Distributor provided a review copy
I adore the Monster Hunter series, even if I'm not the best when it comes to actually playing them.
They scratch a very specific itch in an increasingly niche genre that rewards the most fiercely dedicated, and I can appreciate that kind of bullheaded approach. In a sense, they're like any hardcore simulation out there. Sometimes the reward is the fine-tuning itself, not necessarily the beast you take down.
So it was always a surprise to see Capcom steer into a far more traditional landscape with the Monster Hunter Stories series, a spin-off of the main franchise that emphasizes story and turn-based combat. Despite my hesitations, Stories turned out to be not just a winning combination of elements, but a finely-crafted series that stands on its own from the iconic mainline adventure.
Now in its third incarnation, Stories evolves into an even bigger, more rewarding experience. With added combat mechanics, a sprawling narrative, and some of the most beautiful worlds put in a game, Twisted Reflection is a treat for fans of the genre, even if it's not the easiest title to start with.
Twisted Reflection is a very traditional coming-of-age story set 200 years after the previous Monster Hunter sagas. It comes packed with elements you'll recognize from countless other games of this type, which is not as bad as it sounds. Instead, the storybook-like quality gives the game a charming, almost timeless appeal that balances out the more somnambulant political elements.
Our hero is a mostly silent member of Azurian royalty on a quest to save their kingdom from early rumblings of war. The nameless adventurer is referred to either as the Heir or their Highness, and they're intentionally a less-than-captivating presence. Instead, as with the series proper, they're a suitable vessel for the player to insert as much or as little of themselves into the part.
Luckily, the supporting cast is far stronger. Your entourage includes warriors of all class types, including a heroic Princess, who gives the Link-esque protagonist a terrific counterpart in the adventure.
Fans of the labyrinthine mythology may instantly object to some of the major leaps in lore. As the story takes place hundreds of years later, most of the established cast is no longer with us. Significant creatures lie extinct, at least at the start, before their very existence turns into an elaborate metaphor for ancient Roman myths.
It is, as ever, wild and outlandish, but also fun and inventive at best. At times, the convoluted plotting trips over itself to ensure that every faction and bit of history has a moment in the spotlight. Yet for those who've spent this long with the franchise, that hardly seems like a complaint.
The gameplay itself sees numerous updates to its name, most of which are entirely welcome. The combat system, initially devised as a kind of rock-paper-scissors mechanic, is now more robust than ever. Every character has two weapons and multiple attacks, including new Kinship moves tied to their monsters, along with specialty combos that trigger at opportune times.
Unlike the second part in the series, Twisted Reflection isn't as easy to pick up and master as before. Monsters no longer telegraph their patterns as notably as before, and there's a surprisingly steep learning curve to the plethora of combat stances and moves. For neurodiverse gamers, especially those who struggle with UI elements, the first hours of Twisted Reflection will prove exceedingly difficult.
Compared to the second game, which was a much more lighthearted fare and quite accessible to newcomers, Twisted Reflection is more veteran-oriented. At this point, you know what you're getting into, and new fans should go back at least one instalment at first.
But once you get a handle on your favorite weapon and party ensemble, Monster Hunter Stories picks up both pace and fun considerably. Towards the end, even the fiercest battles can end before they get started with a bit of preparation. As with the main series, it all comes down to how much you tinker in the menus.
Happily, the world itself is grander and more exploration-friendly than ever before. Capcom has clearly listened to player feedback, as our hero can now ride and fly their monster from the very beginning. As a result, Azuria is immensely vertical and open. It invites players to explore its mysteries at every turn. I spent the first ten hours or so just doing random side quests and collecting materials for upgrades, not out of obligation, but because it was fun.
That said, there is still plenty of busywork to keep things tedious, but that's kind of a staple of this genre. As the story builds up towards the end of the first chapter, it takes quite a long time for all the pieces to move into place. Before that, you're stuck with a grind that is only as fun as you have the patience for.
Yet complaints feel pointless when the experience itself is this grand. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is an incredibly polished, beautiful, and majestic game that often feels like a gargantuan anime film where you play the best parts.
Like its sibling series, it rewards those who dedicate their time to its mechanics, but also delivers a surprisingly relaxed and fun adventure that kept me intrigued from beginning to end. It runs beautifully on a PlayStation 5 Pro without any hiccups in its framerates.
If Monster Hunter World or Monster Hunter Wilds were too hectic for your taste, give Twisted Reflection – or its predecessor, Wings of Ruin – a go. The turn-based combat is great for those who want the rush of a grand battle without the stress of confusing control schemes. JRPG fans will adore the traditional story, while others will fall for Capcom's animal-friendly world, where every monster, big or small, is friend-shaped.
