Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection

The first two entries in the Monster Hunter Stories series were well received, but their cute aesthetic and childlike tone have potentially held the spin-off franchise back from more widespread acclaim. Capcom is clearly looking to expand the audience and the appeal with the third installment; Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection maintains a focus on turn-based battles and a story about riding monsters, but a more nuanced art style, focus on role-playing elements, and increasingly involved storytelling aim to push the series to new heights. Early looks suggest it’s an installment that dedicated RPG fans may wish to watch closely, even if earlier releases weren’t on their radars.

“While the previous two titles were created with the idea of ‘what if Monster Hunter became an RPG,’ essentially incorporating Monster Hunter elements into an RPG framework, this title aimed to stand on its own as an RPG,” explains director Kenji Oguro. “We first envisioned the kind of RPG we wanted to create and then expressed it within the Monster Hunter universe. Guided by these principles, we crafted an experience that includes graphics and storytelling aimed at a wider age range, a deep, engaging character development system tied to the protagonist’s backstory, battles with enhanced strategic depth, and exciting athletic mounts that make exploring the world more fun.”