Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection’s launch date is simply across the nook, and videogameaddicted had the chance to speak intimately with the developer in regards to the new locale trailer proven at videogameaddicted Fan Fest. By no means-before-seen idea artwork for the sport’s three primary areas (Citadel Azria, Shepherden, and Galyad) has arrived, in addition to insightful commentary from director Kenji Daiguro, artwork director Takahiro Kono, and lead recreation designer Daisuke Wakahara.
Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflections is a stupendous recreation, pushed totally by the varied landscapes you encounter in your journey as an environmentalist ranger. The Monster Hunter Tales 3 workforce has spent a variety of time and analysis making areas enjoyable for gamers, and their consideration to element exhibits. You possibly can watch a video of the brand new locale with feedback immediately from the developer above. Or, if you wish to immerse your self within the surroundings with out the commentary and some bonus scenes, try the trailer beneath.
Azria
In case you’ve performed the free trial model of Monster Hunter Tales 3, you’ve got seen Azria. This land has fields, forests, and delightful mountains on the horizon, with a citadel city on a lake, giving it a basic fairytale-like backdrop.
“Throughout the design course of, we needed to create a typical fantasy citadel sort design to specific how peaceable Azria is and to symbolize the attractive nature of the world of Azria and the citadel itself,” Kawano stated.
The workforce took inspiration from the actual world and included it into idea artwork for the area round Azria and its castles, particularly a Spanish citadel referred to as Alcazar de Segovia. This is not the primary time this citadel has impressed creators. As a part of its one centesimal anniversary, the Walt Disney Firm revealed that the citadel was the inspiration for Snow White’s Citadel in 2023. It is really a magical place.
Mr. Kawano additionally defined that the wing-like flag represents the wings of the lioreus, representing Azria’s particular bond with the endangered species. There’s even one thing like an airstrip within the metropolis for monsters to take off from, which is smart in a narrative collection the place riders type bonds with monsters referred to as Monsties, and because the title suggests, experience them.
The eye to element within the panorama additionally informs Twisted Reflection’s story. The primary catalyst for the plot of Story 3 is “Crystal Erosion”, an unexplained phenomenon that impacts each the setting and monsters, however the egg quartz it leaves behind is used as a lightweight supply by inhabitants comparable to Azria.
Shepherden
Shepardden is the second location the protagonist and ranger go to, and when you’ve performed that individual installment of the common Monster Hunter lineup, its lush environment might look acquainted.
“One of many essential options[of Shepherden]is that monsters from Monster Hunter Rise dwell round it,” Kawano revealed. “As chances are you’ll know, it is based mostly on Monster Hunter Rise and has a really oriental, Asian really feel to it, so Shepharden and the encompassing space are additionally designed round that artwork type.”
On the base of the steps to the village elder’s place, chances are you’ll discover a construction clearly recognizable as an orange angular arch, impressed by Japanese torii gates. Instantly beneath the torii gate, there are masks caught into the bottom, which Kawano defined symbolize the graves of former village elders.
One other element about Sheparden that the workforce needed to contemplate is that the village shouldn’t be constructed for riders like Azria. Subsequently, there aren’t any stables. So Rasa, the principle character Rioreus, is confined to a really small house, which is a part of an unused residence.
Galyad
Galyad is a bustling and affluent city surrounded by desert and comparatively inhospitable land in comparison with Azria and Shepherden. It’s coated in ornaments, stones, and gems, and is considerably impressed by the profitable Egg Quartz commerce by its inhabitants. Kawano stated that as you go deeper into town of Galiyad, chances are you’ll discover areas that resemble slums, the place the boundaries between rich and fewer rich residents develop into seen.
The structure and design of this metropolis really takes inspiration from the Mediterranean area, and there may be additionally the Fountain of Lagiacrus within the metropolis heart. That is particularly attention-grabbing given the desert setting. Because it seems, Lagiacrus is a leviathan monster identified to dwell in water.
“Gallhado was as soon as a maritime port metropolis floating on the ocean,” Kawano explains. βSo the jewellery and decorations had been all Mediterranean-themed, however as a consequence of desertification, town has misplaced all its water and is now a barren, sandy land. That is why there is a distinction between the decorations and the precise cityscape itself.β
Monster Hunter 3 Twisted Reflection Q&A
In fact, we needed to reap the benefits of the time we needed to discuss to the builders of Monster Hunter 3: Twisted Reflection, so we requested a couple of questions unrelated to the brand new trailer that we thought could be attention-grabbing. We detailed the sport’s extra mature protagonist, weapon availability, habitat restoration mechanics, and dual-element monsters.
The next interview has been frivolously edited and condensed for readability.
videogameaddicted: I feel habitat restoration is without doubt one of the greatest new gameplay mechanics in Monster Hunter Tales 3. Are you able to clarify the inspiration behind constructing the system and why you included it?
Kenji Daikoku: The primary purpose I needed to implement this characteristic in Story 3 was for the principle character. She or he is the captain of a ranger troop and their objective is to guard and protect the setting. So we needed to symbolize environmental conservation not solely within the storyline, but additionally within the precise gameplay cycle itself.
The second purpose we carried out habitat restoration was to increase on the mechanics of the Monster Hunter Tales collection, the place deepening bonds with monsters is extraordinarily essential. In earlier entries, you collected monster eggs from their burrows, hatched them, and raised them, however the locations the place you would get these eggs had been very restricted, and the identical for all gamers. Nevertheless, Monster Hunter Tales 3 implements this habitat restoration characteristic, permitting each participant to have their very own setting. So your setting and mine might be very completely different.
By restoring the monster inhabitants and releasing it again into the wild, you could possibly discover uncommon eggs, together with dual-attribute monsters and deviant monsters. (Deviant Monsters) are common monsters from earlier Monster Hunter mainline collection video games. In case you elevate the ecosystem rank with the habitat restoration perform, chances are you’ll discover Deviant monster eggs. We needed to reward gamers for contributing to environmental safety, endangered species restoration, and world inhabitants development by offering uncommon monsters that may hatch from eggs.
videogameaddicted: Within the authentic Monster Hunter Tales, altering the weather of Monstery behaved in a different way and was completed by swapping genes and altering stats. May you please inform me why you modified to this methodology?
Kenji Daikoku: Within the authentic “Tales”, when you change a monster’s genes and acquire a dual-attribute monster, the monster’s attributes will change utterly. Subsequently, getting the improper mixture might be detrimental to the participant. However with Tales 3, the workforce needed to additional increase customers’ choices and make habitat restoration much more distinctive. There, you’ll be able to receive dual-attribute monsters by restoring the habitat, rising the ecosystem rank, and acquiring uncommon eggs.
In Story 3, twin attribute monsters retain their authentic attributes. So if the unique monster had a hearth attribute, it would retain the hearth attribute and achieve a second new attribute along with it. Subsequently, in fight, gamers might wish to preserve the unique hearth component and add new components on high of it.
This provides gamers a bonus and extra choices when constructing their celebration. Normally in RPG video games, gamers are likely to go for the strongest character or the strongest monster with one of the best stats and talents. Nevertheless, whenever you develop Monster Story 3, you should use the Twin Ingredient characteristic to get particular monsters with completely different appearances. Considered one of (my) favorites is Velocidrome, which is steeped in dragon components. In different phrases, a pitch-black velocidrome has been accomplished. It is very dangerous. And it was (my) favourite monster of the event cycle.
After discovering my favourite dual-attribute monster, I noticed, “Possibly I might play with my favourite monster as a substitute of specializing in stats and talent expertise.” That is one of many methods gamers benefit from the recreation. It is not nearly aiming to be the strongest and strongest monster, however as a substitute discovering a real companion that you simply love and wish to bond with.
videogameaddicted: I performed the Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflections demo and observed the addition of longswords to the sport. It has not but appeared in Monster Hunter Tales. Nevertheless, the sword and protect weren’t within the bag. Are you able to inform us if the sword and protect can be in Monster Hunter Tales 3 and why you determined so as to add the longsword?
Daisuke Wakahara: First, we applied the longsword as a result of the longsword itself is extraordinarily common amongst hunters and riders all through the Monster Hunter collection. Nevertheless, earlier video games had some difficulties implementing the weapons themselves into an RPG format. Nevertheless, in Monster Hunter Tales 3, we had been capable of provide you with a formulation so as to add the longsword to the weapon listing.
Sadly, Sword and Protect is not going to be included in Monster Hunter Tales 3. The rationale why we made this choice is as a result of we rigorously thought-about the steadiness of the weapon.
In case you have a look at the general weapon listing for Story 3, you may discover slashing, blunt, and piercing weapon sorts. Sadly, we needed to take away Sword and Protect from the listing as a result of having each Lengthy Sword and Sword and Protect would have modified the listing an excessive amount of in the direction of slashing weapon sorts.
videogameaddicted: The primary character this time round is extra mature than the principle characters in earlier Monster Hunter Tales collection. Please inform us why you determined to make the principle character a extra mature character this time.
Takahiro Kawano: We needed to distinguish this from our earlier entry tales, Monster Hunter Tales and Monster Hunter Tales 2, which centered on a toddler rising right into a younger grownup. I made a decision to begin the story with a grown grownup as an elite rider. So, the setting for Monster Hunter Tales 3 is that the principle character has already grown up as a prince or princess of Azria, and begins out as an elite rider.
videogameaddicted: Earlier than we break you up, is there something you’d prefer to say to the followers watching?
Takahiro Kawano: As you noticed within the video, we put a variety of effort into designing the background characters in Monster Hunter Tales 3, so we hope you benefit from the stunning surroundings and characters in Monster Hunter Tales 3.
Daisuke Wakahara: We want to specific our honest gratitude to all of the gamers who’ve supported the Monster Hunter Tales collection because the first recreation. You may be amazed at how a lot the Monster Hunter Tales collection has developed via Tales 2 and the newest installment, Monster Hunter Tales 3. We’re very assured on this recreation and consider that each one gamers will take pleasure in it as an RPG title. Even when you have not performed the “Monster Hunter Tales” collection but, if you’re a brand new participant, please give the “Monster Hunter Tales” collection a strive.
Kenji Daikoku: I performed Monster Hunter Tales 3 10-20 instances throughout improvement. And every time the gameplay progresses, the participant can discover one thing new. I am very shocked that the event workforce has so many playing cards. We encourage all gamers to benefit from the recreation.
Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflections will arrive on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X|S, and Nintendo Change 2 on March 12, 2026. You possibly can play now with a free trial that includes a lot of the first space, Azria, and proceed your progress within the full launch.
Casey DeFreitas is videogameaddicted’s Deputy Information Editor and Monster Hunter First Fleet. Discover her on socials like Bluesky @ShinyCaseyD.