Preview: Revamp of ‘Monster Hunter Stories’ and sequel show growth of a spinoff franchise

Players don’t just hunt the creatures and turn their parts into weapons in 'Monster Hunter Stories', but they also befriend and ride monsters as they become partners in turn-based combat. — Photos: Capcom

Monster Hunter Stories has always been an odd bird when it comes to the series. The spinoff is a Japanese role-playing game that takes the core concepts of the series and turns them on their head. Players don’t just hunt the creatures and turn their parts into weapons, but they also befriend and ride monsters as they become partners in turn-based combat.

With two entries out, the series has found an audience, and Capcom hopes to expand it by releasing new versions of the games on PlayStation 4, PC and the Nintendo Switch. The original features the biggest upgrade of the two as it was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS.