Monster Hunter Stories

The main pros of the game

• Unique Combat System: The turn-based combat utilizes a rock-paper-scissors mechanic that adds strategic depth, requiring players to learn and counter monster attack patterns.
• Customization and Variety: Players can collect and customize a wide variety of "Monsties" (monsters), including changing their genes and abilities, which allows for diverse team compositions and strategies.
• Engaging Story: While the story is simple, it focuses on themes of friendship and companionship with monsters, appealing to both younger audiences and longtime fans of the franchise.
• Visual Appeal: The cel-shaded art style and colorful graphics are praised for their charm, making the game visually appealing.
• Nostalgia Factor: Many players appreciate the remaster's enhancements over the original 3DS version, including better graphics and voice acting, while retaining the core gameplay that fans loved.

The main cons of the game

• Repetitive Fetch Quests: Some players find the quest design basic and repetitive, often involving simple tasks like collecting items or defeating monsters without much variety.
• Simplistic AI: The AI of the Monsties can be frustrating, as they sometimes make poor decisions in combat, leading to unnecessary damage or missed opportunities.
• Story and Character Depth: While the narrative is enjoyable, it is often described as lacking depth, with some characters feeling flat or cliché.
• Grinding: The game can become grindy, especially towards the end, as players need to farm materials and levels to progress, which can detract from the overall experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Multiplayer Options: Limited multiplayer features compared to mainline Monster Hunter games, which some players miss.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Players noted the absence of certain quality-of-life features found in the sequel, such as auto-combat options and faster egg hatching mechanics.
• DLC Content: Some users expressed disappointment that certain DLC quests and monsters from the original release were not included in the remaster.
• Improved AI Mechanics: Suggestions for better AI behavior in combat to make battles more strategic and less reliant on player input to mitigate poor decisions by Monsties.

Summary

• Overall, Monster Hunter Stories is well-received for its charming approach to the Monster Hunter franchise, offering a unique blend of creature collection and turn-based strategy, though it has its share of criticisms regarding simplicity and AI behavior.

Summary generated on: October 30, 2025