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Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne's 13th Anniversary
- Thread starter cj_iwakura
- Start date
To a point, while I'd disagree with the idea that it's the worst mainline (because "worst" is something that shouldn't be tagged to anything MegaTen other than RONDE
), I can understand not liking it as much as the other games, mainline or not. A good chunk of the game's greatest strengths can sometimes be its greatest roadblocks if you just aren't in the right mindset for it at the time.Personally, while I still really like the game overall (much to the point that it is one of the few PS2 games I kept after downsizing a bunch of my collection over the years), it's weirdly the one I've found myself going back to the least.
Sseklebeast
Member
I abused Dark/Bright Might so much cj so I say go for it.
StrangeRoboMemory
Member
I sold this, unplayed, because I was at a period in my life when I thought I would never have anymore time to play these long, involved JRPGs. That hasn't necessarily changed, but I still regret selling it...it seems like this is really something worth making time for. I've since had to cure myself of the habit of selling stuff just because I won't be able to play it *right now*, but that's another conversation.
cj_iwakura
Member
I abused Dark/Bright Might so much cj so I say go for it.
Heh, I recall what I was handicapping myself to.
My Uzume has Dark Might. Not as broken as Bright is(especially against the final), but still damn useful. Not sure if I still want to go no compendium or not. Probably not, since all my broken endgame demons are here.
Also, I did all the cemetery challenges on Cycle 2, so I get an extra press turn once I reach Amala.
Yep, it's one of the reasons many people (myself included) were disappointed by the reveal of #FE after it was initially announced as SMTxFE.
Nocturne is one of my favorite games of all time, but I still need to finish it
O got distracted from it and need to just plow through it some time.
cj_iwakura
Member
Never finished it but this is definitely one of my favorite JRPGs ever. The atmosphere, the music, the Demi-fiend's badass design, it all left a significant impression on me. The main battle theme also has to be one of the best battle themes I've ever heard.
I would love to be able to play this on Vita someday.
I would love to be able to play this on Vita someday.
I bought this game and Persona 4 last year. These are the only two RPGs I've ever played that I could understand someone playing just for the gameplay. It's the only RPGs I've played where the regular battles don't get repetitive.
Like even in RPGs with good gameplay systems like Final Fantasy 5, Final Fantasy X-2, and Grandia the regular battles are so easy and mindless that I find they get boring. Not so with Nocturne and P4. The regular battles are challenging and your skills and demons are constantly changing so much you never feel like you're doing the same thing. There's always something new you have to think about and consider.
That's the only two SMT games I've played. I suppose I should definitely look for more after I finish these two.
Like even in RPGs with good gameplay systems like Final Fantasy 5, Final Fantasy X-2, and Grandia the regular battles are so easy and mindless that I find they get boring. Not so with Nocturne and P4. The regular battles are challenging and your skills and demons are constantly changing so much you never feel like you're doing the same thing. There's always something new you have to think about and consider.
That's the only two SMT games I've played. I suppose I should definitely look for more after I finish these two.
To a point, while I'd disagree with the idea that it's the worst mainline (because "worst" is something that shouldn't be tagged to anything MegaTen other than RONDE
Personally, while I still really like the game overall (much to the point that it is one of the few PS2 games I kept after downsizing a bunch of my collection over the years), it's weirdly the one I've found myself going back to the least.
it's more like, the earlier post has positions that can be best described as ... baffling. When you say that SMT3 is worse than SMT: If, or has dull skill progression compared to SMT1&2, or that people only like it because PS2 owners were starved for unique games, it's a little bit confusing.
I don't find the game really lacking in any respect including the story and characters. It's just deliberately sparse those elements to emphasize the feeling of isolation. The demons you spend most of the time interacting with just feel so alien it really drives the point that the world is truly gone. The interactions you have with survivors are short but really insightful. Anything more just be fluff and work against the atmosphere.
The game is just in a league of it's own even among the other games in the series. Even the early Persona games feel more like mainline titles then Nocturne does. Part of me would like to see Atlus do a proper follow up, but going by the stuff they have been putting out since DDS2 it might be best if that never happens.
The game is just in a league of it's own even among the other games in the series. Even the early Persona games feel more like mainline titles then Nocturne does. Part of me would like to see Atlus do a proper follow up, but going by the stuff they have been putting out since DDS2 it might be best if that never happens.
cj_iwakura
Member
The demons have plenty of personality, too. The world clearly operates under a new set of rules, and you get to interact with a ton of different monsters. I kind of miss that in the newer Personas, and I like that Devil Survivor had some elements of it.
This is still my favourite game in the entire metaseries and one of the best RPGs I've ever played. I would really love to get another game like it, but I think even a game like this would feature VA if it were done at this point and part of what made the atmosphere work was not having any. Plus a game probably wouldn't sell too well without voices either so I doubt it'd happen.
I hope it does get at least ported/remastered someday.
I hope it does get at least ported/remastered someday.
Paltheos
Member
Nocturne is fantastic. The atmosphere of this game is unparalleled in the genre, it's the best SMT I've played, and probably #2 on my list of best RPGs ever.
The biggest fault I can raise against the game is that the balance starts spiraling out of control in your favor pretty quickly. Once I reached Kabuchiko Prison, I learned Mana Drain for a simple Tornado/Force Boost/Mana Drain set which basically toasted most randoms for the rest of the main game. By the time I reached Tower around the halfway point (of the game, not the tower), the demons available were way too good. Nocturne Daisoujou is probably the most valuable SMT demon ever (if anyone wants to challenge that, go ahead - Please bear in mind I mean 'overall', not just endgame, hyper-broken nonsense like Beelzebub, although shockingly, even still, Daisoujou, man).
I've thought about this before, and I think Nocturne might have been a better gameplay experience in the vanilla release (which the US never got). A couple of the Fiends are tough fights, but overall they're much more (too) useful as fusionable allies.
But, yeah, the atmosphere. The hospital is such a great starting level. The tons of creepy stuff that happens after the Conception - The demon implantation, the blood splatters in the basement, the disembodied souls, the creepy music, and that short trip to some place that looks like a hallway in hell - all come together so well. And then you return to the proper 1st/2nd floors of the hospital and everything's changed and it's so unnerving. The coloring, the claustrophobic feeling, the weird demons you can talk to, and that flying manta ray you pass by when you come into open view of the center of the hospital - Forneus - that everyone's warning you about will murder you horribly.
Allot of games would easily botch all this up and make it a rather mundane affair. Nocturne does not. It probably helps too that the main battle theme here uses barking hellhounds as instruments. Goddamn this game is so good.
The biggest fault I can raise against the game is that the balance starts spiraling out of control in your favor pretty quickly. Once I reached Kabuchiko Prison, I learned Mana Drain for a simple Tornado/Force Boost/Mana Drain set which basically toasted most randoms for the rest of the main game. By the time I reached Tower around the halfway point (of the game, not the tower), the demons available were way too good. Nocturne Daisoujou is probably the most valuable SMT demon ever (if anyone wants to challenge that, go ahead - Please bear in mind I mean 'overall', not just endgame, hyper-broken nonsense like Beelzebub, although shockingly, even still, Daisoujou, man).
I've thought about this before, and I think Nocturne might have been a better gameplay experience in the vanilla release (which the US never got). A couple of the Fiends are tough fights, but overall they're much more (too) useful as fusionable allies.
But, yeah, the atmosphere. The hospital is such a great starting level. The tons of creepy stuff that happens after the Conception - The demon implantation, the blood splatters in the basement, the disembodied souls, the creepy music, and that short trip to some place that looks like a hallway in hell - all come together so well. And then you return to the proper 1st/2nd floors of the hospital and everything's changed and it's so unnerving. The coloring, the claustrophobic feeling, the weird demons you can talk to, and that flying manta ray you pass by when you come into open view of the center of the hospital - Forneus - that everyone's warning you about will murder you horribly.
Allot of games would easily botch all this up and make it a rather mundane affair. Nocturne does not. It probably helps too that the main battle theme here uses barking hellhounds as instruments. Goddamn this game is so good.
jetsetnickradio
Member
Atlus was on fire during the PS2 era. Being a JRPG lover and getting to play to great games like Nocturne, DDS 1&2, Devil Summoner 1 &2 and of course Persona 3 & 4 all in the course of a few short years was incredible. Catherine was pretty cool, but Atlus really let me down during the PS3 years.
Noctune especially was like a religious experience to me. I was starting to get burned out on JRPGs and Nocturne was like the complete opposite of almost every other JRPG coming out at the time with its mature themes, unforgiving difficulty, non-anime characters and story, synth rock-ish soundtrack and no voice acting. The game felt so oppressive and lonely but the world was fascinating enough to keep you pushing on and the few characters and NPCs you did encounter were pretty interesting even if they only had like 2 lines of dialogue.
Noctune especially was like a religious experience to me. I was starting to get burned out on JRPGs and Nocturne was like the complete opposite of almost every other JRPG coming out at the time with its mature themes, unforgiving difficulty, non-anime characters and story, synth rock-ish soundtrack and no voice acting. The game felt so oppressive and lonely but the world was fascinating enough to keep you pushing on and the few characters and NPCs you did encounter were pretty interesting even if they only had like 2 lines of dialogue.
Ahh, yeah best SMT game, well 2 and this are to close to actually say that but still.
Loved the isolation, the few humans where superbly designed and not the crap we've been fed since he started doing whatever the fuck where is Kaneko Atlus? Where is he? Stop throwing all that Anime mobile tier bullshit at me and let Kaneko in as main character designer again. Please!!
Loved the isolation, the few humans where superbly designed and not the crap we've been fed since he started doing whatever the fuck where is Kaneko Atlus? Where is he? Stop throwing all that Anime mobile tier bullshit at me and let Kaneko in as main character designer again. Please!!
How did you get Hades Blast, Focus, and Pierce on Metatron? I spent almost two hours trying to get Metatron to inherit those skills and could never get all three at once. I finally settled on Pierce, Endure, and Hades Blast.
Worst part of the game for me. Too bad its not really optional as it gives a magatama as a reward. From having died too much during the main game and becoming OP once getting Masakados magatama...this is the only game that I felt I DESERVED to be OP after all the shit I went through.
I really hope it gets a remake one day...come on Atlus (Sega)! If you can do it for Yakuza 1 you can do it for this too!
lucablight
Member
One of my favourite games of all time. The atmosphere is amazing. The fact that every demon has a character model really enhances the experience and SMT4 can't compare for this reason alone.
Gormenghast
Member
Nocturne is early 2000s, and as many things at that time it was still following the impact of Evangelion.
So its strength are in themes, moods and setting: not a fantasy world, but the moment after the apocalypse. Humanity is lost, the world has to be rebuilt.
It's that thing that mixes post-human themes with religion.
The game itself can be pretty bland. The graphic is well done but you're running most of the time through simple rectangular corridors constantly interrupted by fairly lame random battles.
But it's still filled with all that mystery and symbolism, engaging with deep philosophy that was very popular and still is today. It has that charm.
So its strength are in themes, moods and setting: not a fantasy world, but the moment after the apocalypse. Humanity is lost, the world has to be rebuilt.
It's that thing that mixes post-human themes with religion.
The game itself can be pretty bland. The graphic is well done but you're running most of the time through simple rectangular corridors constantly interrupted by fairly lame random battles.
But it's still filled with all that mystery and symbolism, engaging with deep philosophy that was very popular and still is today. It has that charm.
JadedWriter
Member
Why do I feel like I should restart the game cause I gave up Focus like a noob the first time I played this.MC, Metatron, Shiva, and Beelzebub. I always bring Dante to the final battle, I love his crit rate.
MC:
War Cry / Focus / Avenge / Gaea Rage
Pierce / Glacial Blast / Freikugel / Endure
Flauros:
Iron Claw / Threaten / War Cry / Bright Might
Estoma / Rakukaja / Deathbound / Endure
Metatron:
Megidolaon / Tarukaja / Makukaja / Debilitate
Victory Cry / Bright Might / Holy Wrath / Fire of Sinai
Bishamon:
Taunt / Sukukaja / Fog Breath / Makakaja
Prominence / Bright Might / Fire Boost / Hassohappa
Thor:
Avenge / Hades Blast / Bright Might / Victory Cry
Bolt Storm / Prominence / Mediarahan / Fire Repel
Vishnu:
Prayer / Debilitate / Bright Might / Bolt Storm
Victory Cry / Prominence / Hades Blast / Phys Repel
Beelzebub (Fly):
Maziodyne / Megidolaon / Bright Might / Pierce
Debilitate / Might / Focus / Watchful
Dante (come at me):
Rebellion / Roundtrip / Whirlwind / Provoke
Never Yield / Stinger / Son's Oath / Showtime
Pixie (yea that's right)
Maziodyne / Megidolaon / Mediarahan / Samrecarm / Endure
Trumpeter
Holy Melody / Maziodyne / Focus / Bright Might
Pierce / Makakaja / Megidolaon / Evil Melody
Shiva:
Victory Cry / Hassohappa / Mediarahan / Bright Might
Debilitate / Makakaja / Megidolaon / Phys Drain
I should take it easy on the Bright Might this time, shouldn't I...
Sammy Samusu
Member
How is this compared to SMT4?
JadedWriter
Member
SMT4 has modern aids like allowing you to just pick what spells get transferred over but Nocturne has actually aged pretty well in my opinion.
Chrono Helix
Member
My first SMT game, and definitely my favourite. Love love love love love love LOVE this game so much.
I remember being so creeped out the first time you peep through the hole in the Amala Labyrinth and seeing the huge stage with just the old man and lady with that ominous music.
I remember being so creeped out the first time you peep through the hole in the Amala Labyrinth and seeing the huge stage with just the old man and lady with that ominous music.
Paltheos
Member
Much better imo. Better music, better atmosphere, not a super-straight, light-neutral-dark alignment system. Also everything is 3D, not just overworld travel.
The biggest and worst changes SMT4 made are to the fusion system, which is completely backwards. It shows you the demons you can get, which you then have to select to see what you give up for it. The moves I think are on a different screen too which is a pain in the neck too. SMT3 lets you select the fusion type, then shows you the options after you select demons to sacrifice. Much more helpful imo because there are some demons you're just not wanna give up so you don't even need to waste time looking at fusion options you're not going to pick and everything is all on one screen too.
let's not forget the puzzle minigame
I thought it was a fun little distraction
I used to get so heated off of this mini game . Got stuck for hourrrs
Where was YouTube? Idk
MC, Metatron, Shiva, and Beelzebub. I always bring Dante to the final battle, I love his crit rate.
MC:
War Cry / Focus / Avenge / Gaea Rage
Pierce / Glacial Blast / Freikugel / Endure
Flauros:
Iron Claw / Threaten / War Cry / Bright Might
Estoma / Rakukaja / Deathbound / Endure
Metatron:
Megidolaon / Tarukaja / Makukaja / Debilitate
Victory Cry / Bright Might / Holy Wrath / Fire of Sinai
Bishamon:
Taunt / Sukukaja / Fog Breath / Makakaja
Prominence / Bright Might / Fire Boost / Hassohappa
Thor:
Avenge / Hades Blast / Bright Might / Victory Cry
Bolt Storm / Prominence / Mediarahan / Fire Repel
Vishnu:
Prayer / Debilitate / Bright Might / Bolt Storm
Victory Cry / Prominence / Hades Blast / Phys Repel
Beelzebub (Fly):
Maziodyne / Megidolaon / Bright Might / Pierce
Debilitate / Might / Focus / Watchful
Dante (come at me):
Rebellion / Roundtrip / Whirlwind / Provoke
Never Yield / Stinger / Son's Oath / Showtime
Pixie (yea that's right)
Maziodyne / Megidolaon / Mediarahan / Samrecarm / Endure
Trumpeter
Holy Melody / Maziodyne / Focus / Bright Might
Pierce / Makakaja / Megidolaon / Evil Melody
Shiva:
Victory Cry / Hassohappa / Mediarahan / Bright Might
Debilitate / Makakaja / Megidolaon / Phys Drain
I should take it easy on the Bright Might this time, shouldn't I...
Great team. I only focused on building up my main 3 besides Demifiend though.
It's been a long time but I recall having to use a sacrifice with one or two of those skills on. Otherwise I found it impossible with the standard shuffling.
I think Nocturne probably has the stronger battle themes, but SMT IV is more well rounded since Nocturne lacks the catchy area themes that IV has, for the most part.
Also Nocturne is rather restricting with what you can carry over in fusion...
let's not forget the puzzle minigame
I thought it was a fun little distraction
I loved this one, destroyed may brain.
E_Darkness
Member
This is the worst thing about SMTIV. No restriction at all. Though ever since P4G's being able to choose the transferable skills, it is a pain to go back sometimes. Mashing buttons until you get the combinations you want.
Ideally I'd like a compromise between the two systems. You can choose which skills you want to inherit, but only 2 or 3 (at the most) at a time and there should be some limitations as to which skills said demon can learn in the first place. Having too much freedom breaks any semblance of balance. I don't know how Final handled this issue yet but I hope it fix the most glaring problems with the previous system.
Sometimes I can still hear the music playing in my nightmares and I wake up all sweaty and heavy breathing.
I don't know why people hype up DDS' bonus boss so much when this is the true litmus test of the SMT series.let's not forget the puzzle minigame
I thought it was a fun little distraction
Sometimes I can still hear the music playing in my nightmares and I wake up all sweaty and heavy breathing.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
Its funny the posts on this game talking about how breakable the game can get for those who can grasp the wheels and gears whirring about under the hood. The sign of a great RPG system.
Speaking of which...
That is key here. Whereas in N you have to think and work for that brokenness but in 4 its the opposite. Why? No mandatory base skills, less restrictions on inheritance types, no waiting or weighting from randomization. The game takes a distinct black or white behavior towards difficulty from this late with one answer strats and a single smirk equalling death whereas this is much more gradual in N.
Plus restriction is good for our egos and skills at games.
Speaking of which...
That is key here. Whereas in N you have to think and work for that brokenness but in 4 its the opposite. Why? No mandatory base skills, less restrictions on inheritance types, no waiting or weighting from randomization. The game takes a distinct black or white behavior towards difficulty from this late with one answer strats and a single smirk equalling death whereas this is much more gradual in N.
Plus restriction is good for our egos and skills at games.
synchronicity
Member
Coincidentally, I'm playing this for the first time right now. It's actually my first SMT game, and if what many of you say is true about it being the best, I guess I should have waited. (I like to save the best for last.) But, I'm absolutely loving it. It took a while for it to get its hooks in deep, but now that it found its way in, I've become absolutely addicted.
I love the atmosphere. I love recruiting and fusing demons. I also love that you have to "re-roll" in the hopes of getting the attributes you want passed down to your new demon. It's exciting making a list of qualities you want passed down and hoping for the right roll until it finally happens. I love the minimalist, less-is-more nature of the narrative. (Dark Souls is my favorite game of all-time, so that's no surprise to me.) I love the art direction. I love the idea that the whole mess starts inside the hospital- a medical facility. (I'm not a big advocate of traditional Western medicine in most cases. ) I love the flexibility of the mechanics-it's so deep. I love the fact that you are limited in the skills you can keep when leveling. It gives a wonderful sense of consequence to making those choices because sometimes they feel very difficult. The battles are (almost) always exciting, which really makes the moment to moment adventure better.
I'm playing without a guide, as I always do for a first run of any game. I love discovering how things work for myself. Talking to the various spirits, manikins, demons, etc scattered about gives you a good enough base to feel comfortable enough with everything imo. Although I'm sure, given the nature of this game, that there's so much I will miss until after I look at a FAQ after I've completed it.
Also, for those complaining about the encounter rate, you know you can use Estoma if you want to wander with less interruption for a while, right.
tldr; This game is incredible. Can't believe I waited so long to dive in!
I love the atmosphere. I love recruiting and fusing demons. I also love that you have to "re-roll" in the hopes of getting the attributes you want passed down to your new demon. It's exciting making a list of qualities you want passed down and hoping for the right roll until it finally happens. I love the minimalist, less-is-more nature of the narrative. (Dark Souls is my favorite game of all-time, so that's no surprise to me.) I love the art direction. I love the idea that the whole mess starts inside the hospital- a medical facility. (I'm not a big advocate of traditional Western medicine in most cases.
) I love the flexibility of the mechanics-it's so deep. I love the fact that you are limited in the skills you can keep when leveling. It gives a wonderful sense of consequence to making those choices because sometimes they feel very difficult. The battles are (almost) always exciting, which really makes the moment to moment adventure better. I'm playing without a guide, as I always do for a first run of any game. I love discovering how things work for myself. Talking to the various spirits, manikins, demons, etc scattered about gives you a good enough base to feel comfortable enough with everything imo. Although I'm sure, given the nature of this game, that there's so much I will miss until after I look at a FAQ after I've completed it.
Also, for those complaining about the encounter rate, you know you can use Estoma if you want to wander with less interruption for a while, right.
tldr; This game is incredible. Can't believe I waited so long to dive in!
JadedWriter
Member
It's one of the best in the franchise. I got introduced to SMT by way of the Persona games, but they're just not as hardcore as the SMT games though. I love them both equally though. Devil Survivor is also really good too if you had a 3DS, hard as hell, at least for me.Coincidentally, I'm playing this for the first time right now. It's actually my first SMT game, and if what many of you say is true about it being the best, I guess I should have waited. (I like to save the best for last.) But, I'm absolutely loving it. It took a while for it to get its hooks in deep, but now that it found its way in, I've become absolutely addicted.
I love the atmosphere. I love recruiting and fusing demons. I also love that you have to "re-roll" in the hopes of getting the attributes you want passed down to your new demon. It's exciting making a list of qualities you want passed down and hoping for the right roll until it finally happens. I love the minimalist, less-is-more nature of the narrative. (Dark Souls is my favorite game of all-time, so that's no surprise to me.) I love the art direction. I love the idea that the whole mess starts inside the hospital- a medical facility. (I'm not a big advocate of traditional Western medicine in most cases.
I'm playing without a guide, as I always do for a first run of any game. I love discovering how things work for myself. Talking to the various spirits, manikins, demons, etc scattered about gives you a good enough base to feel comfortable enough with everything imo. Although I'm sure, given the nature of this game, that there's so much I will miss until after I look at a FAQ after I've completed it.
Also, for those complaining about the encounter rate, you know you can use Estoma if you want to wander with less interruption for a while, right.
tldr; This game is incredible. Can't believe I waited so long to dive in!
Movalpolos
Banned
let's not forget the puzzle minigame
I thought it was a fun little distraction
I do not kid when I say this game is literally keeping me from replaying the game. FUCK THIS SHIT. I hate that it's obligatory to get a magatama.
I only played a bit of it and dropped it due to both being a newbie to Megaten (it was my first game in the series after years of being tempted by the Japanese releases) and my personal life back in '04... and sadly haven't been back. I think I need to make priority though... since now that I have a few of the Megaten spinoffs under my belt (DDS1 and 2, Soul Hackers, P3 and 4), I'll be much more prepared.
cj_iwakura
Member
Thank god for my DJ guide. It breaks down everything.
FlyingSaucer
Banned
Lots of memories - I've waited a loooooong time for the EU version to come out, almost two years after Japan.
It was arguably the first "real" SMT game for quite some time, almost since Persona 2 EP : for a fan of the franchise, the 2000-2003 have been weird, with a Japan-exclusive Xbox MMO, an awesomely flawed spin-off on a cursed hardware (Maken X), while Devil Children, the most popular incarnation of the franchise by then was busy with with its own TV show...
Nocturne felt like a homecoming, the first real, atmospheric SMT game we had played for quite some time then; the UI and the 3D scenery felt much less cheap than previous 32-bits entries. Plot-wise, there was enough of strange Buddhist concepts and plenty of references to past SMT episodes to keep us happy. Overall, it was an exciting and blazing way to reboot the franchise in a more modern form... I'm still just a little certain that Persona 3/4 wasn't intended to be the path the series would have to take to stay relevant nowadays ;p
Oh, well. So, more than ten years it is, he.
It was arguably the first "real" SMT game for quite some time, almost since Persona 2 EP : for a fan of the franchise, the 2000-2003 have been weird, with a Japan-exclusive Xbox MMO, an awesomely flawed spin-off on a cursed hardware (Maken X), while Devil Children, the most popular incarnation of the franchise by then was busy with with its own TV show...
Nocturne felt like a homecoming, the first real, atmospheric SMT game we had played for quite some time then; the UI and the 3D scenery felt much less cheap than previous 32-bits entries. Plot-wise, there was enough of strange Buddhist concepts and plenty of references to past SMT episodes to keep us happy. Overall, it was an exciting and blazing way to reboot the franchise in a more modern form... I'm still just a little certain that Persona 3/4 wasn't intended to be the path the series would have to take to stay relevant nowadays ;p
Oh, well. So, more than ten years it is, he.
Not sure which versions have the bug, but I own an NTSC PS2 disc [which I played through PSCX2] as well as the PS3 download version. Both seemed to run at the same speeds for me. Gameplay on YouTube looks the same as my experience. I just think the game is slow. I have similar problems with other PS2 MegaTen stuff [with Raidou being the slowest].
I swear I'm not crazy. Look at dungeon exploration gameplay in P4 vanilla and then P4Golden. I haven't personally tested to see if the movement speed is actually faster in Golden, but the running animation is, and it doesn't feel like trudging through molasses like in vanilla.
Love this game! Watched a Solo-Fiend playthrough most of yesterday and part of today in celebration after reading the thread.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1hswYY3h0TX8HVCZ8MfqZdOQT5adLCJo
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1hswYY3h0TX8HVCZ8MfqZdOQT5adLCJo
Depends on how hard the fight is.