Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne

[Celisasu]

Shin Megami Tensei sadly is one of those series that just isn't popular in the US.  Previous games that were brought over included Persona(PS1, good game), Persona 2(PS1, good story, terrible battle system), Demon Slayer(Gameboy Color, Sucked), and Demikids(Shin Megami Tensei meets Pokemon....sucked).  Generally speaking the series when not on a portable system has had a good story, mediocre battle system, and a mature theme.  Nocturne does almost nothing to change this formula.


The basic concept behind Nocturne is that your a human that's been infused with the power of a demon after the world ends in an event called the Conception(Don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, it all happens before you even get into your first battle).  

The graphics are below average.  If you require top notch graphics in your game this game isn't for you.  To be hoenst I think they could've done this on the PS1 because it doesn't look like a major improvement over the Persona series.  

The music is surprisingly nice.  And even better the game includes a soundtrack that has most of the good tracks on it(not all unfortunately but leagues ahead of what came with Final Fantasy Anthology or Phantom Brave).  

The story so far is interesting and leaving me wanting to know more but unfortunately points out the games major flaw.  


Namely the battle system.  Nocturne is definately old school where the battles are concerned and generally not in a good way.  Battles are frequent and very straight forward.  It's streamlined compared to Persona 2 but isn't up to par with a lot of RPGs today.  And you're going to have to level up.  A lot.  Battles are frequent and often difficult if you aren't leveled enough.  Magic restoration items restore small amounts of magic points and are expensive to buy(Hint, at least early on in the game the skill Life Drain is very nice when you find a monster that has it, it steals both HP and MP.  The skill Mana Aid is likewise nice).  And you're going to be going through large dungeons full of monsters just to get a few minutes of story.  


One thing different from Persona is that now instead of other people you have demons in your party.  This is apparently how most Shin Megami Tensei games are but was ditched for Persona and Persona 2.  It handles a lot like the old demon system from Persona though.  You level up your demon, teach it skills, merge it with another demon to create a stronger demon that has it's own skills plus some skills of the former demons depending on their level and compatibility.  I have to admit I'm addicted to combining my demons and it makes the leveling a bit less tedius.  Unfortunately your demons level a lot slower than your main character so sometimes waits between level ups can be rather long.  


Your character learns skills by ingesting parasitic demons called Magatama.  These improve his stats, give him immunities and weaknesses, and at certain levels teach new skills.  Both your character and demons can have a maximum of eight skills.  If you have eight skills and learn a new one you can discard a skill to get the new one or choose to discard the new one.


Overall I enjoy this game but it's really not meant for everyone.  If you enjoyed Persona or Persona 2 this is probably a must buy.  People who enjoy a dark story might enjoy it if they don't mind lots of leveling.  And people who like a challenge(sometimes even with lots of levels you'll get a tough fight).  It's not as hard as Persona 2(so far) but it's not too far behind.

[Dracos]

Nice Review. =)

Dracos

[kpjam]

I actually didn't find it very dark, but so far, about 18 hours in, I don't notice the story so much.  

What I do notice is that it is HARD.  Moving around isn't but the bosses are.  I'm trying to play without using a walkthrough much(making sure I don't miss stuff and the events to trigger the different ending).  It's not so much the bosses are hard, but the weakness/immunity systems makes almost everyboss close to unbeatable if you don't have the right demon's etc or the correct magatama ingested.

Overall, I agree that this a game that should be played.  Fun, fun.

[Celisasu]

It gets worse later on.  You're going to love it when the enemies start throwing instant death spells around(and of course if the main character dies you lose).  I've had a few cheesy deaths because you can't be immune to mind, expel, and death all at the same time and some areas have enemies using two of them at once(such as when I had anti-death equipped but then got put to sleep by a succubus and then smacked with Eternal Rest that kills all sleeping characters with 100% success in a rear attack).   Luckily it won't happen too often.  


And the later bosses make the earlier bosses look like pushovers.

[Olvelsper]

The majority of the fandom is a real downer too. From what I keep seeing, if you ask for any sort of help in regards to making the battle system fair, about a dozen fanboys start breathing down your neck and making the poor schmuck feel like an idiot.

Not very cool, that. :/

[Celisasu]

I've noticed that about a lot of fans.  If you even make the slightest suggestion that their favorite series has flaws they react as if you're launching a personal attack against them.  I just ignore them and try and find reasonable people to ask for advice from.

[kpjam]

I'm in Calpa 4.  And I keep loosing to Beezelbub.  The walkthrough says Dead Flies is a curse spell.  SO I use my money and transform my party to curse immune members and go back.  I Die more quickly!

Stupid walkthrough.  Dead flies appears to be either expel or Death, I'm guessing death from the name... stupid me!

Anyway, wish me luck as I went and obtained more money to make a death immune party and hopefully he'll fall tonight.

And as another aside.... Money is way easy to come by, but the amounts you need for the Cathedral is obscene!

Ahhh.... the fun of it all.

As to fair, there is a bit of unfairness to the battle AI.  I've been on the receiving end of bosses where they've used multiple dragon eye's and then multiple meglidora's(sp.), luckily the save sights are ususally close to the bosses.