My 1st game in the MH Stories series. I am a not-so-casual mainline Monster Hunter fan. I tried MH Stories 1 and 2, but the child-focused nature of the games was not working for me after the demos and trailer. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is different, more mature, more serious, and more approachable.
80 Hours In: The Gameplay Loop and Verdict
I have played almost 80 hours, and I think I am about to take on the final boss. I have done dozens of quests, explored the game, and had so much fun with the mechanics, characters, and story. There is something about Stories 3 that gives off a classic JRPG vibe; it’s not grindy. I am not “forcing myself to tick a box” like many modern games; it’s just fun to take part in the gameplay loop with EVERY single monster usable and not an elite handful like in so many other similar games. The story is serviceable, but this is no Expedition 33. The pacing is impeccable, but as the story progresses, it becomes more intense, challenging you to apply the mechanics you’ve learned over the previous 50 hours. My only concern was whether it would be worth the full price, and I now believe it is. Pick it up if you like Monster Hunter, creature collection, or JRPGs. If you like all three, then Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a must-buy.
Leveling Up My Japanese
I am also using it to study elementary-level Japanese! The Japanese level spoken by the characters is just above my level, so it stretches my brain just enough to expand it. I have already broken down a couple scenes from the game for YouTube videos, and it’s great that I can rewatch ANY CUTSCENE IN THE GAME at any time so this is something I really want to continue to do in the coming weeks (subscribe to my youtube channel) and months as I count down to JLPT N3 test in July 2023 (more on that later).