Monster Hunter Stories Review (Maeve)
This game is fantastic. However, treat it as what it is. A 3DS port, but a damn good one at that. I almost can't believe this came out on the 3DS, all they really did was update some effects a little and add a few more monsters. Otherwise it's a straight port, as if you were playing this game straight out of Citra.
if you are coming from the second game, you may be a little bit disappointed, as there is nothing that this game does better than the second. Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a straight upgrade of every system found in this game. With that said, this game still wipes the floor with every Pokemon game ever released.
The gameplay is essentially the weapon triangle system from Fire Emblem, but instead of sword beating axes, axes beating spears, spears beating swords; it's Power > Technical > Speed. It's key that you memorize what attack patterns each monster has in order to succeed. You may have read from other reviews that the game is grindy, but that isn't really the case until the very end of the post game once you are trying to min max your build, just like in every Monster Hunter game.
It's more important that you understand their attack patterns, as this allows you to severely lower the amount of damage you receive, or cancel the monsters' turn entirely. There will be several walls throughout the main story that will put this to the test. In the post game there are several monsters that if you don't correctly counter their moves, they will 100 to 0 you all 3 lives in a single turn even if you are max level with fully upgraded Fatalis armor. Another thing to keep in mind are the monsters you have in your party. It's a good idea to have Attack, Speed, and Technical monsters. It's also a good idea to give your monsters a move that isn't the same as their main attribute. For example, I gave my Ratha a speed attack, This way I can use that skill to override their AI selected skill. This can prevent situations where your monster keeps butting heads with another monster of the same attack type. A Ratha using power on a Deviljoe who spams power attacks is going to end in your Ratha having 0 HP in 3 turns.
The gameplay is simple, just pay some attention to the monsters that you fight.
Regarding the story, it's nothing to really write home about. Your best friend has emotional turmoil due to a tragic event that takes place at the beginning of the game, and that causes him to act irrationally, which ends up negatively affecting everyone. You are tasked with saving the world, and you do precisely that. I did find most of the character enjoyable.
Navirou is still yapping non stop just like in the second game, he practically speaks for you. It will get tiresome.
Debli is also incredibly annoying, Dr Eggman evil antagonist gets annoying very quick as well. Reverto, Lilia, Cheval, Avinia, and Simone are quite enjoyable. Keep in mind, Cheval is like 10 years old. That is how an edgy 10 year old would act.
I enjoyed the game a lot. There were a few things that I didn't like, such as the grind towards the very end. Running the labyrinth some 50 times just to get a rarity 8 accessory for the last achievement was frankly ridiculous. I also don't like how finding certain monsters in high rank is very difficult outside of the tower of illusions. I don't like having to go through some 6 fights just to reach a dumb Lamgombi, or go through a bunch of very difficult fights just to take down one Ivory Lagiacrus at the tower of illussions just because it refuses to spawn in high rank dens.
Anyway, if you haven't played either of the Stories games, I do recommend you start with this one. That way the jump from the second to the first won't be as jarring.