Monster Hunter Stories - Brand new story info, gameplay details, screens & art

Official website synopsis

This story begins in the Village of Riders [Hakuma Village]. The Protagonist, Lilia, and Shuval/Cheval. These three childhood friends go to the forest to pretend-play collecting eggs.

There, they discover a beautiful shining monster egg. The protagonist pretends to perform the aspiration of all Riders, the “bonding ritual,” which uses a “bond stone” [Kizuna Stone] to deepen a monster’s bond with their Rider and unlock new powers.

However, even though it was just supposed to be pretend, a Rathalos hatches from the egg. The villagers celebrate the Protagonist, who was able to hatch an egg without a bond stone, but…

A disaster known as “black miasma” befalls them.
It is not only the village that is injured, but Lilia and Shuval/Cheval’s hearts as well…

Exactly one year after the disaster, the Protagonist receives a bond stone [Kizuna Stone] and becomes a Rider. Shuval/Cheval has left the village to fulfill his own goal, and Lilia has abandoned the path of a Rider and gone on her own journey. The Protagonist, who has overcome many tribulations to become a Rider and matured along with Nabiru, who he met and partnered with by chance, decides to go on a journey to the outside world.
Their destination is the world of Hunters.
A world of people whose life is completely different than the Riders’.

Hunters, who live by killing monsters.
Riders, who live by raising monsters.
Despite his uncertainties of how their lifestyles can be reconciled, the Protagonist lives with Hunters, and learns how to work as both a Hunter and a Rider.

Once again, the threat of the black miasma appears.
People begin noticing differences in their work and environment during their everyday life.
However, it’s not just in a town or village, but in the entire world.
The Riders and Hunters whose role seems to have become a test.

The key will be the power hidden in the bond stone [Kizuna Stone], and the truth of the “Myth of Ledan,” the story of the origin of Riders that has been passed down for generations.
The strength of bonds, which are tempered and heightened.
The Protagonist discovers the real power of bonds from the truth of the myth.
The Protagonist and Nabiru, and otomon.

A new Monster Hunter experience about bonds is awaiting you.

Characters

Lilia: the protagonist’s (female) childhood friend, who is literally obsessed with the outside world. She’s quite the vigorous one, and a bit like a big sister always pushing the others forward. She is described as a cheerful, kind, and dependable person.

Protagonist (can be either male or female): a novice rider who was born and raised on the verdant plateau. Just like Lilia, they’re interested in the outside world, and together with Nabiru (a very odd Felyne), they set off on a journey.

Shuval/Cheval: the protagonist’s (male) childhood friend, who said to be very kind and obedient. He has a strong desire to become a Rider. He is described as a very kindheart boy.

Simone: the commanding officer of the Investigation Unit of the Royal Intelligence Squad. She may be young, but her abilities are the real deal. Her knowledge on monsters, their ecology, and their environments is remarkable.

Otomon

- name of monsters who share a bond with Riders
- can help them in a variety of situations (not just in battle)
- there’s many different species of monsters, and they all have their own abilities / powers
- find a monster’s nest –> you collect an egg –> you incubate the egg at the stable –> the egg hatches
- Monster’s nests can be found everywhere in the field, and there’s even some rare ones hidden in some places.
- you have to be careful when sneaking inside to collect the eggs
- bring them to the stable in order to incubate them
- there may be a secret to the pattern on the eggs themselves
- the “Transmission Ceremony” allows you to “transfer” bond genes from one Otomon to another
- each Otomon has its own bond gene
- move a bond gene to the empty bond gene slot of a different Otomo
- if you manage to line up three bond genes in a row, then a new power will be awakened.
- Otomons revealed so far include:

Velocidrome
Arzuros
Lagombi
Yian Kut-Ku
Congalala
Khezu
Rathian
Tigrex
Diablos
Rathalos
Zinogre
Royal Ludroth
Qurupeco
Brachydios
Kirin
Lagiacrus
Nargacuga
Aptonoth

Battles

- get XP by defeating enemies
- XP is distributed to all the Otomon in your party
- win some extra XP by fighting well
- the better you do, the rarer the items you receive as rewards

Gameplay systems

- Multiplayer lets you battle other players either via local wireless or online
- different rules you can choose from
- during the battles, you can communicate using stamps.
- in Quest: you can get various quests from NPCs, the Quest Boards, the Equipment Shops, and more
- complete them to get XP and items