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duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

Title: Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Platform: Nintendo DS
Release Date: 8th October 2009
Price: 6279 yen
Official Site: http://megamisj.atlusnet.jp/

Why should I get hyped?

- First new REAL Shin Megami Tensei game in 5 years!
- Over 300 demons to acquire.
- Dark and mature occult RPGs are rare, and DS games rated CERO C are even rarer!
- Let's face it, Altus rocks.

Who's working on this?

Producer, Original Concept, Character & Demon Design - Kazuma Kaneko
Director - Eiji Ishida
Scenario and Event Lead - Shogo Isogai
Composer - Shoji Meguro

Battle Planning Lead - Sawao Kato
Direction Support, Dungeon Planning Lead - Mitsuru Hirata
EX Mission Planning Lead, Map Planning - Tatsuya Watanabe
Demon Fusion System - Kenichi Takamori
Demon Negotiation System, EX Mission Planning, Red Sprite NPC Script - Yuki Sakamoto
Event Planning - Kazuyuki Yamai
Character & Demon CG Artwork, Demon Animation Supervisor - Megumi Shiraishi
Sound Design Lead - Kenichi Tsuchiya

Okay, I'm kinda interested now, what's this about?

- First Person dungeon crawler
- Sci-fi centric RPG inspired by Hollywood cult classics like The Thing, with a healthy dose of the occult elements and apocalyptic themes that Shin Megami Tensei is known for
- Turn based battles
- Recruit demons via Demon Negotiation
- Customize your high-tech Demonica Suit with various support applications and weaponry
- Auto-mapping
- Multiple endings and paths depending on the player's choices in the game

I'm not really sold yet, tell me more about the story...

- A dimensional wormhole opens in the South Pole
- It could expand and engulf the entire planet, we could all die, oh noes
- An international military and scientific task force is set up to investigate it
- You're a Japanese soldier who joins that team
- 4 giant vehicles go in... none are probably coming out
- But there are awesome demons in the other dimension, so who would want to leave anyway?
- Will the black man die first? We'll have to play to find out...

You know, this isn't working out, show me some pics!

Okay, NichM, where's my check?

Yaweee · Oct 6, 2009

It sucks having to wait for the translation. Then I see that the US version will only cost about half as much, and I get less sad.

EDIT: To agree with Error, perfect OP. The Uncharted 2 one almost made my brain bleed.

Error · Oct 6, 2009

it's nice to see a single post OP with relevant info, instead of a multi-post OP cluttered with thousand of pics and a bunch of useless info.

hopefully Atlus USA announces this soon!

SabinFigaro · Oct 6, 2009

First new REAL Shin Megami Tensei game in 5 years!

This is what sold me.

gregor7777 · Oct 6, 2009

I'll wait patiently but with furious anticipation.

Gilgamesh · Oct 6, 2009

The wait for this is gonna kill me. I hope Atlus USA announces it soon.

Dineren · Oct 6, 2009

It's so tempting to import this, but I'll wait. Looking forward to seeing some impressions!

Tamanon · Oct 6, 2009

Aren't we supposed to refuse to recognize this as a "real" SMT game?

slaughterking · Oct 6, 2009

I will actively ignore this thread so the wait for the US release won't be as haunting.
Have fun jGAF!

BeautifulMemory · Oct 6, 2009

Duckroll good OP, the way it is constructed reminds me of the whole demon negotiation in Nocturne.

1. Join my party, you stupid/awesome demon
2. Demon *Thinks deeply*
3. Demon, give me Macca or item
4. Demon, that's still not enough, answer my inquiries!
5. ?
6. Profit.

B.K. · Oct 6, 2009

Tamanon said:
Aren't we supposed to refuse to recognize this as a "real" SMT game?

No. The producer of the game said that they set it in Antarctica because they didn't think a Tokyo setting would appeal to foreign audiences and that's the only reason the game wasn't named Shin Megami Tensei IV.

BlazingDarkness · Oct 6, 2009

Nice OP

Ya'll better post some detailed impressions to keep me from importing it, i can't afford to right now D:

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

BlazingDarkness said:
Nice OP
Ya'll better post some detailed impressions to keep me from importing it, i can't afford to right now D:

I think it might be JUST me. I honestly don't know anyone else getting the game on GAF.

jay · Oct 6, 2009

I will buy it if when it comes to the states it has the same god awful cover.

SabinFigaro · Oct 6, 2009

The South Pole wormhole, demonic theme and scientific task force sound like an homage to Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. I'm sure that's where the similarities end though.

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

SabinFigaro said:
The South Pole wormhole, demonic theme and scientific task force sound like an homage to Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. I'm sure that's where the similarities end though.

That's what we would automatically assume if we were Lovecraft fans. But it seems that it's more of a homage to The Thing. The director is a huge fan of western movies it seems, especially John Carpenter stuff like The Thing and Escape from New York. They've never actually mentioned Lovecraft in any of the interviews, although I'll be shocked if they aren't fully aware of the similarities. Maybe they just don't want to talk too much about that though, since they're mentioned many times in the interviews that they don't want to talk about the scenario aside from how it starts, because it would be spoiling the experience.

Chorazin · Oct 6, 2009

Can't wait to buy it in 6 months!

Absoludacrous · Oct 6, 2009

Man, can't wait to play this in English. Devil Survivor is good, but this is what I come to SMT for.

daemonic · Oct 6, 2009

Glad that battles take place on the top screen rather than the bottom (like in Devil Survivor). Really bothered me for some reason.

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

demonix69 said:
Glad that battles take place on the top screen rather than the bottom (like in Devil Survivor). Really bothered me for some reason.

That's odd. I actually prefer gameplay to take place on the bottom screen, because my eyes tend to be fixated on the screen between the controls when I'm using a portable. It's fine if the bottom screen is used for entirely for data display though, because then my eyes can adjust automatically. Why do you prefer action on the top screen? Just curious...

TheChillyAcademic · Oct 6, 2009

Chorazin said:
Can't wait to buy it in 6 months!

We have it confirmed that its coming out in the West?

Great OP Duckroll, the age of the need for Extravagant OPs is truly dead.

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

TheChillyAcademic said:
We have it confirmed that its coming out in the West?

There is no reason to expect it not to at all.

TheChillyAcademic · Oct 6, 2009

duckroll said:
There is no reason to expect it not to at all.

Makes sense. I was initially one of the "upset" crowd who refused to acknowledge the fact that this is essentially SMT4, but after some thought and seeing the new, amazing Kaneko designs and reading about the narrative, I am SO sold.

bradido · Oct 6, 2009

I am so excited about this game. I will pre-order the instant I get the announcement email.

Error · Oct 6, 2009

duckroll said:
That's odd. I actually prefer gameplay to take place on the bottom screen, because my eyes tend to be fixated on the screen between the controls when I'm using a portable. It's fine if the bottom screen is used for entirely for data display though, because then my eyes can adjust automatically. Why do you prefer action on the top screen? Just curious...

I prefer the action in the upper screen, too. the bottom screen makes games look grainy, probably because of the touch thing. In the upper screen games look sharp and clear.

I don't know if I'm the only that noticed the difference.

Archie · Oct 6, 2009

Error said:
I prefer the action in the upper screen, too. the bottom screen makes games look grainy, probably because of the touch thing. In the upper screen games look sharp and clear.

I don't know if I'm the only that noticed the difference.

I agree with your statement. On the last DS I owned, the touch screen just looked dull and lifeless compared to the top one.

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

Error said:
I prefer the action in the upper screen, too. the bottom screen makes games look grainy, probably because of the touch thing. In the upper screen games look sharp and clear.

I don't know if I'm the only that noticed the difference.

Oh yeah, that makes sense. It's not just the touch thing, you can also see all the scratches and fingerprints and potentially any other evidence of excessive use of the touch screen. Lulz.

HK-47 · Oct 6, 2009

duckroll said:
That's what we would automatically assume if we were Lovecraft fans. But it seems that it's more of a homage to The Thing. The director is a huge fan of western movies it seems, especially John Carpenter stuff like The Thing and Escape from New York. They've never actually mentioned Lovecraft in any of the interviews, although I'll be shocked if they aren't fully aware of the similarities. Maybe they just don't want to talk too much about that though, since they're mentioned many times in the interviews that they don't want to talk about the scenario aside from how it starts, because it would be spoiling the experience.

Could it be?!

The return of...PENIS CTHULHU!?

Gilgamesh · Oct 6, 2009

Error said:
I prefer the action in the upper screen, too. the bottom screen makes games look grainy, probably because of the touch thing. In the upper screen games look sharp and clear.

I don't know if I'm the only that noticed the difference.

Same here. Bottom screen on my fat DS is darker than the top one and grainy.

charlequin · Oct 6, 2009

So when is this going to be in your hands, duck?

ZephyrFate · Oct 6, 2009

Excited x 10,000

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

charlequin said:
So when is this going to be in your hands, duck?

That's a good question. Hopefully by the weekend. We'll see though.

Zerokku · Oct 6, 2009

duckroll said:
and DS games rated CERO C are even rarer!

I'm not familiar with the Japanese rating system, but I assume this is the equivalent of M?

Add me to the list of the people painfully awaiting this to be localized.

Error · Oct 6, 2009

J-gaf crew has completely abandoned us, now we must rely sorely on duckroll for impressions.

dermannmitdemcolt · Oct 6, 2009

Error said:
J-gaf crew has completely abandoned us, now we must rely sorely on duckroll for impressions.

Yeah, where the hell is Bebpo...?

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

Zerokku said:
I'm not familiar with the Japanese rating system, but I assume this is the equivalent of M?

Add me to the list of the people painfully awaiting this to be localized.

CERO A would be all audiences, CERO B is kinda like a T, and CERO C is somewhere between a T and a M, while CERO D is a clear M. It's not always directly comparable though, since games like Persona 3 and 4 are CERO B, but rated M anyway in the US.

dermannmitdemcolt said:
Yeah, where the hell is Bebpo...?

He's getting the game, but I don't think he posts on GAF anymore...

HK-47 · Oct 6, 2009

Was he banned or did he just get tired of this place?

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

HK-47 said:
Was he banned or did he just get tired of this place?

The latter.

daemonic · Oct 6, 2009

Yeah as people already mentioned it's because the top screen isn't as grainy or dull as the bottom. Wish there were more games out there that had an option to switch the screens when the touch pad isn't being used.

oh and thanks for the great thread btw, gonna be checking it from time to time for updates.

Uncle AJ · Oct 6, 2009

I'm in the middle of Devil Survivor at the moment... how come Devil Survivor is any less of a "real" SMT game than this?

Archie · Oct 6, 2009

HK-47 said:
Could it be?!

The return of...PENIS CTHULHU!?

Is Mara confirmed in this game?

HK-47 · Oct 6, 2009

Archie said:
Is Mara confirmed in this game?

Mara is a regular and fan favorite. Its pretty unlikely that he wont be in.

duckroll · Oct 6, 2009

Mo the Hawk said:
I'm in the middle of Devil Survivor at the moment... how come Devil Survivor is any less of a "real" SMT game than this?

Probably because it's a strategy RPG and does not carry the SMT name at all in the Japanese title.

Trojita · Oct 6, 2009

The monster sprites look better than Devil Survivor.

at least to me......

The game cover look atrocious though :lol

Zerokku · Oct 6, 2009

Mo the Hawk said:
I'm in the middle of Devil Survivor at the moment... how come Devil Survivor is any less of a "real" SMT game than this?

SMT is placed on every MegaTen game here for marketing purposes. In japan it's only put on the main series games, of which there are only 5 including SJ. Devil Survivor is by all accounts a spinoff. And so is Persona.

charlequin · Oct 7, 2009

Archie said:
Is Mara confirmed in this game?

I'm certain Mara will in fact be in the game, but HK-47 was actually referring to this guy.

SatelliteOfLove · Oct 7, 2009

Tamanon said:
Aren't we supposed to refuse to recognize this as a "real" SMT game?

We gotta know so we aren't baselessly mocked!

matmanx1 · Oct 7, 2009

charlequin said:
I'm certain Mara will in fact be in the game, but HK-47 was actually referring to this guy.

Hotness. I really like the art in this game and I'm sure the scenario will be awesome. That Cthulu thing I dont remember, however. Or maybe I just blocked it out? Which games has he been in? I surely would have remembered a giant tentacle creature with a penis in the middle of it's face!

remz · Oct 7, 2009

Kind of want to import for the dungeon crawkly even though I don't know japanese, but I think I'll just wait for the translation.

game looks ace though. As does the OP

SpeedySwaf · Oct 7, 2009

I remember seeing the Soul Hackers design of Mithra in the game. I wonder how many more they'll bring over?

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