Monster Hunter Stories Interview - Chatting bringing the series to new platforms with Yoshihiro Akira
While we recently had the chance to sit down and check out the upcoming remaster for Monster Hunter Stories, as well as the PlayStation 4 port for Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin - we also had the opportunity to ask the project's producer Yoshihiro Akira some questions about what went into these new releases, especially the remaster of the original.
RPG Site: Sitting down to play the original Monster Hunter Stories again with a controller, with the game connected to a TV, feels like a wild experience in 2024. The original game was a handheld and mobile-only endeavor, with the iOS and Android versions not even supporting gamepad controls in the first place. Were there any specific changes that the team sought to make in order to better present the game on high-end platforms?
Yoshihiro Akira: Because it was an older title, it took a lot of time to get it running on current platforms. Programmers had to decipher the source code to develop the game. The biggest problem in terms of the system was the user interface. The Nintendo 3DS version had two screens, including touch controls, and even the smartphone version was designed for touch inputs. We have rebuilt the experience based on the user interface of Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin so that it can be played comfortably on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam.
RPG Site: As a longtime fan of the series, one aspect of the remaster that I’m most excited for is the chance for English-speaking players to finally get access to the later Title Update content that was previously never available outside of the Japanese Nintendo 3DS release. However, there had already been updated releases of the game - such as on Apple Arcade - prior to this remaster. If you don’t mind me asking, was there any specific reason that it took so long for this content to leave Japan?
Akira: These Title Updates were not included in the smartphone version for regions outside of Japan. We are unable to answer how this came to be, but we hope you will take this opportunity to enjoy the expanded end-game content and additional monsties.
RPG Site: Finally - is there anything in particular that you would like to share about these upcoming releases with either new or veteran fans of the series?
Akira: To all the Veteran Fans: For Monster Hunter Stories, we have newly recorded English (and Japanese) voice over, and we believe that even fans who have played the game once will be able to enjoy the story again. The Museum mode also includes more than 200 pieces of art and bakground music tracks from that time, and we hope that returning fans will enjoy playing the game, as we believe it contains a lot of information that they can especially enjoy. We have also included comments from the development staff, which we believe will help players gain a deeper understanding of the creators’ thoughts behind making this game.
To all new players: The two titles in the Monster Hunter Stories series are RPGs created so that even those who aren’t experienced with 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 raise their characters.
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 will play both titles, paying attention to the characters who have grown over the course of the series.
Players who have played Monster Hunter Stories in the past will be able to enjoy it again with English and Japanese full voice over and a Museum Mode. And of course, Monster Hunter players will also be able to enjoy it to the fullest, so we hope you will give it a try!
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Thanks again to Capcom and Yoshihiro Akira for the responses; Monster Hunter Stories launches for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC on June 14. The PlayStation 4 port of Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin will land on the same day.