Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner
Retro Rewind of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Written by Podunker:rrquinta
In the Retro Rewind series, we will offer you a “preview experience” as if this game were brand-new and being released in a few weeks or months. Relive the excitement, so to speak. Don’t look at Retro Rewind as a review written after playing a game. Instead, look at this as a preview of what to expect and get excited about before you do (play it).
Let’s take our first installment in this series is Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, currently available new from Game Quest Direct for $49.99, or, for a limited time only, with a coupon (for Podunkers) for only $29.99!
The Shin Megami Tensei series has recently risen to fame with the success of Persona 4 and summer releases of Devil Summoner 2 and even Devil Survivor on DS. One thing that always helps the SMT series stand out is its uniqueness; regardless of which title you play, you will undoubtedly get an engaging, lengthy, and deep game experience that is unlike any you have ever played before.
Nocturne is certainly different than other RPGs.
The game begins with the main character, a teenage boy living in modern Tokyo. Sounds simple enough, right? But instead of a more traditional introduction, Nocturne plunges you into a surreal, prophetic dream sequence. Whereas most RPGs hurl you into a quest to save the world from destruction, Nocturne does almost the opposite: in your dream, you discover the concept of “The Conception,” in which the world will be destroyed so that it can be reborn. Rather than saving the world, you are left in the chaos of all that was, and it is a dark, cruel existence, populated by demons and freaks.
Quote:
A well-known poet once said: “April is the cruelest month. Why? Because it is then that one must wake up from a long sleep and face the barren world.”
The dream itself signals that Nocturne is not your normal gaming experience: when the screen shifts from the black of the menu to the first frames of the game, you are almost blinded by a brilliant white light, and a misty, mysterious female voice speaking to you about the fate of the world – and your own. For some reason, she has chosen to save you from destruction. The blindingly white sequence is over quickly, and your journey begins.
Before long, you witness the destruction of the world – and although you are saved, you must be transformed into a demon. Like many other cutscenes (including the opening dream sequence), your transformation takes place from the first person perspective, with the surreal visuals and music completely immersing you in the moment – as the screen is veined in glowing red and what appears to be a giant bug crawls inside you in order to start your new existence.
Gameplay is slightly more conventional than the presentation, with random battles (you do get some warning before you engage) and a relatively fast-paced turn-based battle system. The “Press Turn” – an element of the battle system in which you can earn bonus turns for targeting your enemies’ weaknesses adds an element of strategy and fun to these fights. But you must be careful: enemies can also turn your weakness against you and earning another turn for themselves. Another element that makes combat slightly more refreshing is demon recruitment: like other SMT games, coercing monsters to your side is a significant element of the game.
In fact, part of the enjoyment of Nocturne is the demons, who each have unique personalities. Again, as with other SMT games, you can merge your demons to create new ones, although some demons will actually evolve on their own to form darker, more powerful entities.
You can also customize your own character, depending on which Magatama you ingest: the “bug” you saw in your transformation are parasites that you can eat that will endow you with various abilities and determine how your character’s stats will increase when you level up. This concept introduces a unique strategic element to Nocturne.
The game offers you a multitude of options as you journey, from what demons to recruit, to which Magatama to utilize and when, to how you will process the world – depending on what selections and decisions you make, you will formulate one of three ideologies that will help guide you through the world and to one of the six endings.
Along the way, you will experience great soundtracks, the likes of which don’t normally accompany an RPG. From eerie, surreal and haunting melodies to the pumping, pulse awakening heavy metal, you’re sure to enjoy the music as much as the game itself.
Undoubtedly, Nocturne is a must-play for Shin Megami Tensei fans who may have missed it, or for RPG lovers jaded from the “same old” experience looking for something fresh.
And the best thing is this rare game is currently available (while supplies last) as a reprint via Game Quest Direct for $49.99 with free US shipping. Game Podunk members are eligible for a limited-time coupon for additional savings on this great game you will be playing (and talking about) for hours.
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