plot. With small bursts of exploration, exposition and fighting. The blend was significantly better balanced and far more enjoyable. Each one of these side stories adds a bundle of personality to what could of easily been a collection of archetypal team mates. Ogden being a favourite. An older character who is keen on hunting the more exotic monsters. Equipped with his hunting horn he is an invaluable support driven team member.
Gameplay wise the Monster Hunter Stories series differs from the mainline quite heavily. More in favour of a turn based battle system than intense lengthy bouts of action. The combat is admitted quite brilliant. Utilising system norms from this genre like basic attacks, skills and such. Monster Hunter Stories does put a spin on these systems. For example the head to head system. Triggered when a player and a monster attack each other on the same turn. It takes into account the style of action that was used, powerful, speedy or technical. Each having an advantage and weakness to each other. Basically like playing rock paper scissors to gain the upper hand or take a devastating loss mid battle. Although a basic system it add weight and strategy to even basic actions in battle.
Another unique system is part breaking. In mainline Monster Hunter games you can break parts of a monsters body. With some weapons being more effective than others. Stories beautifully translates this into a turn based format. Allowing you to target a part upon your action, suggesting the weapon type that will deal the most effective damage to it. The system is very clean and rewards experimentation with multiple weapon types. It ultimately feels recognisable if you have ventured over from the mainline series.
In battles you will be assisted by your monstie. The slightly cuter name for friend rather than a foe. Left to their own devices monstie will auto battle. You can however choose an action if you want a little more control. Ultimately During battles you want to get to the point where the protagonist rides the monstie. Increasing damage output and health pools it’s the ideal tide turner in battle. While riding you have access to a kinship move. A huge flashy anime cutscene move displaying the apocalyptic power of rider and monster. The game quests you with using all of these moves for an achievement. So they are understandable awesome moves that are game changing to use and fun to watch.
On the subject of achievements, Monster Hunter Stories 3 is rather sparing with them. If your a wannabe completionist like myself you are in for a grind and a half. Most Monster Hunter titles are no stranger to a grind and this is certainly no different. In my first twenty hours with the game I was awarded five achievements. Achievement are all milestone based and expect a lot of gameplay before hearing a ping. While bearing no influence on the quality of the game. The achievement hunter in me felt it necessary to at least bring up.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 offers four varied open worlds for you to conquer. Each of the maps feels distinctly unique, offering great takes on familiar biomes. The Desert area specifically was a highlight. Casting me back to recent memories of the introductory area of Monster Hunter Wilds. In each of these areas there are numerous side quest and looting opportunities. The main event are habitats. Small areas filled with loot, monsters and most importantly monster eggs. Successfully securing eggs allows you to hatch them to unlock new monsties both for battle and exploring with.
A mechanic I really enjoyed was the habitat restoration. Upon hatching your monsties you can keep them for your party or release them to improve the local ecology. In my experience it’s absolutely worth releasing them as raising your ecology rank will produce better eggs. Better eggs in habitats means better monsties for fighting with. Improving ecology ranks with certain monsters can also bring previously thought extinct or endangered monsters back to the overworld. I very much appreciate how the mechanic ties directly to the main story revolving around Rathalos’ apparent extinction.
Visually this game is absolutely outstanding. While by no means is it breaking new ground in visual fidelity. What it is doing is picking an art style and absolutely smashing it out the park. The anime Studio Ghibli character models virtually pop of the screen they are so bold. The environments although not having the best textures in the world are so suited to the characters that inhabit It. Simply put the game is drop dead gorgeous.
Performance wise the game plays mostly well. Still using the RE Engine that Monster Hunter Wilds used we have minor issues. No where near the performance issues that Wilds initially had it must be said. The engine just seems unsuited towards giant worlds. I experienced a few stutters here and there. Frame rate wobbling upon loading areas. Oddly I even noticed my settings return to default upon one of my launches. They are all very minor things in the grand scheme of things but worth noting.
Overall I enjoyed my time in Monster Hunter Stories 3. I’m certainly enjoying Capcom making narratives around the grand collection of monsters they have created. It plays like a perfect partner game to the mainline Monster Hunters. Slowing the game down with turn based combat makes this world significantly more accessible. I think I still personally prefer the action of the mainline games. However Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a fantastic RPG for both fans of Monster Hunter or turn based RPG’s.
Game Key Was Kindly Provided By Capcom
