Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and Metaphor ReFantazio were inspiration for Monster Hunter Stories 3's "satisfying and challenging" turn-based combat

A character holds a tiny pig with goggles in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection — (Image credit: Capcom)

The developers behind Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection peeked over the shoulders of other modern turn-based RPGs, and have specifically called out the influence that Metaphor: ReFantazio and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 had on the upcoming game.

Capcom is once again spinning its big beast battling series off into a JRPG in the form of Monster Hunter Stories 3, but a lot has changed since the last game in the subseries launched almost a decade ago. So, speaking to Automaton, lead designer Daisuke Wakahara says the team studied the "high-profile" turn-based RPGs of recent years "that incorporate unique ideas, such as Metaphor: ReFantazio and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33."

"We feel there's a clear preference toward games that let players progress smoothly and quickly, without levelling feeling like a chore. The idea that players should receive some kind of reward for specific actions they take has become quite refined across the industry, and we made a point of incorporating that approach ourselves," he adds, before noting that the team still "refused to compromise on making the battles satisfying and challenging."

The Monster Hunter Stories team were supposedly aware that "making things convenient and making them easy are two different things," so combat won't be streamlined or artificially simplified "just to speed up the pace." In fact, in some ways, it sounds like the opposite happened, as game director Kenji Oguro says "the most exciting moment in a game is when you win by the skin of your teeth," and those are the kind of moments the developers "aimed for."