![\"Monster](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_289109796-3d89.jpg\")
\n\t\tMonster Hunter Stories 3 \u2013 better than you\u2019d think (Capcom)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tMonster Hunter Stories 3 \u2013 better than you\u2019d think (Capcom)<\/p>\n
Capcom<\/a>\u2019s latest JRPG spin-off is by far the best in the Monster Hunter<\/a> spin-off series, as you\u2019re compelled to nurture monsters and not just hunt them.<\/p>\n It\u2019s becoming repetitious to start a review of every new Capcom game, by noting what a good run of high quality titles they\u2019ve had lately. The highly successful launch of Resident Evil Requiem<\/a> has cemented this as a new golden era for the veteran publisher and developer, although if there was one title in their current line-up that wasn\u2019t likely to be greeted with much anticipation in the West, it\u2019s this.<\/p>\n We\u2019re genuinely unsure how Monster Hunter Wilds<\/a> is doing at the moment, as while it spent half of last year as the best-selling game of 2025 its reputation has subsequently sunk amongst fans<\/a>. Whether that\u2019s enough to ruin the franchise\u2019s only recently earned reputation in the West is unclear but rather than being an easily ignored spin-off, like the last two games, Monster Hunter Stories 3 deserves more serious consideration.<\/p>\n The concept behind Monster Hunter Stories is very simple: turn the action-orientated mainline titles into a traditional Japanese role-playing game<\/a>, with the same basic structure but more focus on storytelling. The first game was squarely aimed at kids, the second one<\/a> less so, and this third one has a more serious tone than anything else in the franchise.<\/p>\n Although there\u2019s plenty of humour in other aspects of the game, the core story revolves a brewing war between two nations, one of which is suffering from a stock Japanese role-playing calamity, where everything is being turned into crystals. You take on the role of a scion of the other kingdom \u2013 either its prince or princess \u2013 and set out to try and sort things out yourself.<\/p>\n As generic as that sounds the story does have some bite to it, with a surprising amount of social and political commentary. It\u2019s not Metaphor: ReFantazio<\/a> but it\u2019s much more thought-provoking than you\u2019d expect, even if the ecological themes are laid on a bit thick. The character work is less impressive, but the voice-acting is good and everyone has their own clear motivations and goals.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The storytelling was easily the worst part of Monster Hunter Wilds, even though Capcom put more emphasis on it than usual, but this shows that Monster Hunter can be used to tell an interesting story. Even if this story in particular could easily be transposed to any other stock fantasy setting.<\/p>\n Despite the change in genre for the battles, the structure of Monster Hunter Stories 3 is still very similar to the regular games. There\u2019re usually more complex reasons for why you\u2019re going out to fight monsters, other than you want to turn their carapace into a new piece of armour, but at the end of the day that\u2019s ultimately what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n As in the regular games, taking down a large monster is a lengthy affair that takes part in several stages, as you target weak points with appropriate weapons and elemental attacks, learning their attacks, and managing your stamina. Rather than being a traditional turn-based system though the game uses a rock, paper, scissors system where you have to guess one of three attack types to fight a monster with.<\/p>\n In the previous game that led to a lot of random scraps, until you slowly began to learn each creature\u2019s methods, but while that aspect has been reduced in this new game we still can\u2019t help but wish it wasn\u2019t a factor at all. Although in its favour it does help to ensure bigger battles are as fast-paced as possible, given how naturally long they are in the first place.<\/p>\n \t\t Apart from the mechanics of combat, the biggest difference between Monster Hunter Stories and its parent franchise is a Pok\u00e9mon<\/a> style element where you can collect eggs and train your own monsters, which it insists on referring to as Monsties.<\/p>\n You can take half a dozen into battle with you and they can all be customised to a surprising degree, as you fiddle with their genes to improve stats and change affinities. It works so well it\u2019s a system we\u2019d love to see adapted for actual Pok\u00e9mon games, even if the process of changing genes is too long-winded.<\/p>\n Pok\u00e9mon might also do well to consider the habitat restoration feature, where you let a monster go in the hope that it will create more powerful Monsties later on. It\u2019s a great way to deal with doubles and means that rather than being upset you\u2019ve got the same type again you\u2019re actually pleased, because the more of the same that you release the more powerful the critters in that area become.<\/p>\n The same system also allows for a variation on the fusion process seen in many Japanese role-players, where you purposefully release non-native Monsties into an area, so that their genes will mix with the existing population.<\/p>\n Graphically, the game has some great animation but it\u2019s a little too authentic to the mainline games when it comes to accessibility, with unhelpful tutorials and a lot of concepts that are never properly explained. There\u2019s also a lot of level grinding near the end, even if you do all the side quests, which does not feel like a welcome use of your time.<\/p>\n Monster Hunter Stories has improved with each new entry, to the point where an inevitable fourth game has become something to be greatly anticipated. There are improvements to be made, and we\u2019ve still not been fully invested in any of the actual stories, but if you\u2019re looking for an imaginative and unusual new Japanese role-player this is worth hunting out.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMonster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection review summary\t\t\t<\/p>\n In Short: <\/strong>An impressively full-bodied Japanese role-player that\u2019s good enough to attract non-Monster Hunter fans, with the Pok\u00e9mon style collection process making up for the flaws in the storytelling and combat.<\/p>\n Pros:<\/strong> Collecting eggs, customising Monsties, and fostering new breeds is highly compelling. Excellent graphics and animation, and the story is deeper than you\u2019d imagine.<\/p>\n Cons:<\/strong> Despite the game\u2019s name, the story isn\u2019t very interesting or original. There\u2019s still too much randomness in battles. Insufficient tutorials and too much level grinding.<\/p>\n Score: <\/strong>7\/10<\/p>\n Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X\/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC \t\t Email\u00a0gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a>, leave a comment below,\u00a0follow us on Twitter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n To submit Inbox letters and Reader\u2019s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our\u00a0Submit Stuff page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our Gaming page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Monster](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_289109793-0a7d.jpg\")
\n\t\tWe do wish they wouldn\u2019t call them Monsties (Capcom)<\/p>\n
Price: \u00a354.99
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 13th March 2026
Age Rating: 12<\/p>\n![\"Monster](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_289109788-43a7.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe game has some really nice cel-shaded graphics (Capcom)<\/p>\n
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