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Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The World of Monster Hunter Stories
    In a world where large monsters roam, and people everywhere make a living hunting, there's a remote village of people who follow a different set of customs. They are the Monster Riders, a people who don't hunt but instead form bonds with monsters.
    The World of Monster Hunter Stories
    In a world where large monsters roam, and people everywhere make a living hunting, there's a remote village of people who follow a different set of customs. They are the Monster Riders, a people who don't hunt but instead form bonds with monsters.

    Unlike hunters, they raise and live in harmony with monsters, forming inseparable bonds with them using mysterious artifacts known as Kinship Stones.

    The monsters that form kinships with Riders, known as "Monsties," possess incredible powers. By becoming a Rider, you too can befriend countless Monsties, riding them as you explore a vast, exciting world. Join the adventure and "Ride On!"

    Game Features
    - Recruit countless Monsties!
    Monsties, and the bonds you form with them, are the backbone of your adventure. Explore vast environments and dungeons to find monster dens, and bring back the eggs you find to hatch new Monsties!

    - Fight with your Monsties in Network Battles!
    Take your hero and the Monsties you've raised into battles with other Riders! Build a team of your favorites to challenge other players.

    - New features for the smartphone version!
    New improvements include beautiful high-resolution graphics, improved user interface, and a new auto-save feature!

    Story
    The story begins in a forest near the village of Riders. Three young friendsthe hero, Lilia, and Chevalstumble upon a shining egg.

    The trio perform a playful imitation of the Rite of Kinship, only to be shocked when it actually succeeds!

    The egg hatches, revealing a baby Rathalos, a flying wyvern also known as "the King of the Skies." The trio affectionately name him "Ratha," and take him back to the village.

    Days later, without warning, the village is beset upon by a monster infected by "the Black Blight." They manage to drive it away, but not before it devastates the townand leaves indelible scars in the hearts of Cheval and Lilia.

    A year passes...

    The hero receives a Kinship Stone from the Village Chief and officially becomes a Rider. Cheval and Lilia both leave the village, each on their own path. The hero, though separated now from childhood friends, partners up with the cheerful Navirou, and embarks upon a new adventure into the world of hunters.

    A story of friendship and triumph await youride on into the world of Monster Hunter Stories!
    Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Jun 13, 2024
    90
    With the original Monster Hunter Stories title, Capcom created an entirely new style of gameplay in a familiar world that fans could come to grow and love. It was an attempt at something they weren't sure would take off, but ultimately paid off in creating a beloved spin-off franchise. It's not just lovely to see this first title now available for new and old players alike to re-experience, but it goes back to the series' humble beginning before it blasted off and expanded more than people could have expected. This series is one of Capcom's greatest and we're thrilled to see it now made available for brand new audiences to experience on modern systems. It's well worth picking up for fans of the sequel or those who haven't checked it out yet. Players don't need any familiarity with the core Monster Hunter franchise to enjoy this absolutely wonderful RPG adventure.
  2. Jul 25, 2024
    85
    Monster Hunter Stories may be aimed at a younger audience than Capcom’s standard Monster Hunter games, but it still requires plenty of strategy when it comes to the turn-based fighting and reaching further in the game. If you’d rather collect and raise animals than hunt them, this is your story.
  3. Jun 13, 2024
    80
    Monster Hunter Stories may be the lesser game compared to its sequel, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth playing. It’s a fun, lighthearted take on the monster collecting genre with a deep battle system and tons of Monsties to befriend. This version is better than ever, with gorgeous visuals and hammy voice acting, and is worth a try for any RPG fan.
  4. Aug 29, 2024
    80
    The remastered version of Monster Hunter Stories definitely opens up the world of the original game to new players. It does seem a bit odd why this was released after Monster Hunter Stories 2 given the plot similarity, however it was probably the second's success that enabled this remaster to happen. It is absolutely worth a place in the Nintendo Switch library because of the sheer amount of fun had collecting monsties and helping NPCs out with their wide-ranging problems. Not everyone will care about the extras, but the fully voiced dialogue adds to the immersion level. Let's hope the Switch successor leads to a third Monster Hunter Stories title, this time with significantly changed story and new areas to explore.
  5. Jun 14, 2024
    75
    Monster Hunter Stories HD is a decent remaster with some nice additions as far as presentation is concerned. Stories 2 is still a better game all around but if you have already played that and liked the concept, this remaster might be a good way to go back riding instead of hunting.
  6. Jun 13, 2024
    70
    Monster Hunter Stories remains a vibrant anime romp through a world that fuses Monster Hunter elements with Pokemon-esque creature collection and training. It can feel a bit dated compared to the sequel, and the direction may make it more welcome to younger gamers. However, it’s a colorful, entertaining romp and this iteration feels like the definitive release.
  7. Jun 24, 2024
    60
    Monster Hunter Stories remaster reveals good improvements in performance, graphics and interface, but doesn't hide the humble origins of an 8-year-old design for a handheld.

See all 18 Critic Reviews