Monster Hunter Stories is a role-playing mobile game developed by Capcom. This is the remastered version of a 2016 Monster Hunter spinoff, letting players raise monsters instead of hunting them in the wild. In this monster-collecting experience, you fight enemies with a traditional JRPG turn-based battle system. However, this release features new gameplay elements, remastered graphics, plus both English and Japanese localizations.

Originally released for Nintendo 3DS, this Monster Hunter Stories now includes a Museum Mode where over 200 previously unreleased artwork can be viewed. It’s a lot closer to Monster Sanctuary in terms of gameplay.

Is there a story in Monster Hunter Stories?

In Monster Hunter Stories, you are assigned the role of a rider. You raise and live in harmony with the beasts in order to form inseparable relationships with them. To do this, you will need the Kinship Stones - a mysterious artifact used by your people. Gathering and bonding with the monsters are vital to the game. You will need to explore dense forests and dungeons just to find the monster dens. 

Trekking through various terrains is a worthwhile activity as you will find the eggs of the Monsters. You will need to bring the eggs back to your community so they can hatch on your turf. All your grown beasts will have to join in the battle. The game employs a turn-based combat system; both you and your monster will attack the enemy. Both of you have three kinds of attacks: Power, Speed, and Technique. 

The attacks are not evenly matched; Power overcomes Technique, but not Speed. The Technique, on the other hand, wins over the Speed. You will apply these skills to your weapons: Great Sword, Sword and Shield, Hammer, and Hunting Horn. To know the monster’s abilities and statistics, you will need to transfer Bond Genes. It is referred to as the Transmission Ceremony feature, and it will unlock and activate your monster’s capabilities. In turn, your play style will be further customized.

Improved experience and previously unreleased content

As mentioned, one major addition to this Monster Hunter Stories release is the Museum Mode. This is an accessible gallery that contains over 200 previously unused and unreleased materials. View conceptual artworks and see how the character and set designs have evolved before getting into the original release. The same goes for the soundtrack, letting you enjoy the in-game BGM tracks as well as extra pieces of music. Certain museum content also comes with commentaries to further provide context.

In terms of localization, expect a more immersive experience as a lot of new Japanese and English voice work content has been added on top of the original game’s audio files. Other than the language and voice-over addition, this remastered release also includes all updates from the originals. This includes the monsters Teostra, Rajang, and Kushala Daora. Also, you gain access to post-game content such as the Tower of Illusion and themed customization items.

Mythical and merry adventure 

Whether you’ve played the game countless times or just this once, Monster Hunter Stories is a well thought-out game that everyone can enjoy. You’ll go off on your own to strengthen your friendship with the beast. In return, it can fight for you during battles and create opportunities for you to collect rewards. More importantly, the new content and remastered look make it worth trying even for game veterans.