Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection Arms-On Preview (PS5) – The Story So Far

Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection Arms-On Preview (PS5) – Because the conception of the sequence, the Monster Hunter Tales subseries has got down to discover a special side of Capcom’s influential Monster Hunter franchise, being an aforementioned concentrate on story when in comparison with the primary sequence.

The place Monster Hunter Wilds did dabble in increasing the primary narrative of the sequence, Monster Hunter Tales 3 leans absolutely in and delivers a totally completely different sort of sport constructed on the sturdy foundations already laid for it. The result’s, at the very least initially, a robust opening act to a sport that challenges the perfect in monster-collecting RPGs, leveraging its eclectic solid of monsters to far larger impact than simply slaying them.

Even when there’s nonetheless loads of slaying.

Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection Arms-On Preview (PS5) – The Story So Far

An Earnest Starting

The early hours of Monster Hunter Tales 3 is spent establishing the established order for the protagonist and the characters that you simply’re going to spend time with in the course of the journey. In a considerably refreshing twist on a longtime method, you tackle a semi-mentorship position as you train a newcomer find out how to be a very good ranger out within the area, in so educating the participant as effectively.

This covers all the fundamentals; exploration, fight and common development are offered in comprehensible vignettes that by no means really feel too intrusive for returning gamers, and are nonetheless informative for gamers leaping into the sequence at this level. Saying that, it does take some time for a number of the intrigue of the story to start out pulling.

The sport begins with the beginning of dual Rathalos, and the supposed hazard of such a phenomenon occurring. Moderately than specializing in the bodily risk of the monsters themselves, although, Tales 3 appears a bit extra involved in exploring political tensions between two distinct nations, with the protagonist being the inheritor obvious to Azuria.

In comparison with earlier video games within the sequence, our protagonist is given a good quantity of sway to contribute to ahead development, moderately than being a silent stand-in for the participant. Whether or not or not this pays off is but to essentially be clear to me at this early stage, but it surely actually is a refreshing change and avoids the pratfalls that silent protagonists can typically stumble into. What stays to be seen is that if Tales 3 can keep away from the equal pratfalls of a voiced protagonist.

Regardless of this solely being the early hours of the sport, I do discover myself worrying about how a lot acquainted territory is being trodden, if not via the attitude of different characters. It’s all effectively and good being the knowledgeable protagonist, however I do roll my eyes barely that we are those being saddled with educating others. It’s a special perspective, however the perform is identical.

In Spirit Of Exploration

If there’s one factor that has stood out to me within the opening hours of Tales 3, it’s the renewed concentrate on exploration and the liberty to traverse the world as you see match. Monster using isn’t new to the Tales sequence, but it surely actually feels extra pronounced right here than it did beforehand. Inside the first 5 minutes of gameplay you’re hovering via the sky on a Rathalos of your individual, into the primary citadel city.

The impression is certainly one of confidence, and belief. It by no means felt like the sport was arbitrarily telling me “no.” The protagonist of Tales 3 is an skilled rider, it solely is sensible that we’re given the possibility to embody that. That doubles for each different monster that you simply elevate, with every having their very own skills to make use of. The place loads of monsters can fly on gusts of wind, others can scale partitions and see you exploring new areas.

In an RPG all about elevating monsters – or ‘monsties’ – it feels good to have the ability to work with them outdoors of battle.

If It Isn’t Damaged…

The foundations of Monster Hunter Tales 3 very a lot attracts on what got here earlier than, and that goes from battle system to the way you’ll develop your staff of ‘monsties.’ You’ll discover monster dens and rummage for eggs that you could hatch at your property base, with out realizing what you’ll get earlier than you hatch them.

You’ll get a touch as to how ‘uncommon’ a Monstie may be, however that’s about it. In essence, it’s taking part in with gacha mechanics with none type of monetisation. I’m unsure if I desire this technique over the extra conventional “capturing”, but it surely lends a special flavour to constructing a staff that I did recognize.

I used to be rising every of my monsters from scratch, I think about I’ll develop ever extra hooked up to them as I hold journeying. There’s a motive why so many RPGs use this methodology of party-building, and it’s tried and examined to be a surefire approach to get us to be invested in how they develop. Take the eclectic solid of Monster Hunter throughout practically twenty years of releases, and I can see why Capcom have gone for a 3rd time round.

Monster Fighter

For gamers who aren’t already conversant in the Tales subseries, fight manages to neatly implement the educational facet of the core Monster Hunter sequence, and translate it to a turn-based equal that rewards you liberally for studying concerning the monsters you’re combating.

Some monsters are going to wish to assault you with velocity assaults, that means you need to overwhelm them with energy ones. For those who and a monster assault on the similar time, the results of this rock-paper-scissors conundrum will decide who takes the brunt of the assault.

You’ll steadily learn the way every enemy behaves and find out how to take care of them, which is a little more partaking than simply urgent the proper transfer. That is supplemented by every weapon sort being advantageous for damaging specific monster elements, and being able to providing particular assaults with using stamina.

To this point, Monster Hunter Tales 3 is ticking all the proper containers for an RPG of this ilk. It captures the spirit of Monster Hunter, whereas nonetheless managing to face out by itself and never really feel like a mere spin-off and throwaway title. Tales 3 is a fully-featured launch that deserves the eye of anybody involved in both Monster Hunter, or RPGs.

The actual questions lie in seeing the place this story truly goes within the meantime. I’ve religion that this setup might be explored at the very least considerably competently, even when the early hours of the sport do commerce in some fairly typical RPG setups.

Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection is due out on March 13, 2026 on PS5, PC, Nintendo Swap 2 and Xbox Sequence X/S.