I’m excited to give you a first look at the fresh new world of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. Now, full disclosure: I’m currently under a bit of an embargo, so there are limits on what I can show and say. I definitely won’t be spoiling the story or any cutscenes today, we’re keeping this strictly spoiler-free!
First, of course the game features a character editor where you can craft your hunter exactly how you want. And don’t worry if you change your mind later – you can tweak your look at the camp chest anytime. That’s also where you’ll manage your companion costumes. There are quite a few available, at least in this review build, so you can keep your team looking sharp.
A quick warning for my PC players: I played the Steam version, and I have to be honest, playing with a mouse and keyboard is incredibly uncomfortable. It just doesn’t feel right. After the first hour, I literally ran to the other room to grab my controller, and it was a night-and-day difference. Do yourself a favour: use a game controller.
If you’ve played the previous entries, the combat system will feel like a warm hug. You’re out there hunting alongside your companions and monsters, utilizing the classic Rock-Paper-Scissors mechanic. You’ve got six different weapon types to choose from to target specific monster parts, and of course, matching elemental weaknesses is still the name of the game.”
Now, for the most annoying part of the game: the escaped pigs. You have to track these little guys down, but they’re hiding! Your only clues are a notification box and the sound of distant oinking. It can be a massive time-sink if you want to find them.
Speaking of pigs, there is also Pig Racing. I’ll show you some footage of that in a bit later. By the way, I have a feeling it’s impossible to lose. It feels like the AI pig waits for you to catch up if you make a mistake, total rubber-banding.
About cooking: forget the Felyne chefs! This time around, the Princess herself is the head cook. By the way, she may not always end up with delicious food, at least not according to your cat-servant.
As for the scale of the game? It’s massive. If you’re a completionist who wants the full story and every companion sub-plot, you’re looking at 160+ hours of gameplay. And trust me, you want to do those companion stories, because they unlock extra bonuses for your game, which makes your life easier.
I’m heading back in to finish my playthrough so I can bring you a full review soon. By then, the restrictions will be lifted and I can show you a lot more of what this world has to offer. But meanwhile, I can confirm, this is a really good game. For old monster hunters but also for new ones.
Until then, happy hunting! If you have questions, drop them in the comments. I can answer anything regarding Act 1, as long as it’s not story-related. See you later! And of course, don’t forget to like and subscribe.
