Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflections is a brand new RPG in the beloved Monster Hunter Stories series, and it’s the first in the series where the player is actually playing as a full grown adult as the other games relied on the player playing as a young child. Azuria and Vermeil are two warring Kingdoms, and as supplies become limited due to the Crystal Encroachment, things become even more tense. The people of Vermeil have been suffering at the hands of the Crystal Encroachment and have nothing less to lose.
As they work on a plan to fix things for themselves a young royal is growing up. The main character is the prince or princess of Azuria, the cool and calculating researcher and leader of the Rangers. The Rangers work together to help defend the kingdom from war and even monsters, and having existed for so long as a leader the team is built tough and our protagonist is the toughest of them all. The main character is a fully designable character, who can be either be a male or female and it is fun to design the character as they do lead the story. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as adjusting all sorts of things on the character from face to hair, to scars and makeup and it is very satisfying.
Players roam around a vast landscape in different biomes, and they can ride their Monstie or run around by foot. They can even climb walls and swim through the seas depending on the Monstie they are riding, so it’s important to have a good variety of monsters to traverse all the areas. Depending on the time of day, monsters will grow restless, for instance, during the day battles can be far easier, but at night all bets are off. Night is also when the beasts that don’t belong, are able to roam. Taking them down is never easy but once they are gone, it’s possible to reintroduce amazing Monsties back to the world.
It’s possible to raise all sorts of monsters in this game and raising Monsties is key to saving the world and fighting back all of the evil riders. Players can find nests all over, and they are of different rarities and players will dig in many nests to find the best egg. Players then bring the egg back to the stables and hatch them to be monsters and it’s always cute to see the newly hatched monster even if it’s just on that initial screen.
Next comes working to level up new monster pals through turn based combat. There are plenty of other ways to increase their power also of course, and players will eventually learn the rite of channeling which lets them add or subtract powers. A goal is to work to get bingo bonuses on the boards to increase the stats even more.
It’s important to continuously level up and exchange powers as some powers are perfect for stopping different maladies and some make them stronger against different types. It’s key to making the best monster and doesn’t cost anything, so it’s always worth experimenting. Players can even increase the amount of monsters that roam in the world, and by hatching and releasing Monsties, they will roam the world again in higher numbers. It’s great to see Monsties slowly increase in number, and to even create offshoots and satisfying to watch the world fill with more creatures and to raise them as they pop up.
Players can call for their Monstie at will, and even jump from them at a moment’s notice. It’s incredible to shoot into the sky and then fall to the ground and not suffer a scratch. This world is rough and tumble sure, but the protagonist can handle anything, life will throw at them.
The Rangers are definitely going to slay a number of monsters, but it’s because they understand them. Filling out the Monsterpedia also relies on finding tracks and different things, to make the hunts more reliable. It always feels like the main character is growing with the player and that’s really cool.
Players will take down a variety of Monsters from the Monster Hunter world. There are smaller versions that might team up with the larger forms, and it can get dicey if players aren’t ready. The battles can be slow, but players can always speed them up with a button press, which helps when grinding or exploring. It’s possible to control which attack the Monstie and player unleash, but it’s also possible to simply let the Monstie do what it wants. As long as the player raises the Monstie right and uses the right one in battle, any battle should be winnable.
It’s possible to even attack Monsties outside of battle, which will always lead the opponent being unable to attack. It’s cool to fly in and leave them unable to do a thing and depending on the level of the player and their Monsties it’s also possible to instantly finish a fight which helps when simply exploring and gathering. One thing to keep in mind though, is that monsters in this game also have different strengths and weaknesses. Power monsters beat technical, which beat speed, which beat power. Yes, it’s a standard rock paper scissors gameplay style but it has its nuances and the battle system has definitely evolved since the first game.
Besides Monsties, the player will want to continuously level up their gear. Changing weapons and gear can give the player different ways of attacking. The game still follows the main series, and some equipment will definitely benefit the player over others. Having weak equipment will never assist a player especially depending on what they are fighting as the fights do slowly heat up, and facing down a Tigrex with Velocidrome weaponry isn’t going to take the player far.
Battles definitely require some level of strategy or else players will be in for a hard time. Monsties have all sorts of different skills and powers and learning to use them properly and at the right time is key. It’s also good to bring all sorts of items too, to stop sleeping, paralysis, and any other number of maladies.
Players can bring a fellow ranger along as they explore the world and each of the characters has their own Monstie and abilities. It’s cool to mix it up and find the partner that works best and watching the duel kinship attacks is always a treat too, as they look very cool. Players will even get to experience different stories surrounding each character and while they might not always get character growth in the main story, these side stories are sure to enhance the player’s attachment to them and make them all the more loveable. I love when games have side stories like this,and these voiced ones are fantastic.
Another important thing in Monster Hunter Stories 3 Twisted Reflections is exploring the world in general. There are numerous items to discover which will definitely help in battle, and they are just waiting to be found. The world is vast and there are so many things to collect if the player aims to look for them.
For instance, Poogies are back, and once again the player will have to track down a number of them. They tend to exist in places away from humans and monsters but the game always lets the player know if they are near one. It might be hard to do, but the rewards are there if the player succeeds in rounding them all up.
There are also a number of things for the player to buy which are mostly just cosmetic in the shop. While they might only just be cosmetic, it’s cool to see that all the characters have costume changes. Most often games will simply give the main character and one other a new look, but each character here gets a few looks or more.
I’m a big fan of the music, and the way it sweeps over the world is definitely amazing. Each biome and town has its own cascading themes. The battle music isn’t bad either and I enjoy hearing the themes change depending on what I’m fighting, be it boss or random encounter. The game also has solid voice acting which is always a plus. I enjoy hearing them tell their stories, and it helps the world feel more lived in. Having fully voiced scenes is also a big plus, and it increases the magic of the story as well.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 Twisted Reflections is a fantastic RPG. It tells a tale of people against the world, and how much grit it takes to better yourself even when faced with monsters and war. It’s thrilling to see this world evolve after all these years and it’s exciting to think where the next game may lead this series. Will the player help the young royal save his kingdom, or will Vermeil come out on top?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
