Monster Hunter Stories (2024) Reviews
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.
Monster Hunter Stories, like its sequel on Switch, has some issues on the hardware; in this case the problems are more related to 3DS-era design hangovers and simplistic porting. Yet when you put these issues to the side, we still have a charming, enjoyable experience either for young gamers or young-at-heart RPG / Monster Hunter fans. You can take or leave all that classic MH depth, and it won't take long to master the battle mechanics, but this is a game with enough silliness and earnest storytelling to deserve its second chance.
If you're a fan of the franchise and enjoyed Wings of Ruin but never got to play this one, then Monster Hunter Stories Remastered is absolutely worth your time.
"Monster Hunter Stories is an acceptable videogame. It is fun and has all the main saga fundamental characteristics, adapted to a tactical RPG. However, in general terms it is the same game with new textures and a higher resolution than in the 3DS version. A loose change for new generation consoles"
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories and Stories 2 are coming to new platforms to offer two great classic RPG adventures. The first game improves on a technical level, although it feels aged next to its sequel. There's not too much new content, but if you've never played... This is the best opportunity to do so.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As a collection, both Monster Hunter Stories games have received an excellent glow-up. The visuals both look great with enhanced graphics, and I loved the newly recorded voice lines for the characters. Hardcore series fans may be put off by Monster Hunter Stories’ easier combat that can be mastered quickly but I had a good time with both games. Finding and then training the monsties made me feel like a kid again playing Pokémon for the first time. I think that younger fans will find more to enjoy here, with its simplified combat and less mature story, Monster Hunter Stories’ is a low barrier entry into the larger Monster Hunter Universe. Despite its shortcomings, this one is worthy of the hunt.
Monster Hunter Stories pays homage to the best in the franchise and keeps its spirit in its various mechanics. Because it's a turn-based RPG, it features a grand story and strategic combat. With plenty of monsters to collect and raise and lots of crafting and gathering. Monster Hunter Stories provides everything you need in an RPG.
There are a couple of remasters almost every year these days. At the pace they’re going, it’s a win for everyone involved. In this new revamped release, monsties, adventure and the power of friendship are the names of the game. Monster Hunter Stories is undoubtedly an epic re-release ready for a pretty and new look at a great adventure.
Capping all of that off are some lovely visuals. While still feeling limited by the game's 3DS origins, Capcom has done a fantastic job of updating textures, and boosting the overall quality of environments for this re-release. When looking back at 3DS gameplay, you can see the stark difference.
Monster Hunter Stories 1+2 is a very welcome package for lovers of the franchise dedicated to Monster Hunter. Now more polished, adjusted and graphically cleaned, it makes its dirty impression especially on PC, where the sixty frames per second fill the screen and color it. Two video games that come at the hottest time for Capcom and the entire franchise
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fans of Pokémon-style RPGs will find many hours of fun taking care of their Monsties and building a dream team, a kind of fantasy fulfillment for fans of Capcom's original franchise. Unfortunately, the direction of this spin-off was quite off-putting and redundant in its structure and mechanics, and lacks a bit of panache compared to the basic proposal focused on hunting.
Review in French | Read full review
Also considering the very low price to which this is proposed, the re-release of Monster Hunter Stories is certainly an unmissable opportunity to recover the first episode of the spin-off series and finally step into the shoes of Hakum's Rider.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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.
Monster Hunter Stories' Switch port brings quality of life changes, improved graphics, and improvements to one of the 3DS's late life gems.
An already amazing game gets a few upgrades, but most of all, it's a deserving second chance at life for a title that may have been overlooked previously.
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.
Monster Hunter Stories can show its age in how simplistic it often feels, but it's still an enjoyable and charming JRPG that genre fans will enjoy.
An already amazing game gets a few upgrades, but most of all, it's a deserving second chance at life for a title that may have been overlooked previously.
Despite a handful of unsightly assets, an underwhelming story, and a few difficulty spikes, the remaster of Monster Hunter Stories makes for an easy recommendation, for Monster Hunter fans or simply for anyone interested in approachable turn-based role-playing games who missed the original on 3DS.
The Monster Hunter Stories HD package will be received very differently depending on which platform you play on: on Sony consoles and PC, these Monster Hunter twist to the Pokémon formula has its right to be, and will mostly appeal to younger audiences. On the other side, Switch players won't get much value out of it.
Review in Italian | Read full review