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[cj_iwakura]

I can agree with this somewhat. I dig Seojima's art, but nothing compares to Kaneko. Only thing I disagree on is not having Kaneko do demons.

Soejima is damn good at Persona designs. Thanatos and Izanagi in particular. Persona's actual enemies though? Yeah, they need some work. Let Kaneko do them too.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

There are terminals in dungeons where you can save. And you can beat almost every boss in the game with a generalized party
Build a party that covers all of the bases and you're fine. Play smart.

What are you talking about? I suck at game, therefore game sucks.

 

[redfiend00]

This game is my favorite RPG i almost gave up on the game and stopped playing for about a month. When i came back I made sure i got the true demon ending and have the the compendium complete.

 

[Snapshot King]

Have the game sitting over next to P3 and P4 in my PS2 pile, but with the recent rash of Atlus games coming to PSN, I'll definitely wait on this one, hopefully it comes out soon.

Just a quick question, slightly off topic. A friend of mine ranted for over an hour about how great Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2 were, and ended up telling me all about what the plot twists/bosses for BOTH games are. They still worth playing or should I just beat my friends ass?

 

[cj_iwakura]

Also, Lucifer's Call is the best renaming an RPG has ever gotten.

Spoiler

Bit spoilery, though.

 

[Dascu]

I kinda liked Persona 3/4's enemy designs. I mean, Kaneko's art is still superior on that front too, but it's mostly the character art and some of the outlandish persona designs of Soejima that annoy me.

 

[Requeim]

Best game ever made, that is all

 

[encephalon]

There are terminals in dungeons where you can save. And you can beat almost every boss in the game with a generalized party
Build a party that covers all of the bases and you're fine. Play smart.

But if any member of your party happens to be weak to the bosses' attack type, he's going to spend the whole battle using 2 turns in a row. Chances are, that attack type has the power to debilitate your characters, which is all the more likely now that he's doing it twice.

 

[JJD]

I played this game a little time after the release, but it didn't click with me.

At that time I was moving away from video games and simply couldn't care enough to finish it. I guess I might have played only about 10 hours.

Nowadays I'm back playing, and my tastes have changed quite a bit.

I've always being interested in Megami Tensei games, but Nocturne is the only one I've played, even if briefly. I remember getting excited when they announced Digital Devil Saga, and that it was coming to the USA. The settings of those games always interested me.

I bought a Vita (should be arriving next month!) and I'm planing on buying all the Persona games. I can't find my copy of Nocturne, I've searched the whole house to no avail.

I wonder if I should buy it again, if would finally "get" it.

 

[Perfect Blue]

My favourite RPG of all-time, without a doubt. Finished it for the first time back in February and I'm contemplating another playthrough during the Summer months on Hard.

 

[Aeana]

But if any member of your party happens to be weak to the bosses' attack type, he's going to spend the whole battle using 2 turns in a row. Chances are, that attack type has the power to debilitate your characters, which is all the more likely now that he's doing it twice.

Typically, the enemies in the area can give you a clue about things like that, which can lead you toward bringing demons that are to your advantage.

 

[encephalon]

Typically, the enemies in the area can give you a clue about things like that, which can lead you toward bringing demons that are to your advantage.

Really? I must not have been paying attention (I bought the game in Japanese).

I'm playing Soul Hackers and it's a lot easier to pick whatever demons you want and just go with them though.

 

[szaromir]

There are terminals in dungeons where you can save. And you can beat almost every boss in the game with a generalized party
Build a party that covers all of the bases and you're fine. Play smart.

I played through the game. Not all the dungeons IIRC. I played the game in 2006 and I don't remember much of it anymore, I loved the setting and the story, but the game part was nothing short of disaster.

The SMT game on NDS with the 'DS' acronym (Devil Survivor? I don't remember anymore... not the dungeon crawler in any case, the tactical RPG) had much more enjoyable gameplay, but worse story.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Really? I must not have been paying attention (I bought the game in Japanese).

I'm playing Soul Hackers and it's a lot easier to pick whatever demons you want and just go with them though.

Soul Hackers has a Matador.

And she is a bitch. You'll know when you see her.

My God is

Spoiler

Erika

nasty.

 

[brightroar]

One of my favourite games of all time, traded in my original Xbox for a PS2 and this!

 

[transience]

I liked this game some, but didn't fawn over it like a lot of other JRPG fans seemed to. I think I stopped in the last dungeon because I was tired of the encounter rate and being lost in huge dungeons. My main memory from this game is Matador. God damn. Whenever I think of RPG difficulty spikes, that is the first thing that comes to mind.

This game made me appreciate how focused and relaxed Persona 3 and 4 were. On-screen randoms, a smaller world to explore, not as tough, more forgiving, etc. I bet there are Nocturne fans out there that think Persona is a joke because it's not as hardcore.

 

[Urban Scholar]

It's pretty logical. -kaja are buffs, -nda are debuffs. Dekaja removes kaja effects, dekunda removes nda effects.

Ahaha I got SMT schooled. Hey why isn't there a 25th anniversary thread for the series? Did someone call dibs?

 

[Frost_Ace]

Yep one of my favorite JRPGs along chrono trigger, pokemon B/W and FFV. The atmosphere is really the thing that sets this game apart, but I still think that the BS is inferior to DDS.

 

[Aeana]

Ahaha I got SMT schooled. Hey why isn't there a 25th anniversary thread for the series? Did someone call dibs?

We decided to do it later in the year so as not to interfere with the FF one.

 

[Kincaido]

One of the best games on the PS2. It was my first SMT game.

 

[encephalon]

Soul Hackers has a Matador.

And she is a bitch. You'll know when you see her.

My God is

Spoiler

Erika

nasty.

Really? I just beat her with ease.

 

[Urban Scholar]

We decided to do it later in the year so as not to interfere with the FF one.

Sweet!

 

[cj_iwakura]

Really? I just beat her with ease.

I hate you. She took me hours. It was the first boss I couldn't steamroll.

They get worse after her, too.

We decided to do it later in the year so as not to interfere with the FF one.

Who's doing that?

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

This game made me appreciate how focused and relaxed Persona 3 and 4 were. On-screen randoms, a smaller world to explore, not as tough, more forgiving, etc. I bet there are Nocturne fans out there that think Persona is a joke because it's not as hardcore.

Well, it kind of is in comparison. 3 and 4 at least. The first Persona is maybe even more hardcore.

 

[C-Jo]

I'm always surprised about the Matador thing. I don't think he's that much harder than what comes before it. But I admit I have been with the Megaten games since I was a kid, and I had played SMT3 vanilla before I played Maniax/NA version and ran into Matador.

In retrospect, he's not that bad at all. But for someone who grew up playing Final Fantasy, this game and Matador in particular, were pretty eye opening.

Anyone used to being able to space out and press X though battles is in for a rude awakening.

 

[Aeana]

Sweet!

It's pretty much fizzled at this point, so we could do it for the summer and get lots of people playing stuff.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Well, it kind of is in comparison. 3 and 4 at least. The first Persona is maybe even more hardcore.

Persona 3 doesn't skimp on the difficulty. Playing Answer is a LOT like Nocturne Hard.

And that ultra boss? Yikes.

 

[encephalon]

I hate you. She took me hours. It was the first boss I couldn't steamroll.

They get worse after her, too.

I remember taking out the demons in front of her fairly quickly, and I don't remember her putting up much of a fight. Maybe I just have pretty good demons (probably not).

I'm on Disc 2 now, entering the Mall Warehouse. I looked around for a bit, before getting charmed and 1HKO'ing myself. Then I put the game away lol.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

Persona 3 doesn't skimp on the difficulty. Playing Answer is a LOT like Nocturne Hard.

And that ultra boss? Yikes.

I haven't played Answer. I own both the vanilla version and FES, but only played the vanilla. Thought it was really easy and didn't enjoy it enough to bother with FES or Answer.

 

[encephalon]

Well, it kind of is in comparison. 3 and 4 at least. The first Persona is maybe even more hardcore.

I hated that game. They really did not try with the dungeons at all. Both Saturn SMT games have more interesting dungeon designs on a system that is supposed to be difficult to do 3D.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I remember taking out the demons in front of her fairly quickly, and I don't remember her putting up much of a fight. Maybe I just have pretty good demons (probably not).

I'm on Disc 2 now, entering the Mall Warehouse. I looked around for a bit, before getting charmed and 1HKO'ing myself. Then I put the game away lol.

I'm on the second to last dungeon.

It's pure hell.

 

[encephalon]

I'm on the second to last dungeon.

It's pure hell.

Good luck! I do want to say that I actually like the story so far in Soul Hackers. Plus it's easy to read.

 

[mocolostrocolos]

It felt like a Pokémon with demons when I played it for the first time seven years ago.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

It felt like a Pokémon with demons when I played it for the first time seven years ago.

You mean Pokemon feels like Megami Tensei with cute monsters.

 

[Semblance]

I've had this for years but haven't given it any real time, still. It's difficult for me to sit down and play these gigantic RPGs these days. I get burned out so easily.

Maybe if I clear out a bit more of my backlog soon I'll finally give it an honest attempt for the Summer. We'll see. I really do want to see what all the fuss is about.

 

[zoku88]

Man, I haven't played Nocturne in a while. It was my first SMT game. You could pretty much abuse the push turn (is that the name?) system. Not sure if Nocturne or Persona 3 were more abuse-y

I kind of want to replay it, because after Nocturne, ever SMT ending I've gotten was kind of neutral, but my SMT ending was decidedly NOT neutral at all.

Spoiler

I was pretty depressed at the time, so I got the World of Stillness ending.

 

[ryan13ts]

Let me guess.

Just looking at a picture of this guy builds rage up in my system.

Besides a few downright bullshit bosses like Mr. Matador up there, it's easily the best JRPG I've played... Hell, actually one of my favorite games ever. I spent like 100+ hours on this game back in my college days, I have some fond (and some unfond) memories with it. I'd easily recommend this to anyone who loves JRPG's and likes a challenge.

 

[Mattakuevan]

Man, reading through all this makes me want to play it again.

Easily the best RPG on the PS2.

 

[encephalon]

Oh wait, maybe I hadn't yet gotten to the Matador.

 

[Tylahedras]

i would die a happy man if this had an hd collection release. Not sure what they would put with it though.

 

[Aeana]

Who's doing that?

Doesn't matter to me. Feel free if you want to.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

i would die a happy man if this had an hd collection release. Not sure what they would put with it though.

Probably DDS.

Or probably nothing, because it'll never happen.

That's cool, though. I like being one of the kewl kids who has the game and don't want others to enjoy it. Half-joking.

 

[Aeana]

Probably DDS.

Or probably nothing, because it'll never happen.

That's cool, though. I like being one of the kewl kids who has the game and don't want others to enjoy it. Half-joking.

Anybody who wants it can just go buy it from Amazon for $25.

 

[C-Jo]

Doesn't matter to me. Feel free if you want to.

I'm looking forward to it. I double-dipped on Persona 1 & 2 on the Vita and might have some time to actually play them in the summer.

 

[Seraphinianus]

For those who have played it on PCSX, does it render the blurry/foggy effect these days? I remember trying it on a set up years ago (8800gt days) and it looked good, but no blur.

Updating the OP with suggestions now.

Thanks for all the compliments! I really wanted to do the game justice...and keep suggestions coming, wrote the OP off the top of my head, so it's missing stuff.


above all, always be punching things in the face

 

[Seven Force]

I tried playing this a few years back, and the game completely tore me a new one. When/if it shows up as a PS2 Classic, I wouldn't mind giving it another spin.

 

[Jucksalbe]

We decided to do it later in the year so as not to interfere with the FF one.

My motion passed! When did that happen? God, I have such a big backlog for this series, I wouldn't even know where to begin.

 

[5amshift]

Bought the game off of a guy on GAF last year and still have yet to play it. I should definitely sit down and try it out soon..

 

[Daimaou]

MegaTen/SMT is my bread and butter franchise, and this is probably my favorite of them all. I should really play it again, I never did beat all the Graveyards.

 

[AzureSkies]

Bought these all back in Summer before I moved to Canada, only 15 hours in DDS because I went on vacation, I really need to get around to playing these again.