Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne

SMT Nocturne is definitely among one of the best SMT games to date and in my opinion contains most of Kazuma Kaneko's and Shoji Meguro's best works. What makes this game stand out in the SMT series the most is its dark atmosphere and story ( featuring Dante from Devil May Cry doesn't hurt either). Even though this is a turn-based JRPG, Nocturne will pose a challenge and requires the player to strategize and be prepared for the worst of situations. It's not challenging to the point of controller throwing, but you will die a few times and may get stuck at a certain point. If you are someone who does not play JRPGs that much but want to get into the SMT series, I would recommend either the Persona, Digital Devil Saga, or the Devil Survivor games since they are spin-offs and are more accessible (Digital Devil Saga moreso because it has the same combat system as this game). The main character is free to customize by pouring points into different stats that suits the player's playstyle and can learn various skills through the acquisition of items called Magatama. Each Magatama has its own properties that can give additional stat boosts as well as resistances and weaknesses to different attacks to the player. Combat in the game uses the Press Turn system meaning that whenever an opponent or the player are hit with an attack they are weak to, the attacker's turn is extended. The same applies to critical hits as well. If the attacker misses their target, they lose 2 turns and if the attacker uses a skill their target can nullify or reflect, they lose all their turns. A main feature this game has along with the other SMT games is the ability to negotiate and fuse demons. Negotiations can be used to recruit demons, obtain items and money, and end battles. You can also fail with negotiations which end up with your opponents attacking your party. Fusing demons is vital since the result often leads to a stronger demon with new abilities with some previous skills inherited. To make this clear due to the confusion that SMT IV had after its launch, this game does not have Social Links like Persona 3 and 4. There are no support characters that will tell you what an enemies' weakness is. If your character dies, it's game over and you have to reload your last save. There is no easy mode if you want to breeze through the game for the story, only normal and hard (difficulty also cannot be changed mid-game). Being a game made back in 2002, it has some things that are no longer used and lacks some things that are standard in modern JRPGs. This game does not have full voice acting. Battles have voice acting but it mainly consists of grunting. This game also has random battles with a pretty high encounter rate. There are almost no safe spots in this game, meaning even places that have shops will have random battles. If you are willing to forgive this game for using old RPG mechanics, this game can be fun and keep you interested in its setting and characters (who all dress so stylishly I might add).

SMT: Nocturne is one of a very rare breed of RPGs that makes some very different assumptions about what you might consider 'fun'. To play with any real competence requires a deep understanding of the game engine, and Nocturne rarely bothers to tell you how that game engine actually works or even the existence of many features. Players new to SMT (especially Western players) will immediately be bombarded with the alien: skills with strange, foreign names, a host of bizarre demons, and a plot-line with nothing of the familiar. Even graphically, Nocturne is alien: although minimalistic, the odd use of color at times is reminiscent of Tron (if you can imagine.) Certainly Nocturne will require that RPG'ers forget a lot of the standard conventions (there are no weapons or armor in the game, no princess to save, and it is hard to say if you are even the 'good guy'), but the sacrifice is worth it because the new conventions you'll need to learn are deeply rewarding. If you are up for the challenge, you probably won't want to come to the game unarmed. For other games, reading an FAQ might be considered cheating, but if only to grasp all the ins and outs, you will need to read. And you'll need to think. I'm glad there aren't many games like this (thinking too hard can be a lot of work!), but I think we're blessed to have a few. Nocturne at first is deceptive: turn-based dungeons crawlers can't be that hard, right? You've probably forgotten your Wizardry, but even then, Nocturne flips all those conventions on their head; such that we're using a stone-age interface to do rocket science. You can get away with blundering through the game, treating it like a standard dungeon crawler up to a point, but by the time you get to the first FIEND (Matador), you'll realize you've made some terrible mistake. Then you'll start reading outside sources and for the first time get a glimpse of just how deep the game goes. Obviously, Nocturne like most SMT games is about demon fusion, and that alone will require some well-planned decisions on your part. The amount of freedom allowed through this is unparalleled in other RPGs and is part of the reason SMT games are highly revered. In general, you are limited by your own creativity and your own lack of knowledge. Armed with the latter, you might, for instance fuse a demon who can continue to replenish their magic just by walking, then share it with the rest of the party (makatara), or you might cleverly infuse a demon with the ability to resist many types of magic (a sort of walking tank.) The main character can similarly be customized, though through a different process. In this way, the idea of 'class' has become obsolete. You can make your main character and demons into whatever sort of class you want, or your own unique hybrid (currently I'm working on a 'paladin' sort of main character who casts spells to protect the party and occasionally does damage.) In a sense, Nocturne brings us full circle in the life-cycle of RPGs, where once again you'll need a notebook (though thank the heavens, no graph paper!) You'll need to track the many attributes of your party and plan wisely. Holes in your defense WILL be found and exploited by the enemy. I do wish they could have implemented the same 'analyze' system (allows you to see enemy strengths and weaknesses) we see in Persona and Devil Summoner, but one could argue that's just a crutch. You see, the reason I keep returning to this game is that it belongs to a very rare breed of games. Not a lot of people are willing to 'play' like this anymore, where every battle must be thought out, notes consulted, etc. The closest comparison (outside of SMT) would be Wizardry 6/7, where that series jumped way beyond just the standard dungeon crawler and started exploring new territory, even perverting the game engine they themselves had created. And of course, SMT has its roots deeply sunk into what Sir-Tech had started. For a few people anyway, Nocturne is a very special sort of thing that doesn't come around that often.

I started off in the series with Persona 3, eventually played Persona 4 and the Devil Survivor series. I must say this game is of a different atmosphere to it than the Persona games. First off, your character is a half demon and your abilities are determined by magatamas you collect throughout the game. I won't spoil story elements for you but to tell the truth, this story isn't as linear as other games in the series are. You can explore pretty well later on once you unlock pathways to new areas. Pros: Combat system is turn based, just like persona games. The story isn't as focused but it is very dismal which is good. The amusing thing is that there are only 4 other characters other than you that are human, so it might feel desolate like apocalyptic should be. Great metal soundtrack, unlike that stupid hip hop/jpop soundtrack Persona games desperately use to be hip with the teens these days. You can choose your alignment in the game like the old games but its more passive instead of say, KOTOR games which react to what you do. What I mean is your dialogue choices at certain points in the game reflect if your good or evil. Coolest part for Capcom fans is the special guest in the game appears pretty early to introduce themselves. The difficulty is very balanced but be careful on hard mode, it suits its name very well since you can't EVER retreat even with skills. Items work just like the other games so there isn't much of a hinderance to adjust to in the game system. Cons: No equipment at all except for the magatamas and that's it. I'm not fond of the skill system since when you pass on learning a skill from a magatama you can never get it back again. I wish there were more focus on the storyline though, it just feels like your passing through the settings but maybe its just me. I'm dead tired of the heroes in these games being mutes although it could be GTA VC and SA's faults. LOL. Beware of the Puzzle boy segment in the game, when you get there you'll know. It's agitating to me since its optional but still rewarding for a magatama. Bottom Line: I give it 9/10, if you want some maturity and darkness compared to the somewhat kiddy Persona games check this out, you'll probably thank me for it.

The MegaTen franchise has shown me that RPGs can be more than a Good Vs Evil themed grind-fest. Negotiating with your enemies and possibly recruiting them is a concept that really expands the world and makes you feel immersed. The dark tone and mixture of chaotic/relaxing music hits home that anywhere could be unsafe and preparation is always necessary. The game begins with this apocalyptic ritual that distorts the world and scatters various characters. Shortly after you've finished the tutorial session, they throw you right into the open world and it's up to you to find out where your friends are. Towns are not safe spots, encounter rates are high, and insta-death spells occur. To me, these things offer a challenge and not in an obnoxious way. In other RPGs, some enemies/bosses seem to be programmed to hit you with their worst at specific times. Here, it appears to be random. For this reason, it's forgivable and adds a layer of uncertainty to your battles. Rather than constantly raising your stats, you're forced to learn what spells are effective for debuffing and buffing to even the playing field. Elemental effects are still in place like that of any other RPG. Hitting them according to their weakness gives you an extra turn. A major feature that other series should really implement is the Pass ability. If your current turn is taken up by someone who is ineffective, you should be able to give it up for the next party member in line. There's also the Auto Rush feature, which has your demons physically attacking enemies with sped up animations to skip the low-tier mobs. This game does have it's "trial and error" moments, but you're bound to have fun when you invest your time and effort into it.

This is a difficult game, but it's also long. What I mean is that if you want to play this game you have to understand it's a fairly long game by nature, and there are lots of situations where fighting a boss might not necessarily be a tough proposition but you will have to deal with a long walk from your nearest save terminal and the random encounters along the way. If you don't like random encounter RPGs with high encounter rates then this isn't going to be an easy run for you. As well the story is minimalistic when it does shows up. As well those unfamiliar with SMT games spell name system will have a lot of catching up to do as you really have to spend some time learning what the skills mean. Anyways, this is a classic RPG. If this seems like something you want to put the energy into it's definitely worth the effort as it has a great combat system and constantly has players thinking strategically and defensively. Take for instance demon fusion-you can fuse 2-3 demons and get a new one but every demon only has so many skill slots-which skills will you carry over? Do you cover your bases and make sure your demons don't have weaknesses to exploit, do you focus on passing along powerful buff and debuff skills at the risk of missing out on some other attacking spell? In battle, do you want to use a character to buff so other characters can get more damage, or hit the enemies weakness for the extra turn? This game constantly gives players opportunities to make choices that affect their game and play style. The fact that this game lends players so much freedom is why it's such a classic, if difficult, RPG game.

i'm a huge Fan of the SMT the Stories are always Woven so well the paint a picture that is both indepth but amusing in Nocturne this is True from the moment you Start you dream of a man sitting down and a woman both talking about the world having to come to a end as you listen the woman turns to you and asks your name you answer (input your chosen name) then she asks if you'd seek her out (input her name) from that small little exchange you make your way to the hospital where your teacher is staying i wont say more but this game by the Time you finish it you'll understand ALOT more about the SMT universe and what i mean when i say the Stories of Woven extremely Well i Will Warn you though of 3 things you must beware of when playing ANY SMT game 1 SAVE OFTEN even if you Recruit a demon or win a battle SAVE OFTEN SMT games are well known to JUMP difficulty at a moments notice ((mostly after you beat 1 or 2 bosses the difficulty jumps up VERY high with enemys who can use instant Death attacks or are Faster then you)) 2 Take your Time in Any SMT game Never rush if you do you will find yourself up a creek with only restarting the game to save you take your time and get used to the fights stock up the currency and items before going further in a hour of grinding will save you 5 hours of restarting from a previous save to Grind that hour you didnt take :D and finaly 3 Demons are your Friends Ok i know bad joke but in this game Demons you have to talk to and get them on your side sometimes this is easy ..other times its not just like 1 and 2 you're gonna have to do this alot! if you dont like slow grinding games SMT based games arent for you but if you are then grab a PS2 ((not a SLIM)) and pick up this game you wont be disappointed

Very rarely have games immersed me in their world to the extent that Nocturne did. I found myself constantly playing it to see what would happen next in the game. Unlike most games this one starts when the world ends and you find yourself in a post-apocalyptic Japan full of demons. You fuse and recruit these demons to fight on your team as your party members. The battle system is addicting and incredibly fun and puts a serious emphasis on exploiting enemies' weaknesses. Trust me on this one, this game is not kind and if you just try brute force techniques it will punish you hard. It requires a high level of strategy and is ruthless but is also incredibly rewarding once you get it down. The setting of this game is very dark but that's part of the reason it's so great! It's setting makes it fresh and unique and totally different from any other RPG out there. Another great thing about this game is that your actions and decisions have serious consequences. Be mindful of how you choose to respond to actions and questions posed by others in this game because they can seriously affect what occurs later. This game is totally fresh and unique and at times very philosophical. One warning though is that it is also very very difficult and can be downright cruel. Sometimes you'll be really close to beating an enemy and outta nowhere they'll just instantly kill you. This is the kind of game that will make you throw your controller at your tv so be careful. Still this game is incredibly fun and if you stick around for the whole ride you will be rewarded with one of the most deep and enjoyable RPG's ever. I highly recommend it but make sure you start playing it with an open mind.

The 3rd entry in the SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI series. Very cool game with a dark atmosphere and demon fusing/collecting. Build your team to eradicate your enemies and make your way to "KAGUTSUCHI" in the center of the new apocalyptic world to face God and decide the new fate of all things. "Press-turn battle system" adds strategy to fights and gives your party additional turns to attack your enemies. Keep tabs on enemy weaknesses to ensure you are laying in the right attacks to garantee victory. Battles are tough and even regular battles can obliterate your party if you are careless. As soon as your party demons are becoming less effective than your enemies, fuse them together at the "Cathedral of Shadows" to create new, more powerful demons. If you like Pokemon, but want something more mature in nature and way more challenging, try SMT NOCTURNE. This game does not hold your hand. Satisfying when you beat tough bosses.

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is definitely an underrated gem! My introduction into the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, I picked it up on a whim because I'm big on JRPGs and liked the character designs. What I wasn't expecting was a gritty, soul-searching adventure seemingly inspired by The Divine Comedy (and crossed with... of all things... Pokemon)? You take control of a young man who has survived the end of the world and been granted powers by a mysterious force, turning him into the prophesied "demi-fiend" (a unique being that exists outside the limitations of humans and demons). The demi-fiend must trek through post-Apocalyptic Tokyo, searching for the answers behind his own transformation, the world's abrupt end and its quickly approaching rebirth. Nocturne's combat absolutely shines. The "press-turn system" that future games became known for was introduced here, and it presents the player with the unique challenge of actually utilizing techniques that go completely ignored in most other JRPGs (namely stat buffs/debuffs and taking advantage of your enemies' elemental weaknesses). This makes the game surprisingly intellectually stimulating because it isn't tedious grinding that makes or breaks a certain fight, it's strategy! Couple the well-designed battle system with a genuinely challenging enemies and bosses with a variety of different strategies of their own and you have quite the exciting dungeon-crawler. The game also features the aforementioned similarities to Pokemon. Unlike in many other RPGs, you don't make friends with various characters and slowly form a team of allies; instead, the protagonist must recruit the many monsters, demons and fiends that thrive after the end of the world. The character designs are all unique, appealing and mythologically accurate! The "Pokedex" (Demon Compendium) even contains small descriptions of each creature, be they inspired by Biblical icons, gods or goddesses from worldwide religions, warrior cultures or ancient fables or texts like Journey to the West. In short, give this game a shot. It's really something special!

Este es el primer comentario que verán en español, pero escribo esto para aquellos fans latinos que ya están o apenas conocen el gran y basto universo que ofrece Shin Megami Tensei. El juego de por si es llamativo a la hora que empieza la intro y si te esperas antes de empezar el juego aparece otro con el gameplay del mismo, a diferencia de la saga Persona la dificultad del juego es mayor (y no solo por enfrentarse al segundo jefe del juego) también es mas extenso y los paisajes ademas de ser llamativos también representan un reto al jugador, también lo que es la tomas de decisiones a la hora de reclutar demonios como a su vez el elegir una ruta para el protagonista del juego. Apenas empece a jugar y ya me volví un adicto, ya voy para el nivel 20 y de por si es difícil subir de nivel en este luego. Deben tener en cuenta que si no eres alguien paciente para poder jugarlo te recomiendo jugar a algo mas... pero si eres fanático de esta saga o la vez de la compañía ATLUS (aparte que también te gusten los juegos tipo RPG de cualquier tipo) entonces este juego es para ti. Si quieres conocer mas gente que le guste Shin Megami Tensei o compartir experiencias y gustos de otros títulos de juego con alguien mas pues únete a la pagina de facebook de Shin Megami Tensei Mexico [...]

Produto original em perfeitas condições, novo e bem embalado . Recomendo a loja!

Llego rápido y en excelente estado. Totalmente nuevo y sellado. Sobre el juego, es excelente y se ve muy bien para ser un juego de hace 17 años. Su dificultad es algo elevada, pero cuando agarras ritmo y entiendes las mecanicas puedes pasar horas de diversión explorando el mundo y creando tu equipo perfecto de monstruos.

Brand new but weak packaging