A rich story, lovable creatures, and immersive world-building—Monster Hunter Stories offers plenty and delivers in unexpected ways. This Capcom title takes a fresh approach to the Monster Hunter universe, focusing on raising monsters instead of hunting them. But does it truly capture the essence of its legendary franchise? Let’s dive into this review.
The game blends monster-hunting action with RPG elements, creating an experience that feels like a mix of Monster Hunter and Pokémon. This combination mostly works, giving the game a unique identity. However, at times, it feels stuck between paying homage to its roots and carving its own path.
Gameplay Mechanics
The gameplay mechanics are relatively simple and user-friendly, appeasing to the casual gaming demographic. But it’s the marriage of combat and pet-raising interspersed with adventure that truly distinguishes Monster Hunter Stories. The combat, while not as eponymous as its counterparts, brings its fair share of adrenaline-packed moments with tense, yet exciting monster showdowns. The acquiring and raising of the titular monsters bear a unique twist to the clichéd ‘catch and train’ system, fostering a novel level of connect with these creatures.
Story and Character
The story, though, while engaging, doesn’t necessarily push any narrative boundaries. The tale of a Monster Rider, despite its evocative world-building, yields a narrative that draws much from the Monster Hunter ethos but lacks distinguishing elements to make it truly stand out. Characters are likable enough, particularly Navirou, whose charm is held back by somewhat poor English voice acting, lending more preference to the original Japanese dubbing.
Visuals and Graphics
Visuals in Monster Hunter Stories lie in an interesting middle-ground of graphical enhancements, a consequence of its transition from the modest 3DS and mobile platforms to PC and consoles. It presents a decent spectacle of vibrant environments and intriguing monsters, but falls short in comparison to its lavish sequel. Elements like user interfaces are evident relics of its portable roots, sacrificing detailing for optimizational convenience. The adherence to casual artistry tends to pall the aesthetics.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack of Monster Hunter Stories is a rich blend of immersive tunes and stellar sound effects that enhance the general gaming experience. Despite the discontent with Navirou’s English voice acting, the overall audio execution of the game blends well into the framework of the Monster Hunter universe, complementing the action and the narrative flow beautifully.
Challenge
Monster Hunter Stories is not particularly grueling. The difficulty curve is adequate, homogenizing player skill and challenge progression smoothly. However, the missing DLC quests from Famitsu and Dengeki may disappoint completionists appreciative of additional content.
Replayability
Replayability is a mixed bag. On one hand, the addictive element of raising monsters coupled with the lure of the unfolding narrative can lure players back. However, the consensus among player feedback suggests that the appeal diminishes in the wake of its sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 2. As a standalone game, Monster Hunter Stories does have ingredients that may stir replay cravings, but it is not as compelling when viewed in the broader context of the Monster Hunter continuity.
Conclusion
In closure, Monster Hunter Stories is a worthwhile excursion into the RPG genre from a franchise predominantly known for its vigorous action-adventure heritage. The amalgamation of raising monsters and RPG-styled exploration is a concept stuffed with promise, even if it does lack slightly in the execution.
While not a categorical replacement for its titanic family members, Monster Hunter Stories still offers an enjoyable digression from its roots. For those willing to overlook its minor downfalls and appreciate the novelty it brings, Monster Hunter Stories can be a decidedly pleasing experience.
