Preview: With Monster Hunter Stories 3,' a spin-off spreads its wings

"Slowly but surely, Monster Hunter Stories has established itself as more than just a spin-off of Capcom's famed action role-playing game. It has gone from a small project on the Nintendo 3DS to an ambitious Japanese RPG on the Nintendo Switch that punched above its weight. Now in its third iteration, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the franchise's coming-out party. The entry is launching across multiple systems for the first time, and it's taking a different approach to the story."

"That's why players are thrown into the role of royalty as the Prince or Princess of the Kingdom of Azuria (depending on the character creation). As a member of the crown, players are also the captain of the Rangers, who ride Monsties and are environmental stewards. The group protects the kingdom against a strange phenomenon called the Crystal Encroachment, which is slowly seeping into their land."

"It's a lot of politics compared to previous ones, which focused on simple save-the-world plot. Similar to previous entries, players ride Monsties, which are essentially Pokemon-like creatures that protagonists can ride. They do battle with enemies in turn-based combat, and like the main Monster Hunter games, once players defeat the targets, they carve the parts so they're used weapons and armor."

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection positions players as the Prince or Princess of the Kingdom of Azuria and captain of the Rangers. Players ride Monsties, creature companions used for travel and combat, and confront a spreading Crystal Encroachment that threatens the land and heightens tensions with the neighboring nation Vermeil. The narrative emphasizes elite riders and a more developed world, adding political stakes beyond earlier save-the-world plots. Combat uses turn-based, rock-paper-scissors mechanics. Victorious battles yield monster parts that can be carved and used to craft weapons and armor. The entry launches across multiple systems for the first time.

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