Monster Hunter Stories (Remastered - Nintendo Switch) - Review

Monster Hunter Stories (Remastered) breathes new life into the beloved 3DS classic, bringing it to the Nintendo Switch with stunning enhancements. This remaster transforms the original game’s visuals and audio, making it a delightful experience for both veterans and newcomers.

Unlike the mainline Monster Hunter games, Monster Hunter Stories shifts focus from hunting monsters to building bonds with them. You play as a Rider, forming kinship with your Monsties to battle together. The turn-based combat is engaging and strategic, emphasizing the importance of understanding your Monsties' abilities and the rock-paper-scissors mechanics of the game. The gameplay and monster collection aspect of the game are similar to Pokemon, but still manage to have a very in depth combat system.

The remaster significantly upgrades the graphics, making the vibrant world and its creatures more captivating. Enhanced textures and a smoother frame rate create a more immersive experience. Additionally, the addition of voice acting and an art gallery enriches the overall presentation. 

Personally, art galleries which include concept art and the like, should be a standard in video games. Being able to see these types of things are a very enjoyable experience for me, and this is one of the highlights of the remaster. There is one very minor issue, however, which is the game initially suffering from "first child syndrome". Monster Hunter Stories 2 did add a number of quality of life additions to the game, and whilst this remaster does include a number of them, the gameplay is still a bit behind compared to its sequel. Fortunately, this doesn't affect the overall enjoyment of the game by any means.

This version includes quality-of-life improvements that make the game more accessible and enjoyable. The UI has been refined, and the game now supports various platforms beyond the Nintendo Switch, ensuring a wider audience can enjoy this adventure. Other additions include content that was previously exclusive to Japan, quick healing, and easier material collecting when riding your monsties.

Monster Hunter Stories Remastered is a testament to the charm and depth of the original game, now enhanced for modern platforms. Whether you’re a long-time fan, a newcomer, or even just a fan of the monster collecting genre, this remaster is well worth your time and investment, providing hours of engaging and heartwarming gameplay. 

As always, if you haven't already, be sure to follow us over on Twitter and Tumblr.