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Shin Megami Tensei IV Import Impressions Thread of Doom
- Thread starter RyougaSaotome
- Start date
RyougaSaotome
Member
Curious about this as well. It's currently my GOTY. Haha.
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Im guessing you would get bored of PXZ faster really. Since once you see all the pretty animations there isnt that much to the game itself.
In general if you dont like grinding for levels you might want to steer clear of JRPGs period.
This game too just like strange journey you do need to go up in levels to be able create stronger demons with the fusion system. Though thankfully its not all randomized with the skills and you get to pick and choose which makes things a lot easier than before. Basically the real reason to go up in levels is for the demons who is the real attacking force of your party.
Well, both SMT3 and the DDS games threw bosses at you that required you to utilize the press turn system to its fullest. I prefer that term to "abuse" since it's clearly the intended way the devs expect you to play it, as evident in candle quests or the virtual training missions. The last two bosses in Naraku before you reach the village of the tainted still felt like SMT3 class bosses but after that the difficulty just disappeared for long parts of the game.
And of course, it makes a difference if you already know which stuff you need to learn. I don't think anyone who never played SMT before will think 4 is easy. But it definitely is less demanding than 3 so it's a better start for beginners.
I didn't think SJ required grinding until like 60 hours into the game. Even then I somehow beat bosses and only the last boss, which I still haven't beaten at a mid 80ies level, really requires grinding I think.
Although I don't consider random encounters during exploration grinding. Unless you tend to avoid all battles you can, by escaping or zero encounter abilities if they exist, you will easily have the required level to beat the game in SMT4. It's not like SJ where you have to explore every last part of the maps to get to the highest level and be able to beat the last boss.
I think you could even low level challenge SMT4 although it's difficult to keep your level low. The perfect buffs and debuffs are available as early as mid 60ies, I think, and you don't absolutely need them anyway. Again, the first few hours may create a different picture but you will be at a high enough level quick and never fall behind again, if you use good strategy.
alundra311
Member
Yeah, maybe you're right. There was a time when I loved playing JRPGS and couldn't get enough of them. I was hoping to get back into JRPGS. Just the games that don't require grinding.
I, too, don't consider random encounters grinding. What I consider grinding is purposefully fighting lots of battles in order to level up and proceed past a difficult/cheap obstacle.
I'm still leaning heavily towards this game. In this game, is it enough to fight anything you just happen to come across? In games, I fight all enemies I happen to see or all random encounters (in the case of games like the earlier final fantasies).
Most JRPGs require little to no grinding whatsoever (just to beat the main game).
Chrono Helix
Member
I'm afraid the answer's no.
You can buy enhancements in the game that help with fusion. They allow you to
fuse demons that are higher level than you, up to a maximum of 15 levels. In New Game+ you can buy the ultimate version of that enhancement, which allows you to completely ignore the level limit.
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Even with that, it still means grinding for points to upgrade your applications which allow for that. Since you get rewarded those points for the most part by leveling up.
Folks could buy the DLC which allows for exp / money / appli point boosting items, but then why even play the game if you are using those? lol
From a base standpoint, the game still requires grinding. What people consider to be "grinding" varies as some apparently dont think that the game needs it, but having to run around and fight in a same area for a while to gain levels is basically grinding. Because if you dont do that, you will die simple just due to being too weak to take on the boss for said particular part in the story.
Just start a playlist and then do something else while you listen. The music is amazing.
This track is so great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s07o6gkhmiQ
That's... kinda harsh. What is in particular that's bothering you so much?
RyougaSaotome
Member
Shiiiit. All this talking about SMTIV is making me wanna go back and do Law/Chaos runs.
I finished neutral... but I need more.
I finished neutral... but I need more.
QFT. This and the other SMTs I beat are no exceptions to that rule either.
This is simply not true. I tend to 'accidentally' grind when I lose my way and wander around aimlessly but even then fights get annoying and I avoid them by escaping or talking to demons I already have. Beat it without intentionally grinding and Chrono Helix beat it in even shorter time at a lower level.
You don't need to grind for SMT4. Nor for SMT3 or PS SMT1 or MT2 on SFC.
alundra311
Member
Ok. I have decided to cancel my PXZ reservation and have SMT IV reserved instead. Here's hoping I finish this game at least once. LOL.
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Hope you enjoy the game since there is most def a good story to go along with it. That and if you want an easier time going through it just switch the difficulty mode after dying twice if that happens.
GeekyDad
Member
Probably a wise choice. I'm playing through PxZ now, and though I'm enjoying it (about 12 hours in), I'm to the point where I'm just fast-forwarding past all of the text (R+A). It's just not at all important. Each scenario is pretty much the same. It's fun in an arcadey way -- exactly what I was expecting -- but it's not going to satisfy if you're looking for a good RPG experience.
And my understanding is if you're grinding in SMTIV, you're playing it wrong.
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Leveling is grinding. Take any JRPG and just do a beeline right to the boss. I can assure you in most games you will wind up dead. Lets not even go into the subject of how you need money to buy new equipment which is also a part of the reason you mindlessly kill things.
There isnt a more simple explanation than that.
I'm on an adventure. I'm exploring dungeons for treasure and to go to my next story objective. Monsters stand in my way and I have to get past them. So in most cases I fight, get experience and gain levels. That is enjoyable.
Then there are situations where I just don't have a sufficient level to beat an obstacle. So I remain in one place and battle on purpose to raise my level. That is not always enjoyable and what people call grinding.
That's how I see it.
Even though people here have been explaining that it is one of the easier SMT games? It has the classic demon negotiation and fusion mechanics, it has press turn, it has a great story and voice acting, it has very cool 3D environments. And it is accessible. If you're only remotely interested in SMT, this is your chance to play one.
There is something that could be called negotiation grinding in SMT. Sometimes you may want a certain demon, either because you don't have it yet or as fusion material. So you might go to a place where it is. If you can't convince it to join you immediately there will be fights and experience gained. In SMT4, you even get experience if you end the battle with negotiations completely. And just walking to where the demon is will result in more battles.
And the games being dungeon crawlers basically there will be more encounters than you'd likely enjoy. But SMT usually allows to avoid battles altogether once you have the demons of a particular region (or enough of them). Talk to them instead and they'll treat you as a friend, maybe even give you items or money. That wasn't that easy in SMT3 since the demon itself would have to talk to its peer, meaning it needed to be one of your 3 demon party members, and it needed the talk command itself. Most demons never learn that. But there were specialised commands to get stuff from demons regardless if they were already allies.
In SMT especially, normal enemies gave so little exp that once you were at a decent level talking to demons always was the better choice. The commands that needed to be unlocked in SMT3 were standard negotiation options and if you had the demon in stock, you could avoid battles. SMT4 in many ways is more like the SMTs before 3. Being able to easily avoid battles with allied demons is one such example.
charlequin
Banned
If you suck, I guess.
alundra311
Member
I do hope I enjoy this game as I have always wanted to get into the SMT series.
Also, maybe this game will get me to finish Strange Journey.
RyougaSaotome
Member
The main scenario is fully voiced. Most side stuff isn't.
I was shocked. Came in expecting little bits and pieces, not the whole main game.
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Yeah and its really well done too. Totally adds to the overall quality of the game most def!
Whoa, that's awesome!
Might prompt me to buy a JP version instead of a PAL one during my trip to japan. The game has furigana throughout the game, right (also in the non-voiced sections)? That might make this a nice learning experience.
Yes it does have furigana. It's accessible on every level.
@RyougaSaotome
I think most of the missions that are required to beat the game are voiced too. I agree, this is probably the game's biggest strength. Also explains the big cart size.
TurnipFritters
Member
Hey cats, next week they'll be releasing the final piece of SMT4 DLC:
Very Interesting, but then, probably not really in actuality.
Very Interesting, but then, probably not really in actuality.
Lucifer is different in this game but he is in there as a boss. Don't want to spoil you any more. Not sure if his boss form can be unlocked.
alundra311
Member
Hey ya'll!
While waiting for SMT IV, I decided to go back to play Strange Journey. I don't know what happened, but this time, I'm actually having fun. I'm 8 hours in and still in the Bootes sector. Kept on dying until I actually found a demon fusion that actually worked on keeping me alive.
The grinding in SJ wasn't actually as bad as I remembered. The only time I have grinded so far was in the Antlia sector B2F. I kept on getting game overs to those Oni guards and decided to actually grind a level or two in order to fuse/recruit a higher leveled demon to help me get through.
Anyway, having a blast with SJ and can't wait for IV.
While waiting for SMT IV, I decided to go back to play Strange Journey. I don't know what happened, but this time, I'm actually having fun. I'm 8 hours in and still in the Bootes sector. Kept on dying until I actually found a demon fusion that actually worked on keeping me alive.
The grinding in SJ wasn't actually as bad as I remembered. The only time I have grinded so far was in the Antlia sector B2F. I kept on getting game overs to those Oni guards and decided to actually grind a level or two in order to fuse/recruit a higher leveled demon to help me get through.
Anyway, having a blast with SJ and can't wait for IV.
Grayfox341
Member
Would anyone that cleared the game via the neutral path be willing to help me? I'm quite stuck.