Monster Hunter Stories was an intriguing and exciting reveal earlier this year; it was described as five years in the making (conceptually, two years in development) and a major diversion from the series norms. Due for a 2016 release on 3DS in Japan, its cartoonish style and neat concept of a young hunter riding a baby Rathalos on a hunt are certainly imaginative.
The official Japanese website has now gone live, and Gematsu has been translating some details. You play as a young boy or girl (your choice) Rider that’s recently qualified, but a looming darkness over the land naturally puts Riders and Hunters to the test; yep, there’s a legendary relic in there, too.
There looks to be a colourful cast and some handsome environments; a key plot point will revolve around the conflict of Riders that nurture and fight with monsters (of which you’re a member), and the traditional hunters that do the opposite.
The battles will be particularly interesting, with a three component turn-based system, though it’s still necessary to watch a monster closely for its tells. A key aspect is that your companion monsters – ‘Otomon’ – do much of the fighting, though solo and co-operative moves with the Rider will also feature. Another part of the game will be recovering Otomon eggs and raising them in the village; players will be able to have multiple monsters in their party, though only one fights at a time.
