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[Fake Charlemagne]

I'm probably missing something obvious here, but I just chatted with Mido and he said that the conditions have been met to fuse

Spoiler

Fury Ares

at will, but I can't figure out how to actually do that. Maybe I'm misunderstanding him and he just means now if i have the ingredients I'm able to, but the way he phrased it kinda sounded like I could do it whenever I wanted.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

I'm probably missing something obvious here, but I just chatted with Mido and he said that the conditions have been met to fuse

Spoiler

Fury Ares

at will, but I can't figure out how to actually do that. Maybe I'm misunderstanding him and he just means now if i have the ingredients I'm able to, but the way he phrased it kinda sounded like I could do it whenever I wanted.

By beating that boss, you've given yourself the opportunity to fuse him if you have the demons to do so.

 

[IceDoesntHelp]

The only one that did for me is Angel

All I've heard about when it comes to evolution is these demons.
Angel
Jack Frost
Heqet
Kabuso
Gremlin

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I'm probably missing something obvious here, but I just chatted with Mido and he said that the conditions have been met to fuse

Spoiler

Fury Ares

at will, but I can't figure out how to actually do that. Maybe I'm misunderstanding him and he just means now if i have the ingredients I'm able to, but the way he phrased it kinda sounded like I could do it whenever I wanted.

I think Ares is a high-level Special Fusion, which means he was added to the Special Fusions list similar to some of the other sidequest sub-bosses. Once you have all the "ingredient" demons to make him - in the Compendium or in your party - his option will unlock on the Special Fusion list.

That is a nice feature, by the way - if you don't have a component demon for a Special Fusion in your party, but DID catch one in the past, the game will let you fuse them right out of the Compendium for a fee.

 

[Fake Charlemagne]

I think Ares is a high-level Special Fusion, which means he was added to the Special Fusions list similar to some of the other sidequest sub-bosses. Once you have all the "ingredient" demons to make him - in the Compendium or in your party - his option will unlock on the Special Fusion list.

That is a nice feature, by the way - if you don't have a component demon for a Special Fusion in your party, but DID catch one in the past, the game will let you fuse them right out of the Compendium for a fee.

That's what I was thinking. And wow I really need to dive deeper into the fusion system, I had no idea it would let you pull directly from the compendium for fusions, that's awesome. Fusions this time around are way more convenient, though a small part of me will always miss spamming confirm/cancel on fusions until I got the exact arrangement of skills I wanted.

 

[Muffin Awesome]

But how and where do I apply the DLC I downloaded?

I am only just completing the first quest as a samurai. Sorry if I spoiled anything there.

Do I need to wait until a certain point?

 

[PlanetSmasher]

But how and where do I apply the DLC I downloaded?

I am only just completing the first quest as a samurai. Sorry if I spoiled anything there.

Do I need to wait until a certain point?

DLC quests are unlocked as the story progresses. Hang tight.

 

[Samyy]

But how and where do I apply the DLC I downloaded?

I am only just completing the first quest as a samurai. Sorry if I spoiled anything there.

Do I need to wait until a certain point?

You need to turn in life stones at K's tavern, 10 each I believe
Edit: nvm I guess! I didn't download them for a while so I didnt check earlier :X!

 

[Muffin Awesome]

DLC quests are unlocked as the story progresses. Hang tight.

Loud and clear, thank you both.

 

[CSX]

Is it a set level or a range? If set, when is angels level?

she did for me at level 12. Just keep her on a reserve slot and you be fine. Bumps up to level 18 archangel.

 

[Tyrant Rave]

But how and where do I apply the DLC I downloaded?

I am only just completing the first quest as a samurai. Sorry if I spoiled anything there.

Do I need to wait until a certain point?

You will be able to access it once K's Tavern opens up.

As for difficulty on this game, I think it's harder than Nocturne so far. But the fact that you can save anywhere along with the new fusion system makes it a lot less stressful.

 

[Fake Charlemagne]

Speaking of DLC, has a release schedule of any kind been mentioned? I ended up using part of my 30 dollar credit on the DLC that's currently up pretty much solely for a new pallet-swapped demon because I'm a sucker. I'm just hoping more worth while stuff is coming down the pipeline.

 

[decoyplatypus]

I'm hoping it changes once the game opens up a bit more. I am not enjoying the boss fights thus far, since it really does feel like buff spells are useless and there are no demons with good resistances to give you a good defense against bosses. It's all just "do as much damage as you can as fast as you can or the boss will wipe you".

Buffs did wonders for me against (post-Naraku lvl. 5)

Spoiler

Medusa

. I had 3x Rakukaja, 2x Sukukaja, and 2x Tarukaja. She missed a few times, and even when she hit she didn't hurt me too bad. Then when it was my turn I pummeled her. I also had a demon that could drain electric damage, but as luck would have it she never used Zionga on him.

That said, if I hadn't had a few demons who could hit her weakness, I never would have had enough time to buff up my party.

 

[SpaceBridge]

Need help. Post Kasumigaseki:

Spoiler

where am I supposed to go after exploring the Counter Demon Force HQ? Burroughs said to go where a lot of humans hang out. I went to Tokyo station but the Gaea cult wount let me in. Shinjuku is a death trap at the moment although a great place to level up.

 

[JCizzle]

You could definitely switch demons out in Nocturne. Your party reserves were increased slowly as part of the plot (as opposed to being a skill you manually upgrade), but that was part of the main concept of the game - switching demons out to deal with anything the game threw at you.

If they just tweaked the enemies' damage output a bit, or made it so enemies can't smirk and then immediately use multi-hit attacks to crit your entire party three times, it might make things a little better. But battles are just woefully one-sided in SMTIV - either you wipe the floor with them right off the bat or they tear you to shreds. There are no long battles of attrition, and it's basically impossible to make a comeback once an enemy gets the advantage over you.

Yeah this is becoming a big turn off to me. Not Dark Souls type difficulty at all because it's totally cheap and not the good kind of difficulty where failures are your own fault. I'll give it a bit longer I guess, but it doesn't sound like things change.

 

[Ourobolus]

Yeah this is becoming a big turn off to me. Not Dark Souls type difficulty at all because it's totally cheap and not the good kind of difficulty where failures are your own fault. I'll give it a bit longer I guess, but it doesn't sound like things change.

It changes in the sense that you have more options for defending yourself as the game goes on. It's all about planning (and dying until you've learned).

 

[Volcynika]

DLC section will be added to the OP this weekend sometime. Just need to gather details and have a couple images ready.

 

[JCizzle]

It changes in the sense that you have re options for defending yourself as the game goes on. It's all about planning (and dying until you've learned).

My issue is there is nothing to learn when I get one shot without even a turn

Good to know I'll get more options later that hopefully prevent those situations.

 

[SteeloDMZ]

My issue is there is nothing to learn when I get one shot without even a turn

Good to know I'll get more options later that hopefully prevent those situations.

You could get insta-killed (or close to it) in Dark Souls without realizing WTF was going on.

 

[duckroll]

DLC section will be added to the OP this weekend sometime. Just need to gather details and have a couple images ready.

Why put any effort into it? Atlus certainly didn't!

 

[Tyrant Rave]

Need help. Post Kasumigaseki:

Spoiler

where am I supposed to go after exploring the Counter Demon Force HQ? Burroughs said to go where a lot of humans hang out. I went to Tokyo station but the Gaea cult wount let me in. Shinjuku is a death trap at the moment although a great place to level up.

Spoiler

Shinjuku. If you go in further you should run into Hikaru and she'll mention some stuff that basically tells you where your next major location will be.

 

[Jessicat]

Doesn't happen to be a list of the Demons that do is there :$

So far that I've encountered:
-Kabuso to Senri (I needed to be lv 25 for this to happen, he was at lv23 I think, dunno if he levelled more than needed because of me ^^; )
-Jack Frost to ??? (I fused him before I could find out, got another one now so I'll find out eventually XD)
-Angel to ??? (I don't bother fusing demons with skills I have no use for, so never had this one XD)

 

[Mupod]

My archangel evolved to principality, and now the principality is about to evolve to...dunno what. I guess a Power, which would be awesome because he's still rocking my old archangel's physical moveset.

 

[Volcynika]

Why put any effort into it? Atlus certainly didn't!

I am a man of the people and listen to requests!

 

[Isaccard]

When/how does evolution happen?

 

[PK Gaming]

I love how we're progressing through this game at a similar pace. It makes the experience even more fun!

Its been consistant for me. It uses "half" ie same as it was in DDS/Avatar Tuner.

Gotcha

 

[Samyy]

When/how does evolution happen?

Demon has to reach a certain level im guessing, you may have to be at a certain level as well, not sure

 

[Tamanon]

Man, 2-attack mobs are infinitely easier if you have someone who repels the element they use.

2nd foray into Naraku spoilers

Spoiler

Orthrus with his Fire Breath. Had my demon who looks like a leprechaun with a dollar sign on a gold chain repel it, wiping out his attacks and then wrecked him the next turn with Bufu Bufu Bufu

 

[SteeloDMZ]

After finishing Devil Survivor 2, Persona 3 on Hard, and Soul Hackers this year, I thought I was gonna be prepared for SMTIV. Got served a humble pie, lol.

 

[InsaneElite]

A little over 15 hours in.

Spoiler

Atlus forgot to loop the audience noise at the Black Samurai's execution. There's a nice touch where you can pretty much hear part of an entire conversation going on for about 45 seconds, but after a minute it's dead silent.

 

[Nexas]

I just went into a domain and got destroyed by the boss there. I reload and analyze it: lvl 75. Seems like they are not afraid to put some insurmountable obstacles early on.

 

[perorist]

That is NOT how you do spoilers FFFF

 

[The_Darkest_Red]

*snip*

Hmm... kind of wish I had refrained from looking at that now.

 

[Goby]

Yes, but not just that.

Spoiler

Once you get to Ueno and Burroughs tells you that the people have set up a town underground, and you go down in there and there really is a whole town. This is actually one thing that SMT3 missed. When you first get to Shibuya, you enter the town area and it's totally empty. Obviously that was necessary for the atmosphere (and story) that game was going for, but this is just so great. Also, I ran into a gaean person in a battle on the overworld and I squealed. I guess gaeans and mesians are back? So cool.

Oh yeah especially later one where they talk about

Spoiler

The 1000 year kingdom and the megido ark (I think Shaene ark or something here)

Anybody know if there is a way to get neutral points? I'm at the first branch and have a save before it just in case but if there isn't I'll just keep plowing through and get what I get.

 

[Franklinator]

I'm around 4 hours in now, I just

Spoiler

saved Navarre

. The boss was surprisingly easy, it felt like a regular encounter. I'm hoping to explore a new area soon, though, I'm pretty tired of the area I'm in. Anyway, I'm enjoying the game so far. Now that I've gotten used to the combat, it's pretty rewarding.

 

[Ourobolus]

Goddammit. Shouldn't have looked.
EDIT: he fixed it, but still.

 

[SteeloDMZ]

I'm around 4 hours in now, I just

Spoiler

saved Navarre

. The boss was surprisingly easy, it felt like a regular encounter. I'm hoping to explore a new area soon, though, I'm pretty tired of the area I'm in. Anyway, I'm enjoying the game so far. Now that I've gotten used to the combat, it's pretty rewarding.

That ain't no boss. haha

 

[Tyrant Rave]

spoilers

Might want to give a warning to let people know where in the game this happens. I wish I didn't highlight that

 

[pelicansurf]

Atlus forgot to loop the audience noise at the

Spoiler

Black Samurai's execution

. There's a nice touch where you can pretty much hear part of an entire conversation going on for about 45 seconds, but after a minute it's dead silent.

You did a terrible job of spoilering this, dude. How am I supposed to know if I hit this area or not. Especially with such big spoilers.

 

[Ourobolus]

Maybe it's just me, but this thread has been abnormally bad with the spoiler tags. We should have an SMT4 spoiler thread.

 

[Franklinator]

That ain't no boss. haha

Well, that explains it then, haha. I knew something felt off when I won in a couple of rounds. Fun fight, though.

 

[SteeloDMZ]

Yeah, what's up with people messing up spoiler tags?

Spoiler

It ain't that hard

Spoiler

Spoiler

seriously

 

[Volcynika]

Hey if you think something is spoiling, dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon't quote it. :| It seems they fixed their post but it still exists in the quoted posts :/

 

[InsaneElite]

I apologize for the poor spoiler warning and have edited it, although I can't do anything about the people who quoted it.

 

[pa22word]

I think that's the problem - enemies being strong isn't a bad thing, it's how WEAK the player's party is. It's like you're made of paper. Early-game enemies in Nocturne may have had Hama and Mudo spells to throw around, but their sheer damage output wasn't that high outside of Matador's hit-all spells.

Meanwhile, in SMTIV, even the weakest enemies can somehow output near fatal damage without the slightest bit of effort, meaning if you don't get a pre-emptive attack and start hitting weaknesses in the FIRST press turn, you're going to get countered and lose at least one party member. There's really nothing you can do to defend against hit-all spells that do a minimum of 90 damage per hit and can hit up to six times per turn.

This^

The game feels like there's a a coin flip every time a battle starts that determines whether or not I'm going to die to something I could do nothing to prevent. What's worse is that even in the instances where you can theoretically prevent press turn taking a dump on you it's due to you knowing weaknesses before you start the battle. The game demands knowledge from you that you can not reasonably expect a player to know, and then kills you for not knowing it. It's fake difficulty through and through, and as a result the game just feels really poorly designed.

Nocturne was much better designed in this regard, for the most part. It gave you proper time to poke and prod at enemies to find their weakness because even if you got hit you had enough of a buffer that it didn't matter unless you let it get out of control. In this game it just feels like if you make that first guess on weaknesses wrong you might as well do a soft reset because you probably going are going to die.

 

[Jessicat]

I just went into a domain and got destroyed by the boss there. I reload and analyze it: lvl 75. Seems like they are not afraid to put some insurmountable obstacles early on.

Wait, I think I saw that guy earlier too, after I couldn't beat

Spoiler

Grendal in another domain, 3x buffs don't do much against insane phys attacks splatting my team, so I left and found another domain with that guy I think, looks like a tree? Did he maziodyne the hell out of your party? That's what happened to me, lol, I said f that, grabbed a new ally and left XD

 

[Samyy]

Meh...
I havent died for a good 6 hours of gameplay, shape up guys!

 

[PlanetSmasher]

This^

The game feels like there's a a coin flip every time a battle starts that determines whether or not I'm going to die to something I could do nothing to prevent. What's worse is that even in the instances where you can theoretically prevent press turn taking a dump on you it's due to you knowing weaknesses before you start the battle. The game demands knowledge from you that you can not reasonably expect a player to know, and then kills you for not knowing it. It's fake difficulty through and through, and as a result the game just feels really poorly designed.

One thing I think Atlus screwed up with majorly is that if you miss with a pre-emptive swing on the field map and an enemy runs face-first into you, they get the pre-emptive bonus almost every time. Enemies should only get first strike if they ambush you from BEHIND, not if you're clearly ready for them.

 

[Volcynika]

Meh...
I havent died for a good 6 hours of gameplay, shape up guys!

The only times I've died is a lack of being prepared or making a dumb decision. Like casting a spell that is blocked by a demon even when the UI indicates it as such.

 

[Franklinator]

The pre-emptive strike issue is definitely my biggest problem with the game. It can be incredibly frustrating.