The Nintendo 3DS had a lot of incredible exclusives and in its heyday there were many of them on sale Monster Hunter series. One gem that really stands out from its glasses-less 3D siblings is Monster Hunter Stories. Developed as a collaboration between Capcom and Marvelous, this turn-based RPG was quite a change from anything that had come before and is highly regarded by those who did play it. However, Stories was overlooked by many at the time because it was dealt the unfortunate hand of launching six months after the console that would replace the 2DS and 3DS, the Nintendo Switch.
Flash forward to the year 2024 and not only has a Switch sequel to Stories been released, but the first game that fans loved is finally making its way to Switch. We had the chance to send a few questions to Capcom’s Monster Hunter Stories team and the game’s producer, Yoshihiro Akira, was kind enough to give us his insight into the game’s co-development with Marvelous, exclusive 3DS features, and what it’s like bringing this game to a new audience.
Nintendo Life: How did the idea for a spin-off, turn-based RPG in the Monster Hunter series come about? Was this a magical elevator pitch from someone at Marvelous?
Yoshihiro Akira, producer: During the first month of development, we couldn’t break with the established convention of Monster Hunter as an action game, and we worried a lot about how to illustrate an “adventure with monsters” through action.
A turn-based RPG that didn’t require difficult controls was very compatible and feasible from a systemic point of view, and production went relatively smoothly once we started considering an RPG. However, there was a lot of trial and error until we came up with the “Three Attack Types” for the combat system, and using Marvelous’ suggestions we were able to achieve the current game style.
How did the collaboration with Marvelous on the Stories series go? What roles do Capcom and Marvelous each have when it comes to jointly developing a game like this?
The game was produced in-house at Capcom up to the prototype stage, and from there we moved on to the construction and production of the game systems, building on Marvelous’ experience in RPG development.
Capcom’s role was to manage the quality of the Monster Hunter series and oversee the game’s setting, both of which were very demanding, and I still remember the hard work Marvelous put into it. However, I believe this was worth it, as we were able to create a unique and high-quality RPG.
Monster Hunter Stories was graphically quite impressive to launch on 3DS, but anyone playing on a non-new 3DS could see some stuttering here and there. What kind of performance can we expect this time on Switch?
As we bring Monster Hunter Stories to a development environment based on the sequel, we hope you’ll feel the performance is on par with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.
The 3DS itself contained some really unique features, which Monster Hunter Stories took full advantage of! Will some of these elements, like StreetPass Dungeons and scanning player QR codes while the camera, be reworked for Switch? Can you talk about that process, if so?
Features created specifically for Nintendo 3DS have not been ported to other platforms.
Besides the graphical upgrade, what other differences can newcomers or fans of the series expect between the 3DS and Switch versions of Monster Hunter Stories?
The most important new element is that the game is now completely in English and Japanese. This makes it easier to get emotionally involved with the game than it originally was on the Nintendo 3DS or smartphone versions, and we believe it will allow players to enjoy the story of this title more deeply.
Another aspect is the museum. This includes over 200 pieces of art showing the behind-the-scenes development of the game and commentary from the developers providing insight into their thoughts when designing the original game. This release also includes character designs that didn’t make it into the original version, so this is one of the new features you can look forward to. You can also listen to the music tracks in Museum Mode, so we hope you enjoy them!
The Nintendo fan in all of us is curious to see if the Link and Epona-themed Legend of Zelda DLC from the first game will also make the jump from 3DS to Switch?
Collaborative content from outside of Capcom will not be carried over to this release.
Does the team have any advice for anyone purchasing this game for the first time?
The two titles in the Monster Hunter Stories series are RPGs created so that even those new to action games can enjoy the world of Monster Hunter. They are designed to be played by a wide range of people, including those who enjoy RPGs (especially turn-based RPGs) and those who like to improve their character.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin takes place four years after Monster Hunter Stories, and the worlds are connected, with the same characters appearing in both games. We hope you play both titles and pay attention to the characters that have grown over the course of the series.
Players who have played Monster Hunter Stories in the past can enjoy them again with full English and Japanese voiceover and a Museum Mode. And of course, Monster Hunter players can thoroughly enjoy it too, so we hope you’ll give it a try!
We appreciate Yoshihiro Akira taking the time to answer our questions. Stay tuned for our full review of Monster Hunter Stories when it launches on Switch on June 14, and in the meantime you can read our hands-on preview here.