Monster Hunter Stories

 3DS
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
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  1. GamePro Germany
    Sep 12, 2017
    73
    Monster Hunter Stories is a solid RPG for novice players of the series. Fans will miss the epic battles and the complex crafting.
  2. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Nov 7, 2017
    72
    Monsters look great, but their physical model is severely lacking, which you can’t help but notice every time you just clip right through their tails or necks. Yet, the game somehow manages to overload 3DS’ hardware to the point some older models can’t keep up and drop framerate to unacceptable levels. [Issue#224, p.56]
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  3. RPGamer
    Jan 8, 2018
    70
    There are a lot of odds and ends one discovers over the course of the game, for better or worse. The game is packed with content, quite a bit of it extending beyond the main campaign's runtime. Capcom and Marvelous wanted to turn over a new leaf, and Monster Hunter Stories certainly is that, a departure from what has come before, it just wasn't enough of a departure for my taste. The franchise faithful will probably still feel at home here, but others may need to decide if they can stomach the guesswork combat system or rote mission structure before committing to this game.
  5. CD-Action
    Dec 19, 2017
    70
    Capcom wanted to fuse two popular series about hunting monsters and somewhat succeeded. In terms of technicalities the game is far ahead of Pokémon Sun/Moon, but lacks even a fraction of its depth. [12/2017, p.45]
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  6. Game Revolution
    Sep 20, 2017
    70
    Monster Hunter Stories is a decent spin-off, perfect for introducing anyone to the Monster Hunter franchise. The battles may allow for too much gambling and the environments can be unappealing for the eye, but it still features an interesting story that will keep you hooked for dozens of hours.
  7. JeuxActu
    Sep 19, 2017
    70
    Too close and clearly not on par with games like Pokemon or Yo-Kai Watch, Monster Hunter Stories is clearly an attempt to seduce kids into the IP. For the seasoned player, the game will feel easy, repetitive and too generic.
  8. Pocket Gamer UK
    Sep 8, 2017
    70
    There's plenty here to like if you're a fan of Monster Hunter or Pokemon, but ultimately this hybrid is less than the sum of its parts and is difficult to recommend over core games in either franchise.
  9. Trusted Reviews
    Sep 7, 2017
    70
    Monster Hunter Stories is a delightful little JRPG that makes a big splash with its adorable visuals and addictive battle system. Performance problems aside, this is a great introduction to Capcom’s beloved franchise.
  10. TheSixthAxis
    Sep 7, 2017
    70
    While it’s certainly more approachable than your typical Monster Hunter game, Stories fails to capture what has made the series such a hit over the years. Sure, the setting is evocative but, as many die-hard fans will tell you, it’s the high octane rush of hunting with friends that forms the true backbone of the franchise. That said, Monster Hunter Stories goes beyond your average spin-off and feels like a genuine attempt to expand this universe instead of simply trying to milk it. From the simple yet expanding battle system to its many ties with the core games, there’s plenty here for newcomers and grizzled veterans alike.
  11. Destructoid
    Sep 7, 2017
    70
    I wasn't super impressed by Monster Hunter Stories but I don't think the developers intended for it to be a game-changer.
  12. games(TM)
    Nov 3, 2017
    60
    A fine, yet lukewarm, RPG spinoff. [Issue#193, p.85]
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  13. 4P.de
    Sep 8, 2017
    60
    The change from hunting to taming takes a little time to get used to as well as the change from monumental realtime fighting to turn based flashtactics. At least the game world is more open and the exploration is diverse. Nonetheless I hope that Monster Hunter World will inject the franchise with badly needed fresh life.
  14. Wccftech
    Sep 8, 2017
    60
    Amazing art style, tedious battle system and a difficulty that's aimed at young children - not one for Monster Hunter fans, but maybe their kids. If they like Rock, Paper, Scissors, that is.
  15. M3
    Sep 8, 2017
    50
    At best, Monster Hunter Stories is a good Pokémon knock off for fans of the genre. The flawed story makes it difficult to recommend for others.
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  1. Tired Old Hack
    Sep 8, 2017
    If you’re still sticking with your trusty 3DS and you’re looking for another decent-sized Pokémon style RPG to keep you busy while you wait for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, you could do a lot worse than this. The story’s a bit arbitrary and the battle system takes a while to get going, but the entertaining character dialogue and the detailed landscapes should keep your interest for a while.

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best 3DS Game of 2017
8
#8 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2017
14
#14 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 110 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 86 out of 110
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 110
  3. Negative: 8 out of 110
  1. Izzytehpwnr
    Oct 2, 2017
    10
    absolutely the best 3ds title to come out so far on the 3ds this year (2017)

    the game is jam packed with content... Exploration/raising    absolutely the best 3ds title to come out so far on the 3ds this year (2017)

    the game is jam packed with content... Exploration/raising strength/bonding with creatures and a light hearted story about becoming a faithful rider of monsties. If you are a fan of turnbased combat, building a created hero, and raising creatures to their potential strength, then this is the game you have been looking for.    … Full Review »
  2. RepentantSky
    Dec 19, 2017
    10
    Absolutely the best 3DS game of 2017, without a doubt in my mind. The story might be simple, but to be honest most of the best 3DS games are,Absolutely the best 3DS game of 2017, without a doubt in my mind. The story might be simple, but to be honest most of the best 3DS games are, but everything else about it makes it stand out like no other. The visuals, the gameplay, the characters, and that rare cut-scene where the game looks like a current generation home console title are all great, highly memorable and make the game worth playing until you see all it has to offer, and thankfully there's a lot there. Monster Hunter Stories is my most played game on my 3DS this year, and without a doubt, the best handheld experience you can have as well.… Full Review »
  3. kiwijinxter
    Oct 12, 2017
    10
    Gotta HATCH 'em all!

    As a die-hard Monster Hunter (MH) player who has spent 100s of hours (each!) in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Monster    Gotta HATCH 'em all!

    As a die-hard Monster Hunter (MH) player who has spent 100s of hours (each!) in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Monster Hunter: Generations, I was already heavily invested in the MH world and all its monsters, so I bought Monster Hunter Stories on the first day it was released without second thought. And I've never regretted it. Traditional MH veterans should find many subject matters familiar (monsters, weapons, armour). In fact, my affinity to the monsters is what made me buy this game. The difference is you're not a Hunter in Monster Hunter Stories (MHS), you're a rider! That means that instead of slaying monsters, you breed and befriend them so they can be your allies! Together with your monster party, you go hunting other monsters. It's truly refreshing, and of course, much less tense compared to traditional MH gameplay.

    While MHS offers a totally different gameplay and mechanics from the usual highly addictive cycle of working with 3 online friends to strategise, prepare and kill desired monsters to obtain parts to create better weapons and armour, Monster Hunter Stories has it's own addictive nature and it comes in the form of "gotta hatch 'em all" and forming the best monster party you can command! What really surprised me was how equally addictive Monster Hunter Stories (MHS) is, in a whole different way. Let me explain.

    Firstly, there's the "gotta hatch 'em all" aspect to it. You go around randomly-generated monster dens stealing their eggs and hope to hatch all sorts of monsters with unique gene pools - yes, even the same species of monster can have multiple combinations of genes (active skills, passive skills). "Gotta hatch 'em all" gives a familiar ring to another similar game, Pokemon (gotta catch 'em all). If you've played Pokemon, you immediately understand why MHS can be so addictive - you just want to get that next egg which could reveal a Red Khezu, or Pink Rathian, or Shrouded Nerscylla with good genes.

    Secondly, there's the customisation aspect to the game. Even with the monster genes described above, you are (several hours into the game) able to do genes transfusion so some monsters can adopt certain genes from other species! Talk about a recipe for those with Obssessive Compulsive Disorders! Of course, you've got your usual upgrade of weapons and armour, but it's mechanics is a lot simpler in that you don't have to grind a particular monster 20 times to get the super rare drops or body parts. Because the monster fights are much shorter than traditional MH fare, it's not anywhere as onerous. That said, it's no easy task to simply upgrade your weapons or armour, as they often require specific amounts of specific materials. In that respect, there is some similarity to traditional Monster Hunter gameplay. Other similarities to traditional MH games include simplified versions of combining items (e.g. into Potions, Paintball, etc.), villages to visit which includes your house, etc.

    Thirdly, the combat, while simplified, isn't a cakewalk. In Pokemon, you could almost sail through every battle without really "dying" because a lot of the mechanics are predictable. MHS on the other hand - while it has the same rock-paper-scissors mechanic to winning battles - there is a certain element of unpredictability because some craftier monsters don't necessary follow a pattern, so you can't simply predict (and easily win) battles. For example, Speed trumps Power, but the monster could use Power first, then decides to switch to Tactics instead, so you can't blindly spam a single move. Combat also gives a sense of camaraderie with your monster where you build up kinship as you successfully win a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors (Power-Speed-Tactics). Once built up, you can jump on your monster and unleash a more powerful attack. Traditional MH veterans will be familiar also with the fact that many monsters have specialty elements that work better (or worse) against monsters with other elements.

    I've played a couple of Pokemon games in the past including HeartGold/SoulSilver, X/Y etc. but if you asked me to compare Monster Hunter Stories with Pokemon games, I'd pick MHS anytime as Pokemon tends to bore me, but MHS feels much more organic and substantial - I feel more of an affinity to my monsters in MHS than my pokemons in Pokemon.

    Whether you're a MH veteran or you've never played MH before, I highly recommend Monster Hunter Stories, not least because it's so charming, but for a MH veteran, you'll be immediately familiar with a lot of things, yet be pleasantly surprised by the entirely new gameplay mechanics; for a non traditional MH player, this is a substantially new world to explore without much of the grind and difficulty you hear about traditional MH games. Super, highly recommended!    … Full Review »
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