Comments on: Shin Megami Tensei Series Review (9-16-09)

By: DaBowse

DaBowse — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:10:24 +0000

i really liked P3 and P4 for their likeable characters, interesting plots (even P3 where the question throughout the game is how are we gonna beat the destroyer of worlds?) and of course, the fantastic personas you can create and combine. it's really cool how all the personas are based off of myth and religion. and i think it's even more awesome how the most powerful personas are the judeo-christian ones. pretty cool how helel or beelzebub is fighting with you and the awesome moves that they get i.e. Victory Cry which frikin completely refills your HP and SP at the end of battle!!

By: Kane

Kane — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:31:21 +0000

Longtime viewer, first time commenter here; Your rant convinced me to try out the Shin Megami Tensei series; though I always heard good things about it (and, coincidentally, Persona), I’ve always been on the border on whether or not to go track the games down.

One SMT game I did play, though, was SMT: Imagine, the (free) MMORPG game, which I recommend, though I do have to warn you that the tutorial mission takes 10 minutes, which isn’t that long, but then you have to do another tutorial mission, which isn’t as fun as the first, and tells you everything you just learned. Also, I’m not sure how you captured demons in the other games, but in this game, you do it by using one of three commands (taunt, talk, threaten), which to this day, I still have no idea how to use them, so you’ll either need a guide or luck to catch them.

Overall, I’d say try it, because at worst, you lose a few hours of your time, but then will have something new to rant about.

By: Dyne

Dyne — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:32:51 +0000

Ironic that I watched this one right after beating Star Ocean IV. I like the gameplay and new item creation system, but almost everything else is laughable at best.

By: Hei

Hei — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:23:53 +0000

Late reply, dude, but listen up.
P4’s biggest issue is that there really isn’t a formidable final boss. Also, the game’s bosses are pathetically easy (Power Charge + any Med. Physical that hits more than once = dead boss). Nyx, on the other hand, is a motherfucker of a boss (13 forms). Btw, why are so many people running into the Insta-death thing? By level 65 I stopped caring about those spells hitting the MC, since I always had protection. Just fuse the Justice Arcana or something.

Here’s a short rundown:
P1: Haven’t played. Get the PSP one.
P2 IS: Canon homolust, best story, guitar case guns.
P2 EP: Continuing the past game’s awesomeness.
P3 FES: Minato is Jesus. Awesome OST and atmosphere. Best Devil and Tower Social Link.
P4: Best Gameplay, Naoto is fucking amazing.

Devil Summoner is like if you mix SMT: Nocturne with Tales Of…-battle system. Also, every demon (with or without gender) wants you. In that way.

By: Dracain

Dracain — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:46:11 +0000

Have you ever heard of shin megami tensai online? It has microtransactions but not even close to the degree of D&D online, it is really action based for an mmo. The combat is nothing like wow, and the stuff you buy in microtransactions are weapons that are hardly needed, the game is fairly skill based. Just wanted to put it out there, in case your interested.

By: Seth

Seth — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:42:54 +0000

Id like to hear you give a follow up to this

By: Rath

Rath — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:04:24 +0000

As for your comment about P3 on why the game ends when the MC dies, that’s because of plot reasons. It doesn’t make sense until the end.

By: Rath

Rath — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:40:42 +0000

I wuv the True Goddess Reincarnation series. First, the main series;

SMT1 – Fun, but pretty short and on the easy side. If you can get your hands on it, I’d recommend it.
SMT2 – See above, but it’s a bit longer and harder.
SMT3 – DEAR GOD THIS GAME IS INSANELY AWESOME, FUN AS HELL AND FUCKING HARD AS BALLS. IF YOU CAN GET IT, I SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND IT. ONE OF THE BEST PS2 GAMES EVER MADE.

Next, the main spin-off (i.e. the one every one knows): Per-So-Na.

Persona – Get the PSP version if/when you can. The original version is pretty crap to be honest.
Infinite Sin – Honestly, never played it.
Endless Punishment – Extremely awesome, but can be a grindfest near the end.
Persona 3 (FES) – Fun, epic OST (I dont really like Rap, but I find myself singing along to Lotus Juice for example >.>), and even on Hard, it’s – honestly – very, very easy. Even without NG+, Armageddon/Victory Cry combo etc. it’s a joke. Aside from the last boss. But fuck that thing. 13 forms. And the “good” ending isn’t worth it. In fact, to spare you the trouble of fighting Nyx: Minato dies.
Persona 4 – Haven’t played yet.

Now, for Digital Devil Saga – my preferred duology;

DDS1 – Fun, little tricky at times, the Macca grind is really fucking insane, the main character from Nocturne is an optional boss and he is the hardest fight ever created for any JRPG. Waaaaay too short though.
DDS2 – Makes a few interesting decisions, but the regular battle theme is the best battle music I’ve ever heard. Still a bit too short, but it explains everything DDS1 didn’t. That is, everything.

Devil Survivor – Best. DS. Game. Ever.

Raidou Kuzunoha (both) – Deviate from the regular formula, but are pretty good for action games.

Imagine (the MMO) – DO NOT PLAY THIS. IT FUCKING SUCKS.

Giten Megami/Last Bible/Devil Children (3 seperate games; all side stories) – Never played.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:40:01 +0000

The SMT series is by far my favorite RPG series of all time, i just love these games. Maybe it’s the epic story lines, maybe it’s the fact that this series may be the only RPG series of this day and age that is actually challenging, maybe it’s my fascination with religion and mythology, but i just love this series. The battle system is simplistic, but it works, and you can really feel progress as you delve further into the games and the stories just suck you in. I agree that the SMT games tend to fight dirty, and can be downright cheap sometimes, but i love them all the same, Nocturne being my favorite by miles.
The Persona series i didn’t like quite as much… probably because there just isn’t that much RPG content when it comes right down to it. Yeah you got your big ass tower, not to spoil anything, but that’s all there is outside of a few monthly events. I didn’t really care for the social sim, which can take up a lot of your time. I did play Persona 4 and it’s basically the same thing, but with even more emphasis on the social sim. Still, the main plots of both games are very good, which you can always expect from the SMT series. Just turn off the voice acting >_>
I also ignored Devil Summoner for the same reasons you did. Zero appeal to me. Although maybe i’m missing something…

But Nocturne and DDS, they just don’t come as good as this.

By: mad_a

mad_a — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:44:23 +0000

i crack up every time you say bufu:
i’ll just recommend the bufu scene from “How High”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjzGr1EFrI4&feature=related
it’s awesome