Monster Hunter Stories Remastered Review – Navibro is Back in HD

Capcom released Monster Hunter Stories Remastered on the PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on June 14, 2024, bringing it to modern consoles after it was initially released on the 3DS, Android and iOS.

Ever wondered what it’s like to not hunt the monsters but instead befriend them in the Monster Hunter games? Look no further as Monster Hunter Stories has got you covered. Run around and explore with your Monstie and Navirou, your trusty Felyne navigator and friend, as you combat the Black Blight that plagues the world. Think of Pokémon but with the theme of Monster Hunter. That’s the essence of Monster Hunter Stories.

Parenting a Rathalos

The narrative starts in a village where the protagonist, along with their friends Lilia and Cheval, discover a mysterious egg that hatches into a unique monster. Said monster is then given the name Ratha as a short form of its species name, Rathalos. Needless to say, Ratha bonds well with the player as soon as it hatches.

This event sets the stage for a journey filled with exploration, discovery, and battles.

The story is geared towards a younger audience but doesn’t shy away from deeper emotional moments, such as the tragic consequences of a Nargacuga’s attack early in the game. These moments add a layer of depth and engagement to the plot, making it more than just a simple adventure tale​. 

Monstie, I CHOOSE YOU!

The Remastered version maintains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing enhancements that improve the overall experience. The game features a turn-based combat system reminiscent of rock-paper-scissors, where players choose between Power, Speed, and Technical attacks. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses against the others, adding a strategic element to battles.

Successfully choosing the right attack builds up the Kinship Gauge, which allows for powerful combined attacks with your Monstie​.

Stories emphasizes exploration and collection, with players venturing into various environments to find monster eggs. These eggs can be hatched back in the village to add new Monsties to the player’s team.

Each Monstie has unique abilities and move sets, allowing for diverse combat strategies. The excitement of discovering and hatching new Monsties is a significant part of the game’s charm​.

Visual and Audio Enhancements

One of the standout features of the remaster is the graphical overhaul. The visuals are sharper and more vibrant, with improved character models and environments that breathe new life into the game. While some animations may still feel a bit dated, the overall presentation is significantly enhanced, making the world of Monster Hunter Stories more immersive​.

The character models feature more detailed textures and smoother animations. Facial expressions and movements are more fluid, making interactions between characters more lifelike and engaging. Playing on maximum graphics made me forget it’s originally a 3DS game.

Battle animations and special effects have also received an upgrade. Kinship Skills and other special attacks are more visually spectacular, with enhanced particle effects and smoother animations that make combat more exciting and satisfying.

The addition of full voice acting in English and Japanese brings a new dimension to the storytelling. This enhancement makes the narrative more engaging and accessible, providing a modern touch to the game​.

Concept Art and Content Galore

Monster Hunter Stories Remastered introduces a new feature called Museum Mode, which enriches the gameplay experience by providing additional lore and content previously unavailable outside Japan. This mode is designed to appeal to both new players and long-time fans, offering a deeper dive into the game’s universe.

Museum Mode is essentially a repository of extra content, featuring a collection of lore, artwork, and behind-the-scenes information that enhances the understanding and appreciation of the game’s world.

Accessing Difficulty… Complete

The difference in Monster Hunter Stories Remastered is that it is more accessible and easier than the mainline Monster Hunter game. Players can “cart” (fail) three times before its game over, and even then, they respawn with no loss of progress aside from losing an egg if they were carrying one whilst escaping. This makes it a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. This kid-friendly orientation ensures that the game is approachable for younger players while still providing enough challenge for older fans​.

The user interface has been updated to match modern standards. Menus are clearer and more intuitive, making navigation easier for players. The updated UI design complements the overall graphical improvements, providing a seamless experience from exploring the world to managing your Monsties and equipment.

Ride on, Pawtner!

In summary, Monster Hunter Stories Remastered successfully brings a beloved classic into the modern gaming era. With its enhanced visuals, full voice acting, and additional content, the game offers a rich and engaging experience. Whether you are a newcomer to the series or a veteran who enjoyed the original, this remaster is a delightful and worthwhile addition to your gaming library​.

I’m personally quite disappointed that they didn’t add quality of life features like skip dialogue here, although they have a skip cutscene function. This game does make “story” as its main selling point, but for some gamers the skip feature might be important.

As someone who has only played Monster Hunter in the World and Rise series, I was quite entertained by the casual gameplay. It’s not stressful because if you die you can just resurrect. It’s not grindy at all unless you want to collect every single Monstie and complete the Monsterpedia – essentially the Pokédex of the game. For those who are interested in getting into the world of Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter Stories is the perfect entry point as it offers a taste of the mainline series but with a more casual and family friendly setting.

Monster Hunter Stories Remastered

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Release Date: 2024-06-14

Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam

Monster Hunter Stories is an RPG that takes the world of Monster Hunter and expands upon it in new and exciting ways! No longer are you hunting monsters, but raising them! In this deep story featuring heroes known as Monster Riders, you will live alongside monsters and form lifelong bonds with them.

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