Capcom just dropped the debut trailer for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, which aims for a 2026 release. At first glance, it’s everything me and the Monster Hunter HQ team could’ve hoped for. The visuals look stunning as it ditched previous gens and focuses on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and beefy next-gen PC hardware. Taking place in Meridian, where the kingdoms of Azuria and Vermeil is in conflict, the story also dives into the long-overlooked human conflict.
Complete with a young adult main Rider and NPCs, it seems Capcom is finally letting the Stories spin-off stand as a proper, ‘mature’ series. But then, there it is again. Rathalos. Front and center. Yep, you’re playing as the sole Rathalos Rider of Azuria, complete with a Rathalos, once again, named Ratha. And the ‘twist of fate’ mcguffin? Twin Rathalos — as if one wasn’t enough.
On one hand, I do understand Capcom’s need to make Rathalos Monster Hunter‘s mascot. However, this is the third Stories game in a row where we’re probably forced to ride or babysit a Rathalos. This wouldn’t bother me as much if Rathalos were actually fun to use, but I think anyone who played Stories 2 knows my pain.
Spoiler alert: Ratha was practically dead weight for about 90% of the main questline. By the time he finally got his spotlight, you probably had better Fire-based monsters — yep, plural — fused and leveled way past his power. Even my Blue Yian Kut-Ku carried me the whole way through the story. Yet you were stuck hauling Ratha around because the plot demanded it.
It feels like Capcom is trying way too hard to make him its Pikachu — except even Pikachu gets to take a break sometimes. When you think about it, almost every mainline Pokemon game doesn’t even feature Pikachu front and center except Yellow and Let’s Go Pikachu!
Speaking of Pokemon, imagine if Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection lets you pick a starter Monstie. Maybe each could represent land, seas, and skies similar to Rathian, Lagiacrus, and Rathalos’s trichotomy. Or take Generations‘ Fated Four angle and still represent the four common elements: Fire, Water, Thunder, and Ice. Capcom, you’ve got one of the richest monster rosters in gaming. Let us choose and showcase the variety that makes Monster Hunter special in the first place.
And judging by the Monster Hunter subreddit, I’m not alone in this Rathalos fatigue. “Look I get he’s the series mascot but come on,” wrote FireFury190. Fans are asking for a starter system with 4skin_Gamer adding, “it’s […] like being forced to have Charmander every game. Not even a new fire type.”
Because honestly, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is plain stunning, it makes me wish we had a mainline game in this style. But if I have to babysit another Rathalos — or God forbid, TWO Rathalos — for 50 hours just to watch him grow body parts again? I’d rather be subjected to a Hyper Rathalos Hunt-a-Thon with nothing but Dual Blades on me.
