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[itsinmyveins]

there are personas that have strong resistance or can outright null hama/mudo spells. for examples mythology beings like angels, archangels have very high defense against Hama type spells (hama=holy) personas that are more dark or evil, like Legion, Succubus, Incubus have high defense against mudo (mudo=dark) spells

Ah, so the only way to defend against a the possible attack of hama/mudo is having a null effect against either one and constantely have that persona equipped? Sounds like a great recepie for making fights tedious :/

EDIT: Oh yeah, again, how long is the game?

 

[Joule]

Well it helps to have a large variety of Persona at any one time. I'm not sure where you are in the game but you shouldn't really have to switch to a persona that can protect you from hama/mudo but is at risk of getting critical'ed.

Can't you exploit the enemies' weakness if any? If not can you just straight out kill them in the first turn?

Once you get far enough insta-kills are pretty much no problem. P3's pretty easy on instant kills unlike Nocturne.

The game's length is variable. I myself finished at 110 hours. Others have done in much less time.

You don't need null/repel. Resist offers quite a bit of protection, not perfect but you won't get hit by it as much.

 

[CTLance]

triple A+ post will read again.

 

[itsinmyveins]

Can't you exploit the enemies' weakness if any? If not can you just straight out kill them in the first turn?

Yes, I can, as long as they don't miss. This last one I did not know had hama though, so it came as a surprise to me. First time I fought that enemy, and it threw it at me as soon as it got the chance to attack (I did get critical and attacked it, but it managed to survive the attacks).

 

[Ariexv]

It sounds epic until you are the guy who gets instaed, then it just sucks.

Meh to me EQ raids pretty much played the same way if I was dead or alive(I ended up dieing on the pull half the time anyways) the only difference is I had to get a rez and med for 5 minutes to re-cast buffs when I died instead of just going afk for the fight. Enchanter FTW when you need Plat, but FTL in Raids

 

[Error]

I dont get it, if you play it right you can always have the first turn in a battle this gives you room to adjust to whatever you are fighting against. if you bother to analyze every enemy then you can see what attacks they have (except bosses) before making any moves.

the tools are there, if you think you could breeze throught the game mindlessly you are in for a rude awakening because atlus games are not like that. there is a reason why analyze, the hero always getting the first turn (unless you get ambushed) and being able to switch persona in battle are there PLUS humonculus. you need to take advantage of that, that's why I said it's not unfair because the game gives you the opportunities to not get killed like that.

some people might not be a fan of that type of difficulty, but I love it. SMT is one of the few jrpg series that even a shitty weak monsters can bring about your doom, every battle can be a life or death affair even the normal ones.

if a monster have a hama/mudo spell in a battle well you take that monster down first and then kill the rest. it's pretty damn logical :/

 

[Joule]

If you have the some patience it's impossible to get ambushed in P3.

 

[itsinmyveins]

I don't have a problem with the game difficulty per se, I have a problem with cheap attacks that shouldn't be in a game unless the other characters can revive the hero -- it's just inconsistent that they can't!. "Playing it right" isn't realistic since no one can play a game perfecly all the time and you do stumble into fights were the enemy has the advantage.

As I mentioned, in the fight that made me create this thread I did start the fight and I did scan and got critical attacks against the enemy (one which I hadn't encountered before). However, it survived the first round and threw Hama on me.

How am I supposed to play that "right"?

EDIT: When I think about it, it might have been in the second turn they threw hama at me. Either way, I hadn't encountered that attack earlier and did not know what to expect from it. So maybe I could have prevented it. But I still think it's cheapening the game when you can't revive the hero.

 

[alr1ght]

I hate you Medusa.

 

[RevenantKioku]

After you beat the 3rd boss into about 1/4 health, she started doing attacks that if connected to you would kill you instantly regardless of how much health you had left.

I hear later bosses did this as well, so I stopped playing.

Wait. What? Who are you talking about? I know Badgirl has a move that's considered an instant death move (I know it now) but I only fell for her trap ONCE. There's a difference between an enemy using a skill in a game and being too ignorant to notice what triggers it.

 

[Narag]

Wait. What? Who are you talking about? I know Badgirl has a move that's considered an instant death move (I know it now) but I only fell for her trap ONCE. There's a difference between an enemy using a skill in a game and being too ignorant to notice what triggers it.

He's talking about Shinobu.

 

[Mashing]

Wasn't there a magatama that protected against instant death in SMT? Most games have protection against instant death (atleast for one character in the group).

 

[gblues]

Eh I know most people are talking about the SMT games, but damn is this annoying with the Baldur's Gate games. Yeah, it kinda makes sense from a story perspective, but then

Spoiler

Irenicus pulls out the immortal soul during the BG2 plot, and it's STILL insta-game-over if the player-character dies. WTF?

In the end it was a horrible design decision that makes the game a chore to play.

 

[Mugen]

Wasn't there a magatama that protected against instant death in SMT? Most games have protection against instant death (atleast for one character in the group).

Of course. Nocturne was all about choosing the right magatama to use. Instant death spells in P3 were toned down compared to Nocturne though. In P3, even if you had a persona that was weak against an instant death spell, you could still survive. The percent chance of surviving instant death spells is constant. In Nocturne, if you had a megatama that was weak against mudo, then any mudo instant death spell will kill you. This made P3 a bit more easier and harder though. If you didn't prepare for an instant death spell, you could still survive, but you can't exploit the enemies weaknesses that well. There was many times in P3 where I would use an instant death spell on an enemy that was weak to it and the enemy would survive.

 

[Defuser]

Apparently you guys never face...

 

[darkjacob]

Should equip personas that are immune to death more often.

 

[Ferrio]

Phoenix wright, and when they only give you ONE chance to answer correctly. Gotta replay through the WHOLE case if i fuck up

 

[Narag]

Phoenix wright, and when they only give you ONE chance to answer correctly. Gotta replay through the WHOLE case if i fuck up

You can save at almost any time during the trial, no?

 

[Ferrio]

You can save at almost any time during the trial, no?

Isn't it a one time save? Used up when it shuts down?

 

[MrPing1000]

Play ut instagib

 

[Narag]

Isn't it a one time save? Used up when it shuts down?

Nah, its not like a one-time quicksave. If you fuck up, just reset or watch the game over. It'll give you the option to start from the chapter beginning or the save point when you continue, at least that's the case for 2 and I'm assuming 3/4. Its been too long since I've played 1 but I think it worked the same there too.

 

[Ferrio]

Nah, its not like a one-time quicksave. If you fuck up, just reset or watch the game over. It'll give you the option to start from the chapter beginning or the save point when you continute.

Okay... so you save, it causes you to shut down. You start up.. continue from that save... and the save will still be t here if you die?

 

[Narag]

Okay... so you save, it causes you to shut down. You start up.. continue from that save... and the save will still be t here if you die?

Yup.
I abused it when I was stuck in And Justice For All last week.

 

[Ferrio]

Yup.
I abused it when I was stuck in And Justice For All last week.

Son of a bitch #@$#@

 

[DiddyBop]

"Lalalala, oh what a nice day in shady Tartarus, I just finished that boss and now I'm going back to save. Oh, an enemy? Oh, it's one of those easy ones, no problem, lalalala!"

HAMA HAMA HAMA all over my face -- progress gone!

:lol so true,i was thinkin of persona 3 when i saw the thread title

 

[bigmakstudios]

he hell? Shinobu's attack wasn't instant death but did enough damage that if you weren't pretty much full, it could be seen as such.

It's not instant death if you have full health, but it takes place during a cutscene, which is the real problem imo. If I'm going to be attacked, I want to be able to block or roll out of the way.

 

[Narag]

It's not instant death if you have full health, but it takes place during a cutscene, which is the real problem imo. If I'm going to be attacked, I want to be able to block or roll out of the way.

It was only a cutscene if it hit, I thought.

 

[master15]

Part of the reason I hated the Jackal Snipers playing through Halo 2 on legendary setting. Unlike the original which was indeed hard but felt balanced and fair, that seemed to go out the door with the snipers and totally ruined the game on harder difficulty settings for me.

However on a related note I quite liked the one hit kills the Hunters would employ in Resident Evil. I mean they had their normal slash attacks but if they were going to pull off their 'flying cut your head off' move they would shriek giving you a chance to possibly stop them. So knowing one move could kill you always ramped up the sense of dread when encountering them.

 

[bigmakstudios]

It was only a cutscene if it hit, I thought.

I'm not entirely sure. I could only remember her running up near Travis when a cutscene immediately began. Either way, I don't see how it could possibly be seen as good game design to let a player spend about 10 minutes whittling down a boss's health by using one tactic over and over again, only to take the controller away from him when he's just a few attacks from finishing.

 

[RevenantKioku]

He's talking about Shinobu.

I kinda thought so but I didn't even know Shinobu had one.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Ah, so the only way to defend against a the possible attack of hama/mudo is having a null effect against either one and constantely have that persona equipped? Sounds like a great recepie for making fights tedious :/

EDIT: Oh yeah, again, how long is the game?

Well, in P3 you can switch your persona every round if you want. It's just a matter of knowing whether or not they have the skill. (Bosses you can't, but that's no big deal. Regular enemies you can...if you figure it out in time. )

 

[rotaryspirit]

My first thought was "Someone's been playing Nocturne!"

 

[RevenantKioku]

Not to mention that you can examine every Shadow you come across and find out its weakness.

Absolutely. But that's assuming the info comes back before you kill it or it kills you.

 

[DELittle]

40 HP Loss then instant death16.99

Near Death then instant death 19.99

Instant death 23.99

Instant Death but having a saved game pricess

for everything else theres instant death

40 HP Loss then instant death16.99

Near Death then instant death 19.99

Instant death 23.99

Instant Death but having a saved game pricess

for everything else theres instant death

triple A+ post will read again.

Did you quote your self and try to make it look like amir0x posted the original message? :lol You're INSANE!

 

[Azure Dream]

I assumed you were talking about NMH.

Ah well.

I loved the game, but I was a little annoyed that some bosses like Bad Girl would run up to you several times in a row and try the "fake out" instant kill. I even got caught by it once not because I was tricked or even got greedy for hits, but because while trying to flip away while locked on, the camera jittered, causing the controls to change and me flipping toward her a bit instead.

Even the magician's tricks were instant kills, but they were pretty easy to get out of.

I don't think Shinobu had one technically, but one of her combos was incredibly frustrating with how much health it ate up. For that point in the game, it was a little too unbalanced. It definitely teaches you to not run at bosses hammering A and expecting a win, though.

 

[Flakster99]

I blame Mike Tyson for this.

:lol

In general, fuck that noise. The "Death touch" method of attack is just lazy, old school bad design, that is if you're not a masochist with loads of free time on your hands.

I can count the number of times, on one hand mind you, where Death touch was properly implemented in a non d&d setting.

 

[Narag]

I can count the number of times, on one hand mind you, where Death touch was properly implemented in a non d&d setting.

Please list them!

 

[Vaxadrin]

ITT: Ninja Dogs

 

[larvi]

Yes, they do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=421zKQJ_cOI

 

[BorkBork]

Isn't it a one time save? Used up when it shuts down?

Holy shit, you played through entire sections without saving in the middle? :lol :lol

I LOVED the 1hit KO from Bad Girl in NMH. Serves you right for beating on a fallen drunk chick.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

The funny thing about this thread is that on boss floors, there's nothing but a boss and there's always a warp point on the same floor. Once you finish a boss, it would be wise to instantly go to the warp, go to the first floor, save, warp back, and continue. Instead, it sounds like you continued the game AFTER FINISHING THE BOSS WITHOUT SAVING.

Now, who's fault is this?

What place does carefulness, preparation, playing on strengths, and exploiting enemy weaknesses have with surviving ANYTHING in an RPG?

 

[Ferrio]

Holy shit, you played through entire sections without saving in the middle? :lol :lol

Through 2 and a half games

Only reason I haven't played them all is I get frustrated when I have to start over from the chapter start and go through everything over again... just to potentially lose again.

 

[JDSN]

FUCK YOU BAD GIRL!

 

[Vieo]

Squarenix is guilty of this as well. Fucking Tonberry.

 

[NextGenitals]

Alright. I will let you in on a little secret how not to get caught by instakill attacks.

1.

Spoiler

don't die

2.

Spoiler

repeat step 1

That av will haunt my dreams

 

[Augemitbutter]

instant death didnt bother me at all in persona 3. but dont ever mention nocturne, i was soooo pissed. digital devil saga was bearable.

 

[itsinmyveins]

I know you can switch personas every round and I usually switch to the one who's immune/strong against the enemies attack or deals a lot of damage to them. Yeah, I scan them as well. But you can still fuck up once in a while, and I think they could be a bit more forgiving about it and let me revive the hero. And I gave you guys an example of how the game can totally screw you (i.e. enemy you haven't fought before throwing hama/mudo on you during their first attack round).

 

[glaurung]

I would be willing to pay SONY to have an instant death attack inside HOME.

 

[Steroyd]

Malboro's in FFVIII

Bad Breath is much worse than Instant Death IMO, at least Insta death is quick and painless and you learn from your mistakes instead of slowly dragging it out with every status effect imaginable over a long period and you pray that you don't get a particular status effect on a certain character the next time you try.

HAHAHA You are Poisoned, Paralyzed, Silenced, stoned and zombied plus you have Doom so you will all die in 3 turns with no way to heal you without killing yourself.

>_<

 

[glaurung]

I've never had a problem with MegaTen and its insane status effects and instant deaths, but Malboro's. Every time I see one in a Final Fantasy game I fucking run.

Tough luck, fleeing in FFVIII caused your SEED rank to go down and so you would lose money.

Bad Breath was annoying, but not impossible to recover from.