My review's going to be a little late, so i'll just say this: Apocalypse is a deceptively intelligent criticism of a lot of Megami Tensei series tendencies that, coupled with some great tweaks to the gameplay and intricate dungeon design, make it a marked improvement over its predecessor, a high mark for the series and a contender for not only the best JRPG on the 3DS, but the best game released all year.
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Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Review Thread
- Thread starter Sterok
- Start date
ASilentProtagonist
Member
Sweet. I get more excited for it the closer it gets. I wouldn't be surprised if this slips in as my GOTY this year.
You get bonuses based on what and how many endings you got. I only had the neutral ending, so I got some app points, some stuff to sell for easy money, and a custom Streetpass title. I think there might've been some other stuff, too, but I don't think I'm far enough to redeem those yet.
It also has the weirdest transfer process I've ever seen on the 3DS if you're going physical. Since IV didn't save any extra data, you need to physically eject the Apocalypse cartridge at a menu, insert the IV cartridge, let that read, and then pop the Apocalypse cart back in.
What time skip? This game takes place during the Neutral route of the first game.
Plan on picking this up after Cold Steel 2.
You got me mad hyped man.
popsicle_sundays
Member
Can't wait! SMTIV was one of my favorite games of this year (I only picked it up a couple of months ago).
Magicpaint
Member
Nice. Should be an excellent addition to the franchise, just like III and the original IV.
Where's my fuckin EU release date!!!
Oh fuck me, I thought we were getting it in September too lmao
If they pull the same shit they did with the original with Apocalypse, I'll sooner be playing the game on the emulator that's in development atm than my own 3DS lol. Least I've got time to read/watch a let's play of SMT IV I guess.
Pejo
Gold Member
Can someone help me out? I'm at work and can't look it up myself. Is this more of an "ultimate mix" of SMT IV, the one with the ponytail'ed dude in the blue coat? Or is it a brand new game that just keeps the IV for whatever reason. From the previews I've seen, it's more of the latter, but why didn't they just call it SMT V?
Debating whether to keep my preorder. I still haven't finished 4 as I got sidetracked shortly after getting on the Neutral path - I'd also reached a point where the game was too easy and I lost interest.
I simply wouldn't get around to playing this for a while due to other games. But I get 30% off on the preorder. Hmm.
Also I need to know how much xylophone is in the boss themes. Very important.
I simply wouldn't get around to playing this for a while due to other games. But I get 30% off on the preorder. Hmm.
Also I need to know how much xylophone is in the boss themes. Very important.
DealWithIt
Member
I wonder if this game still over-relies on elemental weakness=extra turn mechanics. That is my least favorite thing about P/SMT style games. It's fun to do knockdowns for awhile but it grows grating after awhile, especially on difficulties that require you play with proper strategy.
E_Darkness
Member
It's a direct sequel to IV and it isn't called SMTV because it is just more SMTIV. It reuses a lot of SMTIV and has general improvements on the original. Plus SMTIV-II would be a crappy title.
You can use the search, or you can pick manually.
decoyplatypus
Member
Not gonna dig my review out of the OT, but my broad-stroke problems with 4 were (1) that flaws in the stats, combat, and fusion systems combined to make for unnecessary frustration in the early game and a complete breakdown in the late game; (2) the dungeons were pretty plain for a game built around dungeon-crawling; and (3) the story started weak, barely built up momentum in the middle, and ended badly.
Bear in mind, I like SMT4, and I think some of its flaws were present in Nocturne as well. So I don't criticize it out of any hatred for the game or desire for it to be a different SMT. I just think some things didn't work.
pixellated_man
Member
Another must have jrpg on 3ds. Handheld consoles continues to be the saviour of jrpgs. Only wish 3ds games were more affordable.
Yeah, SMT4 had some of the worst stat balancing I've seen in an RPG.
Damage = A*Str + B
Where B is a giant chunk of the base HP, so basic attacks were hugely devastating in the early game with little regard for what the demon's stats were.
Also, Hard being NG+ was complete crap, and very poorly balanced (Compendium carry-over ruins SMT NG+)
Pandora012
Member
The bolded for me.
Wrong thread ?
It's...complicated. It is a new game and not a "SMT IV: GOTY Edition" but it's not quite a sequel: It takes place during the events of the Neutral path of the original SMT IV but the story takes its own path(s). It's best to think of it as a "what if" scenario, this case being "what if an old god/deity-like figure decided to make a human a demigo-d'I mean what if they granted them the power to change the world?" Why they didn't call it Shin Megami Tensei V is anyone's guess given how SMT I -> SMT II is fairly direct in terms of story progression, if I remember right.
SoulUnison
Banned
What if you have a clear file with 2 or 3 different endings on it?
DO you get all the rewards, or just the ones for the ending you got most recently?
NeonZ
Member
There's bigger character focus in Apocalypse than in IV, although the issue is that their development is rather atypical for the mainline SMT series, basically going all
power of bonds
It's a pseudo sequel that starts after the neutral route was chosen by the previous hero, but before the ending itself. It stars a character from Tokyo who's introduced to the plot from a completely different point of view from the original SMTIV. Anyway, it's likely not considered a proper SMTV because it reuses many assets from IV like most Tokyo districts, some dungeon areas and the Kaneko demon sprites.
Persona is anime garbage, so no
Which reminds me: The Lawful path is one of the single worst endings I've seen in a videogame.
My summary of SMT4 Law Path (Giant Spoilers):
Oh, you believe in handicaps in sports, therefore YAHWEH IS GREAT, TIME TO SUICIDE BOMB TOKYO
It's just so dumb and unsatisfying.
Pandora012
Member
I'll get this game, but that not what I wanted to hear at all. But hey, maybe I'll like it.
It's my main issue with the game, which I go over a bit in my own review. It's one of the main themes of the game so it doesn't really seem like a spoiler but, yeah, it was a bit too overbearing.
Neoleo2143
Member
I have to agree that SMTIV's Atmosphere (Mostly background elements like the survivors in Tokyo) generally trumps its narrative logistics by a cliff side's worth of margins.
I found Apocalypse's narrative more enjoyable because it's less dry than SMTIV. Though not really by too much. I do generally agree with FluxWave's review above.
And this isn't? Since anime can apparently mean anything at this point as long as it stays within the circle of what you dislike. Oh boy. I am feeling like i'm stepping into a minefield of bad opinions again.
Nah, i'm correlating Atlus's success critically with this game to their newest console venture.
Neoleo2143
Member
I'm hoping that this thread and the P5 thread doesn't go down this dark road.
Octavianus
Banned
Dungeons could have been a little longer and more creative, felt like the smirk system made things too easy and I strongly dislike all the new art.
I liked most of everything else. It felt like a follow up to smt 1 and 2 in a lot of ways and the music is pretty amazing.
Cool, but why bring a Persona vs SMT in a SMT review thread? You are trying to derail the thread? Congrats? lol
That's a little bit disappointing, given I really liked how SMTIV avoided this so enthusiastically. It's definitely not enough to put me off the game, and I look forward to the new characters, but I actually enjoyed the themes of SMTIV (being lucky enough to get the Neutral ending probably helped a lot there). Having never played an SMT game before IV, and a few other JRPG series, I found IV refreshing in its lack of that particular trope.
Flying Toaster
Member
10/10 review for the use of the word saccharine.
I am personally looking forward to this game and am excited to see how everyone else likes it here on GAF.
Pandora012
Member
That is not what I want out of SMT, but I am determine to play it. Like I said, I might like it...I hope.
Er..i wasn't trying to bring a Versus match into it between the two games in terms of quality, i was saying they are both gonna be great games cause Atlus knows how to make em.
They will, eventually. Just like the Persona 4 threads of yesteryear.
Sure I understand that, but having not played any other SMT games I don't know what to expect of a side story in the series. Since I really liked that aspect of SMTIV it stands to reason that someone in my position might be concerned about a change of tone, but it's not going to put me off buying the game. In fact I'm glad that it's been brought up so I can go in prepared and focus on the improvements instead.
SMT IV V was on the planning board.
Also I hope the dungeon are a lot more complex this time around, 4's dungeons were lackluster.
SoulUnison
Banned
Stop 'n Swop lives!
Better than 4 still not as good as Nocturne description is spot on. Great game, can still do some stuff better for SMT5 to bring it back to Nocturne's quality.
Characters are waaaaaay better here. SMTIV's cast were terrible by franchise standards. By the end of this game the cast is alright. Story is about the same quality as 4, it's compelling but kinda dumb by the end so you're mainly just in it for the great gameplay & setting.
Characters are waaaaaay better here. SMTIV's cast were terrible by franchise standards. By the end of this game the cast is alright. Story is about the same quality as 4, it's compelling but kinda dumb by the end so you're mainly just in it for the great gameplay & setting.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Those are basically my issues with SMT4 as well.
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