Monster Hunter Stories remaster review: A warm return to a cosy classic
Perhaps the only shame of the Monster Hunter franchise is the 'hunter' part; the fact that these iconic creatures that define the series exist almost purely as prey. Monster Hunter Stories takes a different approach, and has you join an enclave of Riders who would rather live and work alongside monsters.
Originally for the 3DS, the first of these Monster Hunter spin-off games has been brought forward to modern systems with a remaster for PC and PS4. Whether you are a returning player, have only played the sequel, or are completely new to this spin-off series, here's why Monster Hunter Stories is worth your time.
GGRecon Verdict
The Monster Hunter Stories remaster is a very faithful rendition of the original game. It adds a fresh coat of paint, better performance and English and Japanese voice acting. With the core experience still very much intact, this could well be the definitive way to experience Monster Hunter Stories going forward.
Monster... befriender?
Click to enlargeMonster Hunter Stories is an RPG where you play as a Rider, someone who befriends monsters to ride them and fight alongside them. You'll start small, with a fairly basic Velocidrome companion to get you going. Fighting other monsters will raise your Velocidrome's level and make it stronger.
Before long, you'll be delving into monster dens to make off with their eggs. Bring an egg back to the village, hatch it, and then raise your new Monstie (a portmanteau of Monster and Bestie used to refer to your monster companions) to join your team.
Specific details aside, the broad strokes here probably sound very familiar to most of us. Capturing monsters, raising them as your own, making them fight each other - yep, this is a Digimon clone (just kidding). For real though, the MHS games are very much targeted at the Pocket Monster fanbase, and this is not a bad thing.
The world of Monster Hunter is ideally suited to a fresh take on the 'gotta catch 'em all' design. There is a variety of distinct and memorable monsters, perfectly primed for a collectathon. Some of them are even sort of 'evolutions' of others, it couldn't be a better fit.
Click to enlargeThe biggest difference is that the monsters of MH are notably much larger than the majority of Pokemon. Hence, we are Monster Riders, the creatures are our companions and our means of transportation.
All you need then is a graphical change and an RPG battle system and we're off to the races. Stories is a much more cartoonish-looking game than the main series. As was the style of many 3DS games, the characters, monsters and locations are exaggerated and more colourful. The advantage of such a style is that it is prime material for a remaster.
While many of the limitations of the 3DS cannot as easily be overcome in a modern update (like the look and scale of environments), this remaster is simultaneously faithful and modernised. It is the same game you played on the handheld device, but perfectly scaled up and running as smoothly as can be.
Rock, Paper, Claw
Click to enlargeThe battle system is an interesting take on typical mechanics. It's a turn-based affair where you try to focus on your enemy's weaknesses with a rock-paper-scissors style of design. You don't simply send your monster into battle in your stead though, your Rider is part of the fight. While you do have some control over your monster, for the most part, you will be fighting alongside them rather than commanding them.
Basic attacks are divided into three categories: Power, Speed, and Technical. Speed beats Power, Power beats Technical, and Technical beats Speed. You have other abilities and items you can use in battle, but these basic attacks will make up the majority of your fights. They work a bit like the weakness system of the SMT/Persona games; if you can counter an enemy with the appropriate attack, you'll cancel theirs out and gain some Kinship.
Kinship is a per-battle mechanic where you raise your link with your Monstie enough so that you can ride them. While riding your monster you gain more powerful attacks, and by increasing your Kinship further you can power up your ultimate Kinship Skill.
The battle system of Monster Hunter Stories is simple but satisfying. It isn't the deepest system, but further in you'll be taking on tougher monsters that require a bit more strategy to take down. True to Monster Hunter form, the monsters are very tough and can take a lot of damage to defeat.
Like an old friend
Click to enlargePersonally, I hadn't played Monster Hunter Stories before this remastered version. I've played my fair share of Monster Hunter proper, but I never got around to these side stories. Having played the games now, I honestly wish I had jumped on sooner.
Surprising no one, it turns out that a Monster Hunter-flavoured, Pokemon-esque RPG works extremely well. Playing this first game felt like unearthing a classic RPG from a childhood I didn't have, and that is a very cosy feeling.
This isn't just a Monster Hunter reskin of existing ideas, Stories has enough going for it to make it a thing of its own. The bones of this game are a solid take on classic RPGs, but what elevates it from good to great is the heart. Monster Hunter games are known for their casts of engaging and unusual characters, and Stories takes this to another level.
Just in your starting village, you have your character's close friends Lilia and Cheval, there's Dan your enthusiastic Rider trainer, and the village chief who cannot speak without rhyming. This is before you head off into the world and discover a wide range of interesting individuals.
In the original 3DS game, the characters spoke a created language, but this remaster comes with full English and Japanese voice acting. Returning fans can look forward to getting to know these characters even better.
The Verdict
Click to enlargeMonster Hunter Stories is a game that is well described by its name. If you love Monster Hunter and want more of an engaging story from that world than you get in other MH games, this is the one for you. Jaded Pokemon fans might find this game to be a breath of fresh air, with a much more reasonable list of monsters to find and capture.
Classic RPG fans who haven't tried it before will likely love this game; playing it today takes me right back to the 90s and early 2000s. It feels like a long-lost PS1/2 RPG and a very cosy one at that. It's not without depth, the combat can be challenging at times and the story is not afraid to tackle some heavier themes.
Finally, I understand the hype around Monster Hunter Stories. It's a game I should have played years ago, an error I can finally put right and I urge more people to do the same.
3.5/5
Reviewed on PlayStation 4. Code provided by the publisher.
