So whos playing SMT IV?

[balladbird]

I'm 40 some hours into this game and I'm loving it. demon negotiations seem to hate me though. I have such a hard time convincing anybody.
Also, did anybody else die on the first tutorial battle? please tell me it wasn't just me

I didn't, but you're far from alone. thanks to the fact that you're never really any stronger than the random encounters at any given time, one unlucky move can lead to death. no need to feel ashamed, everyone who plays this game will die a lot. it's all about where. XD

 

[Kotaro]

Preordered it, got it, loving it so far. Only problem I've got is that there's too little guidance at times. I've already gotten to a point where I had no idea where the hell to go or what the hell to do, so I resorted to wandering around and chatting up random NPCs. And lo and behold, I actually had to speak to this one unremarkable NPC in order to advance the plot, with no indication that that's what I had to do.
Also, going from each type of demon having a distinct personality and things they like and dislike, to complete randomness in negotiation just feels like a step backward.

 

[EyeReaper]

I'm 40 some hours into this game and I'm loving it. demon negotiations seem to hate me though. I have such a hard time convincing anybody.
Also, did anybody else die on the first tutorial battle? please tell me it wasn't just me

I didn't, but you're far from alone. thanks to the fact that you're never really any stronger than the random encounters at any given time, one unlucky move can lead to death. no need to feel ashamed, everyone who plays this game will die a lot. it's all about where. XD

It's because i started out with the gamestop dlc armor, which, as i found out, gives you weakness to physical attacks. This is what i get for preordering.

 

[RaikuFA]

Loving it so far, been playing it sparingly to enjoy it as much as I can, I'm in Shinjuku doing some sidequests right now, leveling up and bumming money off demons.

Don't know why so many reviewers ripped on the difficulty, I think it is thrilling, the visuals are also bloody excellent.

Can't wait to play more, but for now, games with Escapist friends!

who ripped on it?

It was about everyones complaint with the game. No one gave it a bad score, but everyones con was "high difficulty".

 

[8bitsuperhero]

I'm at about twenty hours in and I love this game to pieces. I am trying to do as many of the sidequests as possible (until I lose interest at least), but the Tournament prelims is getting to me.

 

[InfinityCubed]

Pardon my noobage, but what's SMT?
Edit: answered already. It's an acronym... FOR SOMETHING IN JAPANESE! what does the name mean and what type of game is it?

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Just a tip for everyone still early in the game: the best grinding spot is outside the Terminal at Samugeki (forgot how to spell it). It is the Terminal in the room with the Counter-Demon base. It has two enemies that drop items for delivery quests and the reward for one of the deliveries is relics which include items for two more delivery quests. It is a great way to make money and level.

I just unlocked the Terminal in Ikebukuro. My vote on the game is a resounding
I kind of broke the game with excessive grinding, though. My team was 23 levels above the last boss I fought. Sometimes bosses don't even get a round of combat. It definitely has that feeling that only SMT can provide when you are bopping around with the Prince of the Nine Hells, Athena, and Alice.

NICE! with what is it 400 demons who can decide? I wish izanagi from persona was in here though since izanami is. The Idea of having Odin and Hel on my team sounds pretty beast though.

Add Loki or Heimdall too. Norse domination.

 

[Nick of Blades]

Having never played a main SMT title, I'm loving this game. You have to pay attention to your combat choices, or even the smallest slime can massacre you. A few hours in, I'm already thinking its a worthy purchase.

 

[Raine_sage]

I played Nocturne awhile back and unfortunately I can't say I really enjoyed it. The gameplay was solid but I just couldn't really get into the story and the random encounters were annoying during the puzzle stages. Nothing makes me throw my controller harder than being super focused on a puzzle when suddenly my screen flashes and breaks my concentration.

But this game looks really good and I have fire emblem so I could take advantage of the registration deal to boot. Can anyone here tell me if this game has:

A) extensive puzzle dungeons

B) Random encounters


I can deal with either separately but I can't stand both in the same game.

 

[chiggerwood]

What the hell is SMT? Seriously would it be too hard not to abbreviate the title, what you're talking about seems interesting, but I don't know what the hell you are talking about. Surrounding Monkey Threat is my best guess.

 

[TheMigrantSoldier]

To the question of random encounters, it follows the Persona 3/4 system. I haven't played Nocturne so I don't know what system it had.

I've been playing up to the Medusa boss. As someone coming directly from the Persona series, I'm loving nearly everything about it. The demon catching/fusing, the combat, the Fire Emblem deal, you get the idea. The change of tone of setting is rocky but quick.

I've read reviews about how weak and shallow the story and characters are but so far, it's been the contrary. Then again, I really shouldn't be judging just yet.

 

[ChupathingyX]

What the hell is SMT? Seriously would it be too hard not to abbreviate the title, what you're talking about seems interesting, but I don't know what the hell you are talking about. Surrounding Monkey Threat is my best guess.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=SMT+IV

Congratulations, now you know how to use google.

You are also now aware of a two decade year old video game franchise.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I'm still very early on in the game's plot but I've really enjoyed what I've played of it so far. I've found it more difficult than what I'm used to but I've adapted well enough. I made the mistake of getting Fire Emblem at the same time...and Animal Crossing...and Earthbound...so I've been going from one to the other and making little progress in most of them.

 

[rbstewart7263]

To the question of random encounters, it follows the Persona 3/4 system. I haven't played Nocturne so I don't know what system it had.

I've been playing up to the Medusa boss. As someone coming directly from the Persona series, I'm loving nearly everything about it. The demon catching/fusing, the combat, the Fire Emblem deal, you get the idea. The change of tone of setting is rocky but quick.

I've read reviews about how weak and shallow the story and characters are but so far, it's been the contrary. Then again, I really shouldn't be judging just yet.

Exactly where Im at! I need to check her weaknesses as she wooped me the first time.

The characters are alright I like em even though there more scooby gang compared to other entries in the series.lol

 

[TheMigrantSoldier]

Exactly where Im at! I need to check her weaknesses as she wooped me the first time.

The characters are alright I like em even though there more scooby gang compared to other entries in the series.lol

You mean like Persona 4's Investigation Team? Oh, come on, they even have a mascot hehe

I have a feeling that I'm going to enjoy the Walter-Johnathon Chaos-Order dynamic.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

Pardon my noobage, but what's SMT?
Edit: answered already. It's an acronym... FOR SOMETHING IN JAPANESE! what does the name mean and what type of game is it?

The name means "True Reincarnation of the Godess." Or something like that.

It's a series of JRPGs where you can negotiate with demons to recruit them into your party. There are typically 3 or more routes through the story and the combat is abso-fucking-lutely amazing. Best turn-based combat in any game, imo. Well, except the two SNES games, which had the typical Wizardry or Dragon Quest style round-based combat. I do enjoy that style (as well as Wizardry and Dragon Quest) but Nocturne and Strange Journey are just so, so fun.

There are a lot of spin-offs, which cover the bases of nearly every type of RPG. Devil Survivor is a tactical RPG, Raidou is an action RPG, Persona is generally more heavily story and character focused (the latter two of which mix social-sim elements into the gameplay). They're good!

I played Nocturne awhile back and unfortunately I can't say I really enjoyed it. The gameplay was solid but I just couldn't really get into the story and the random encounters were annoying during the puzzle stages. Nothing makes me throw my controller harder than being super focused on a puzzle when suddenly my screen flashes and breaks my concentration.

But this game looks really good and I have fire emblem so I could take advantage of the registration deal to boot. Can anyone here tell me if this game has:

A) extensive puzzle dungeons

B) Random encounters


I can deal with either separately but I can't stand both in the same game.

It isn't out in Europe yet, so I dunno about the puzzles ( i hope it has them!) but I know that there are no random encounters. You can see every enemy on the field. Shame you didn't like Nocturne; it's one of my favourite games ever in both story and gameplay (though more for the gameplay, admittedly). It was never gonna be for everyone, though and I can understand how random encounters could get really annoying when you're trying to solve a puzzle. Honestly, I grew to hate them during the teleporter maze near the end. XD

The characters are alright I like em even though there more scooby gang compared to other entries in the series.lol

Is it a bit lighter than the other main series games, then? The vibe I got from the trailers was that it wasn't going to be quite as dark as Nocturne (which, in turn, was a bit lighter and softer than the first two games)

 

[CMDDarkblade]

I hate to be that guy, but so far I find SMT IV to be really boring compared to games like Persona 4. And don't get me wrong I LOVED Persona 4 to death and beat it three times over. I knew that SMT IV would be a different experience from Persona 4, but I didn't know it would be SO BORING! Compared to the Persona 4 team, your fellow samurai seem like bland, paper cut-out characters. There is nothing about them that stands out at all or makes me care about them. I know they have names, but to me they are Guy 1, Guy 2, and Girl 3. They could be replaced by a whole other set of people and I wouldn't know the difference. Hell, the demons I capture just to fuse have more personality than the other samurai.

Unfortunately, the story is just as bland as the characters. I'm in the Ueno section of Tokyo, i.e. right when you get into the city, and I don't really care at all as to why I'm there. I know I'm supposed to find the Black Samurai and I know that she corrupted my "best friend" (who I knew for all of a minute) and destroyed my home village (that I never saw intact anyways). My motivation is supposed to be revenge, or justice, or something, but none of the other characters seem to care so why should I. On paper the story isn't bad: join samurai, hometown destroyed by mysterious character, give chase to said character. But none of the characters or places are fleshed out for me to even care about what's happening. For example, everyone goes on about the "duty of the samurai" but it is never explained WHAT my duty IS!

I don't have any complaints about the gameplay. It's a little different from Persona 4 but I expected that. The demon recruitment is interesting if annoying sometimes, but all-in-all the gameplay is fine, it's the story and characters that are lagging. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, BURROUGHS SHUT THE HELL UP! Don't tell me, "Congrations on completing the Quest!" when I was just forced to kill my best friend! It completely ruined the mood. Also I wish I could turn off the voice to the fusion wizard, "What will you do?" I was thinking about fusing demons, you idiot. "Are you sure?" YEAH, I'M SURE!

I don't hate SMT IV (Except Burroughs and the Fusion Wizard. They can die in a fire), but I find it very lacking in the story and character department compared to the brilliance that is Persona 4. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as P4, but damn, give me something game. I'm taking a break from the game and I might come back to it eventually, but if the story doesn't start picking up, I might leave it unfinished.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

Snip

The thing is, even though Persona comes under the SMT label, it is VERY different from the rest of the series. Persona 3 and 4, especially, since they're barely even related to the first two Persona games (they're linked thematically but have a completely different approach to both gameplay and story).

Persona was created to be more character and story focused than the main games, which are basically dungeon-crawlers with a bit more plot than normal. Whilst I like the stories of the main games so far (haven't played IV, because I'm in the UK :[) I would never, ever recommend them to somebody who primarily plays RPGs for the story and characters. They are most certainly gameplay-focused affairs.

I mean, P3 and 4 are kind of dungeon crawlers, but the main draw is obviously meant to be the story and social link stuff.

Devil Survivor is pretty heavy on story if you want to try a none-Persona SMT game but, from your post, I wouldn't recommend the main series.

 

[CMDDarkblade]

Snip

Yeah, I knew that Persona was a spin-off series (At this point though it might as well be considered the main series for all the fame and attention it has), but I didn't quite expect such a jarring contrast in story. However, even if the story is supposed to be light, they could have at least it more interesting. Little story doesn't automatically equal bland story. There are plenty of dungeon-crawlers with not much plot, but the plot they do have still is engaging. I still feel they could have done more with the story especially in the beginning. I still need a reason to go dungeon-crawling after all.

It sucks that it isn't released in the UK for you yet though. If it wasn't for the fact that the 3DS is region locked, I might consider selling you my copy.