Japanese gaming publication Famitsu recently caught up with Monster Hunter Stories producer Yoshihiro Akira to chat about the decision to bring back the original Monster Hunter Stories video game. One of the reasons highlighted for the decision was because Nintendo had decided to close the Nintendo 3DS eShop which subsequently meant that it was harder for fans to play the series in order. Here’s what was said:
“The support we received all over the world from players enjoying Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, released in 2021, was a big part of it. And with the 3DS online store ending service, it became harder to play the series fully in order, so we decided to port it to the current generation.
In order to encourage the series to be played fully in order, or even to allow players who had played before to do so again, we fully voiced the game in English and Japanese, as well as making a ‘Museum’ of things such as production materials and BGM tracks.”
“The process of porting an older game and getting it to work on current platforms takes a lot of time. Development began with programs carefully reading the source code. From the system standpoint, the biggest problem was the user interface. The 3DS version has two screens, including a touch screen, whereas the smartphone version was also made with touch controls. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin which was playable on the Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Steam, had a base that could be used for this reconstruction.
As for things that were easy, one area was the selection of what artwork to add to the ‘Museum’ as additional contents that I mentioned earlier. Thankfully the archive from that time was still well-kept, so we were able to add artwork from the development process, and to allow people to fully immerse themselves in the world.”
In that case that the 3ds Eshop is closing, I hope they port other Monster Hunter games for other platforms like MH Ultimate.
Stories one was such a fun experience. Nice to see its not forgot
Vertical arcade games offer an incredibly immersive gaming experience that’s hard to beat. The vertical layout makes every game feel fresh, and the interactive touch controls allow for a seamless, responsive experience. It’s perfect for players who want something modern yet familiar.