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Shin Megami Tensei Community Thread: Be Your True Demon
- Thread starter cj_iwakura
- Start date
Not Spaceghost
Spaceghost
Yeah I beat matador on my second try, i was probably level 17? I just used the hifumi magatama and made sure no one in my party was weak to force lol.
Mot on the other hand was the real mother fucker
Mot on the other hand was the real mother fucker
Yep, in general there is a order of power progression in Megaten. Megaten bosses are almost never a contest of force, they are a puzzle. That's one of the things that makes Matador amazing from a game design perspective, as it is a wake up call, but teaches you that can't just ignore a type of spell. Improve these things in this order of something has you stuck:
1. Demons/Personas/whatever - Particularly to something with either buffs/debuffs, whatever the enemy is weak to, or whatever can block the enemy's shit and exploits the battle system (for instance, blocking something taking away the enemy's press turns.
2. Protagonist resistances.
3. Protagonist skills (if applicable for the game you are playing)
4. Demon level
5. Protagonist weapon (if you even use physical damage)
6. Protagonist level.
There are some games where the protagonist can become an absolute god (Apocalypse - All 4 severe spells, that piercing skill and Luster Candy), but even then demons are still more important.
A few other general Megaten rules.
1. If you don't know if he can kill you next turn, assume he can.
2. Protect the protagonist life above all others. Most games, protagonist death = game over.
3. When buying a weapon, accuracy > damage. Damage is useless if you can't hit shit.
I used the force-null magatama, but none of my few demons i had, even in stock, could nullfy it. I need to grind yo get some of them.
That boss is a real challenge. Andalusia is the one that makes shit real.
I'm bad at megaten, and still love megaten, really.
Hope to finish P5 soon and go back to Nocturne.
That boss is a real challenge. Andalusia is the one that makes shit real.
I'm bad at megaten, and still love megaten, really.
Hope to finish P5 soon and go back to Nocturne.
I used the force-null magatama, but none of my few demons i had, even in stock, could nullfy it. I need to grind yo get some of them.
That boss is a real challenge. Andalusia is the one that makes shit real.
I'm bad at megaten, and still love megaten, really.
Hope to finish P5 soon and go back to Amala Network.
That boss is a real challenge. Andalusia is the one that makes shit real.
I'm bad at megaten, and still love megaten, really.
Hope to finish P5 soon and go back to Amala Network.
Maxwood
Oh rock of ages, do not crumble, love is breathing still. Oh lady moon shine down, a little people magic if you will.
After playing Persona 4 I wanted to dive deeper into the worlds of SMT so I bought Digital Devil Saga. Finished it last week, loved it.
I might be crazy but I really enjoyed the ending, if you forget the post-credits stuff.
Anyway, I already have it's sequel waiting for me, but there's another entry in the franchise i've heard amazing stories about which I absolutely had to (finally) play.
Started playing Nocturne last week. Kinda confusing at first since a lot of it's systems are similiar but different from DDS. Even some demon weaknesses have changed. Getting the hang of it now though.
The negotiaton system feels really random but I like being able to recruite enemies. I love fusing, really missed doing that in DDS.
It's a funny coincidence reading this threads posts from today but I came across the Matador today. Scared the shit out of me because of it's reputation. And yes, I died a couple of times, but like Hylian 7 said it's more of a puzzle and I love that.
After fusing Nozuchi (Force resist), ingesting a Force resist Magatama and using Bicorn to Sukukaja my party as much as possible he didn't pose much of a threat.
Felt really good taking him down.
Looking forward to playing more.
The game has a strange sense of humour. I rather enjoy it.
I might be crazy but I really enjoyed the ending, if you forget the post-credits stuff.
Anyway, I already have it's sequel waiting for me, but there's another entry in the franchise i've heard amazing stories about which I absolutely had to (finally) play.
Started playing Nocturne last week. Kinda confusing at first since a lot of it's systems are similiar but different from DDS. Even some demon weaknesses have changed. Getting the hang of it now though.
The negotiaton system feels really random but I like being able to recruite enemies. I love fusing, really missed doing that in DDS.
It's a funny coincidence reading this threads posts from today but I came across the Matador today. Scared the shit out of me because of it's reputation. And yes, I died a couple of times, but like Hylian 7 said it's more of a puzzle and I love that.
After fusing Nozuchi (Force resist), ingesting a Force resist Magatama and using Bicorn to Sukukaja my party as much as possible he didn't pose much of a threat.
Felt really good taking him down.
Looking forward to playing more.
The game has a strange sense of humour. I rather enjoy it.
Not Spaceghost
Spaceghost
Looking forward to playing more.
The game has a strange sense of humour. I rather enjoy it.
The dialogue of the spirit ghosts things and the random demons just chilling is so goofy i love it.
This is all great to read, you did well in choosing to play DDS as your first non Persona Megaten game because it really is a great bridge between series.
Nocturne is a FANTASTIC game as long a you approach it with the right mentality. Story is minimalist and the magic is its atmosphere, gameplay and world. Don't slack off in doing good fusions and approaching bosses as puzzles and you'll have one hell of a time!
I don't like to do that either but goddamn, complaints about game over on MC's death and insta kill moves are my biggest pet peeve when talking these games. Literally everything about these game's challenge comes to preparing good demons and adapting to your enemies and these mechanics are juat one more example of it. Learn the game's rules and don't be lazy and you'll never have major issues with them.
Yeah, those irritate me too. That one guy in the thread was saying "We don't say this to be dicks, we are trying to offer help in learning the game's mechanics" and he is totally right. I often see this argument come up from SMT beginners.
Kaneko Works Volume 4 is finally on Amazon Japan, it's really happening.
http://personacentral.com/kazuma-kaneko-art-book-works-vol-4-cover-art/
My dilemma is do I wait for Volume 5 a month later to save on shipping (although I'm not sure if that would even be the case) or click preorder now in fear that this thing will sell out from the frothing demand of dozens of us before then.
http://personacentral.com/kazuma-kaneko-art-book-works-vol-4-cover-art/
My dilemma is do I wait for Volume 5 a month later to save on shipping (although I'm not sure if that would even be the case) or click preorder now in fear that this thing will sell out from the frothing demand of dozens of us before then.
Is there a way to preorder this with my regular Amazon account, or do I need to create an Amazon JP one to do it?
Yeah gotta make a new JP account.
I'm doing that now...this is actually pretty easy, and still only $36 total. This is nice.
Edit: Ordered! I'm excited.
I like to imagine the "bow wow"s synchronized to the original music's rhythm. Someone should make a remix like that.
40detectives
Neo Member
probably old, and probably already posted but I lol'd so hard:
Does anyone know if the ones tagged with Soejima and Doi are actually of them?
Btw: I'm totally in love with Kaneko porcelain doll-esque style. So unique. I also lean towards the original art of Strange Journey versus the new one for the remake.
Does anyone know if the ones tagged with Soejima and Doi are actually of them?
Btw: I'm totally in love with Kaneko porcelain doll-esque style. So unique. I also lean towards the original art of Strange Journey versus the new one for the remake.
probably old, and probably already posted but I lol'd so hard:
Does anyone know if the ones tagged with Soejima and Doi are actually of them?
Btw: I'm totally in love with Kaneko porcelain doll-esque style. So unique. I also lean towards the original art of Strange Journey versus the new one for the remake.
Who's Yasuda?
And seeing them side by side, Kaneko is def my fave, but I have no qualms with Doi or Soejima, they have their own unique style.
SMT4A update: 7/8 full moon. Insane nightmare fuel image and
Asahi literally exploding in a huge pool of blood.
snow in jamaica
Member
Kaneko's is from Innocent Sin, Soejima's is from Innocent Sin PSP, and Doi's is from Eternal Punishment PSP.
Yasuda is the Devil Survivor artist, known among the MegaTen fandom for terrible anatomy.
Yeah, she's great. And although Kaneko intended the figure on Mot's coffin to be Inanna, it makes more sense to consider it to be Anat since she's the one who sought him out and minced him, whereas Inanna doesn't really have anything to do with Mot.
Yasuda is the Devil Survivor artist, known among the MegaTen fandom for terrible anatomy.
Yeah, she's great. And although Kaneko intended the figure on Mot's coffin to be Inanna, it makes more sense to consider it to be Anat since she's the one who sought him out and minced him, whereas Inanna doesn't really have anything to do with Mot.
I swear I can't tell any differences between Soejima and Doi in that image. It's like both pictures were drawn by the same person.
Yasuda has a few "anime was a mistake" designs
but overall I think he's good. I still like his work on Durarara the most, which is probably a result of strong art direction.
Yasuda has a few "anime was a mistake" designs
(moreso on Cyber Sleuth than DeSu 1 and 2, thankfully)
Kaneko is probably my favorite artist in the medium, but for some reason I don't like that artwork of Maya and many of the IS and EP's casts' key art at all. I love how he designed them but he makes them look like zombies in those. Maya and Katsuya specifically look awful to me. The rest of his P2 official art is fantastic though.
And god, I can't stand Yasuda in any of the games he's worked on. I don't necessarily think he's a bad artist, but I don't think he was a good fit for Devil Survivor 1, and his work on Cyber Sleuth was questionable at best...
He also has a bad habit of (deliberately?) shamelessly reusing character designs of his and even though he does it in different series, it still sticks out a lot. I mean the protagonist of Digimon World reDigitize looks pretty similar to DeSu's, Arata from Cyber Sleuth looks /too/ similar to DeSu 2's protagonist, and the MC from the recently announced Cyber Sleuth sequel is literally Atsuro without his hat.
But yeah I really wish he'd stay out of series I like, but I'm still waiting for Devil Survivor 3 and I'm a huge Digimon fan. Life is hard.
Yeah as upbeat as the game can be, that entire scene was goddamn terrifying.
And god, I can't stand Yasuda in any of the games he's worked on. I don't necessarily think he's a bad artist, but I don't think he was a good fit for Devil Survivor 1, and his work on Cyber Sleuth was questionable at best...
He also has a bad habit of (deliberately?) shamelessly reusing character designs of his and even though he does it in different series, it still sticks out a lot. I mean the protagonist of Digimon World reDigitize looks pretty similar to DeSu's, Arata from Cyber Sleuth looks /too/ similar to DeSu 2's protagonist, and the MC from the recently announced Cyber Sleuth sequel is literally Atsuro without his hat.
But yeah I really wish he'd stay out of series I like, but I'm still waiting for Devil Survivor 3 and I'm a huge Digimon fan. Life is hard.
Yeah as upbeat as the game can be, that entire scene was goddamn terrifying.
On the other hand I felt
I'm before the final dungeon but I can't decide between that and farming money and going to Twisted Tokyo. I feel like I want to get more of the higher level demons but I'm broke. Plus there are demons I fused that I want back like Norn (no weaknesses and Luster Candy). I actually don't have access to debilitate, nor War Cry anymore and I do want that back. I haven't come across any demons with Debilitate beside Kartikeya whom I have yet to fuse. But Navarre is good for that.
Asahi's resurrection and Krishna's death were both a bit anti-climactic though Krishna's face was gold.
I'm before the final dungeon but I can't decide between that and farming money and going to Twisted Tokyo. I feel like I want to get more of the higher level demons but I'm broke. Plus there are demons I fused that I want back like Norn (no weaknesses and Luster Candy). I actually don't have access to debilitate, nor War Cry anymore and I do want that back. I haven't come across any demons with Debilitate beside Kartikeya whom I have yet to fuse. But Navarre is good for that.
Imp the Dimp
Member
Starting Persona 5 on hard difficulty tomorrow. I hope it's as good as P3 and 4.
snow in jamaica
Member
Yeah, this is where I'm at. He has a distinct style that I generally find appealing.
Then the anti-grav boobs happen and good things are ruined.
TT is worth the trip for Matador alone, he can be an unstoppable beast if built right. I made mine as soon as I could and kept it for the rest of the game.
And yeah I see what you mean, I liked
Asahi's death and found it scary due to how out of the blue it was, so I can see why some would consider it anticlimactic.
Krishna's death was disappointing in a sense because I expected something more grandiose, but I guess it fits once you realize he's small fry conpared to your bigger target.
Krishna's death was disappointing in a sense because I expected something more grandiose, but I guess it fits once you realize he's small fry conpared to your bigger target.
Make sure to follow snow in jamaica's advice, I was pissed that I missed that surprise and only found out after beating the game.
MudoSkills
Volcano High Alumnus (Cum Laude)
Yeah, this is bullshit, and I missed it on my first play through.
When you go back to the ark and touch it there's a short dialogue and it unlocks the fusion for Krishna.
Thanks I was wondering why he hadn't shown up. Will do.
And I did TT up to PR. I made Mat but the demons needed for fusion had shit skills. He doesn't have Charge or anything else worthwhile. Does he learn good skills by leveling up? He doesn't seem better than Odin or Shiva with my builds, though I guess his special attack could be killer but again, no good physical boosting skills on him :/
Also I love how the protagonist being
And I did TT up to PR. I made Mat but the demons needed for fusion had shit skills. He doesn't have Charge or anything else worthwhile. Does he learn good skills by leveling up? He doesn't seem better than Odin or Shiva with my builds, though I guess his special attack could be killer but again, no good physical boosting skills on him :/
Also I love how the protagonist being
Akira's revived person goes nowhere and doesn't even matter. I kind of expected it to be some bigger reveal to the rest of the cast, but nobody really cared not even Skins and Fuji. Then again I guess there's nothing to really care about.
40detectives
Neo Member
I can relate to that because I did that in Persona 3 with my
sado masochistic
Since then I've understood that you have to move on with higher rank personas/demons.
I had my level 55~60 Alice way into my late 80s/early 90s party in the endgame (SMT IV: Apocalypse). I didn't even use her in battle but it also seemed like a waste to fuse her since none of my options were particularly good so I just kept her there as a good luck charm I guess. I think I may have kept Demonee-ho all the way to the end too.
Lunarwhale
Member
In response to SMT4A, I was also disappointed that
Wish Krishna had a better end as well. Legitimately one of my favorite characters in the series, and I loved every moment he showed up. SMT games with a more active story really benefit greatly from active villains like himself. It's one of the reasons why I dig SMT2's storyline so much, and why I have a soft spot for Giten despite how trashy it is in so many ways.
Flynn was brought back to life as well. That entire act of the game should have been absolutely fantastic, but the constant ass pulls with every bad thing being undone made it so anticlimactic.
Wish Krishna had a better end as well. Legitimately one of my favorite characters in the series, and I loved every moment he showed up. SMT games with a more active story really benefit greatly from active villains like himself. It's one of the reasons why I dig SMT2's storyline so much, and why I have a soft spot for Giten despite how trashy it is in so many ways.
The rest of my personas have higher ranks, but I just like to keep him. He's not just another demon/persona, it's the demon/persona!!
I have also fused him and summoned back in other SMT games, trying to make him stronger, but this time taking it seriously. This guy is adorable.
Options like "Train Persona" or "Strength Persona sacrificing other personas" in the Velvet Room are great. I want him to learn Bufudyne and Mabufudyne, but last time he learned Maragion XD
I generally agree with your first point but I also can't deny that (endgame SMT IV: A spoilers)
the two party gimmick in the final battle with the second party being the 4 Mikado samurai was pretty hype. It's kind of cheesy how they pull it off but it gives some extra weight to your confrontation against YHVH. Asahi really shouldn't have been brought back though.
I liked Krishna too, and also Odin while we're at it
(Maitreya was just jarring though, why is a buddha so relentless. Guy had no chill, if you told me it was a parody of buddhist monks I'd believe it lol)
EDIT: Oh, speaking of which (general Lucifer-related spoilers in SMT IV and IV:A)
now that I had some time to think about it, I'm really not a big fan of how they handled Lucifer's role in IV's universe in general. He should've been the one doing what the Divine Powers were doing. I get what they were going for with the "puppet of YHVH" angle, but it makes it hard to take him seriously as a villain from now on. Lucifer's chaos in SMT IV and Apocalypse had all the bite of a chihuahua. It detracted more from him being an agent of chaos and anarchy than it added to his character, imo. I just didn't care much for this direction and I hope they dial it back in the next entry. Alternatively, double back on it and make him not give a shit at all. Make him give up hell and go play piano at some random bar Sandman-style, basically his form of giving the middle finger to god lol
I kinda liked Apocalypse's treatment of Lucifer because he doesn't seem bothered by anything and is hilarious lol, and the tragedy of his relationship with YHVH was interesting, but at the end of the day it makes him into as much of a foolish pawn as Merkabah who's pretty lame and you end up with no villains outside of the DP feeling like a real threat. Maybe that was the plan, but I don't know, it makes him retroactively less threatening in IV as well (and with that goddamn design he wasn't very threatening to begin with).
Matador is one of the few, if not the only demon that learns physical pierce, so you want to at least get all his skills to fuse him into something else.
It can be a pain, but getting him a moveset like this makes him into a beast due to how good his signature move is
And yeah the resurrection thing was weird... There are some cool parallels between them but that aside it goes nowhere indeed.
Matador is one of the few, if not the only demon that learns physical pierce, so you want to at least get all his skills to fuse him into something else.
It can be a pain, but getting him a moveset like this makes him into a beast due to how good his signature move is
And yeah the resurrection thing was weird... There are some cool parallels between them but that aside it goes nowhere indeed.
I definitely called the resurrection thing when the game was first announced and we saw Nanashi.
I don't have strong feelings toward SMTA's plot, though I did feel like at times the story was advanced by literal deus ex machinas.
I think P2's cast looked at their best in IS in-game portraits except some exceptions. (Katsuya, Ulala, EP Maya is fine but she looks better in IS)
And yeah, this is some of Kaneko's best stuff:
I think P2's cast looked at their best in IS in-game portraits except some exceptions. (Katsuya, Ulala, EP Maya is fine but she looks better in IS)
And yeah, this is some of Kaneko's best stuff:
snow in jamaica
Member
(Endgame stuff)
Really, every supernatural entity that isn't Danu is off-base and portrayed as evil. Comically so are Dagda, Krishna, Maitreya, and YHVH. Why is Dagda a chthonic internet atheist? Why is Krishna so forceful and remorseless, and why was he the cause of of the Tokugawa shogunate's persecution of Christians, the reason for his sealing? Why is Maitreya a night club bouncer who assaults children? Why is YHVH secretly a grotesque monster, and set up to seem as evil as possible under the game's observation rules, far removed from any religious context? SMT4 reeked of nationalism and none of this is an improvement. The game is too opinionated on both the portrayals of the deities and what you're allowed to do.
I might've been a little happier if I could've joined Krishna because he's a charmer and I really didn't want to fight the Divine Powers.
I might've been a little happier if I could've joined Krishna because he's a charmer and I really didn't want to fight the Divine Powers.
I can sort of buy the others divorced from their myths because I don't really picture Krishna as a trendy fedora wearing teenager looking dude, or Odin as a Power Rangers villain, so I just see them as their own characters for the most part. Maitreya looks on point with what he is supposed to represent though, so he stands out way more. YHVH has always been an irredeemable asshole throughout the franchise so that's just a given at this point.
I would've liked to side with the Divine Powers, but they needed to be portrayed as a legitimate reason first. Apocalypse has these cool little ideas with lots of potential, so it's a shame they decided to sideline it all in order to tell the ∞th story about the power of friendship defeating God. Or the story about how you act like a total asshole for no reason I guess.
I would've liked to side with the Divine Powers, but they needed to be portrayed as a legitimate reason first. Apocalypse has these cool little ideas with lots of potential, so it's a shame they decided to sideline it all in order to tell the ∞th story about the power of friendship defeating God. Or the story about how you act like a total asshole for no reason I guess.
MudoSkills
Volcano High Alumnus (Cum Laude)
I did the asshole ending on my final play through of Apocalypse, and took every asshole choice I could throughout the game.
I was really impressed with
It was a nice touch, and I guess it changes depending on what you may or may not have done earlier on in the game.
I was really impressed with
what Isabeau said to me during the fight with your companions after you side with Dagda. She calls right back to the first time you met; I didn't help them carry the wounded hunters out of the Sky Tower - and says that she has hated you since then.
It was a nice touch, and I guess it changes depending on what you may or may not have done earlier on in the game.
Stereogatari
Banned
This is the thread that influenced me to give SMT3 a try all those years ago.
I chose normal, got up to Matador and quit.
After beating the beautiful magnificent game that is P5 on Hard, I decided it was time. Since my last foray into SMT3 and since I beat P4 which was just before then, I have improved in my skills as a gamer. Working an office job with intense pressure and deadlines to meet has actually helped me become better at games weirdly enough. Life is a game, so perhaps it makes perfect sense.
So I return to it, this time on Hard. I have reached Matador once again. Now I know what needs to be done. I will ensure my party is resistant to force as much as possible and get all the debuff and buff skills I need. Will require a bit of grinding.
You are mine this time Matador. I am older and wiser now.
I chose normal, got up to Matador and quit.
After beating the beautiful magnificent game that is P5 on Hard, I decided it was time. Since my last foray into SMT3 and since I beat P4 which was just before then, I have improved in my skills as a gamer. Working an office job with intense pressure and deadlines to meet has actually helped me become better at games weirdly enough. Life is a game, so perhaps it makes perfect sense.
So I return to it, this time on Hard. I have reached Matador once again. Now I know what needs to be done. I will ensure my party is resistant to force as much as possible and get all the debuff and buff skills I need. Will require a bit of grinding.
You are mine this time Matador. I am older and wiser now.
The thing about playing Nocturne after getting a little bit of experience by playing other megaten games first is that you can finally know what the hell does a "tarukaja" or a "dekunda" do before you choose which skill to delete forever. It's really odd that the game doesn't give you a description before you commit to it.
Whew, get ready for a hellish experience, Nocturne on hard is insane. You'll get ambushed and then promptly destroyed before even getting a turn a fair couple of times. I'm not sure I'd recommend hard for your first playthrough of Nocturne, but if it works for you, great!
On a side note, I'll be getting a 2DS pretty soon and SMTIV will be my first game on it. Can't wait! I've actually thought of getting Strange Journey first but with the port coming up, I'll rather wait for that. I'm not sure about the not-press turn battle system of SJ though, I'm generally not a fan of those battle systems where you first choose all of your party's actions and then see it all play out, but the setting and the reputation of the game appeals to me so I'll be getting it anyway lol.
Sumio Mondo
Member
I'd choose normal if I were you but I'm not so good luck! Game is certainly challenging.