You know, even though every other front-page post on this site (and every other Talking Time thread) is about Persona, the dude who runs the site — that’s me! — has yet to play a single game in the Shin Megami Tensei series for more than an hour. Until now! Although technically the game in question — Devil Survivor — belongs to the Megami Ibunroku series, but I don’t even know what that means, so, like, whatevs and stuff.
So far it seems to be a really good take on (what I understand to be) the whole point of MegaTen, despite the jarringly terrible character designs. It’s also strongly reminiscent of The World Ends With You, but I rather think MegaTen had a claim to things like teenagers struggling against mystical forces in a battle for life or death in Shibuya about a decade or two before Square Enix and Jupiter got there. I think what impresses me most is that it manages to combine the super old-school MegaTen combat system (first-person battles) with a tactical RPG. And, also, it’s gonna be pretty baffling for anyone who isn’t familiar with major Tokyo geography — landmark and location names are tossed about casually without regard for tin-eared American sensibilities.
Needless to say, I approve on all counts.
The sheer amount of information that’s been crammed onto that top screen is nothing short of admirable.
I wonder how similar this is to ASH. My limited knowledge of the two makes it sound like they’re similar, tactical RPGs with traditional battles when units clash. But is the execution any different or are they essentially different flavors of the same thing?
So what’s wrong with the character designs? I think they look fine, an they fit the game perfectly. Damn you Mr.Parish! you don’t like anything.
That’s why they call him a critic.
all i know is that the guy in the middle is from Jack Bros. on Virtual Boy.
this might make me out of touch, considering that’s the only Megami Tensei game I own; not to mention bought new.
You said The World Ends With You. I’m so there.
Congratulations, mercatfat: you are the only person in the world for whom Jack Bros. is the base-level MegaTen touch stone.
The character designs are typical generic anime-style PLZ LIKE US 2CH pandering, and they include a giant-breasted girl eating Pocky. This does not affect the game in any way, happily.
Are those screen shots from your review copy, Mr. Parish? If so, how does it feel to wield the power of a thousand angry Gods?
This was the first Megaten game I’ve played and I was impressed by the fidelity to the source material (world mythology). And they managed to use elements from the Bible without it being, you know, totally embarrassing! Anyone know whose heading the localization?
DSi: now with slightly less squinting.
Oh, this is just the tip of the SMT iceburg. GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN.
Found the website for the game after reading the article…*sigh* as if I don’t have enough DS games for the moment. (dropped $150+ on DS games in the past 2 months. Gotta catch ’em all!)
Never played a SMT game nor do I own TWEwY (yet). Might have to put another on the pile. Just looks interesting and it’s on my favorite system! (by virtue of work and family life)
I played this game in Japanese and everything was solid the game play,music just did not understand the story but that shall be fixed with the English version
I think that right now portability is about the only thing that could make it possible for me to experience more than the first one or two hours of any given MegaTen game. I suck at putting time into console games.
“Congratulations, mercatfat: you are the only person in the world for whom Jack Bros. is the base-level MegaTen touch stone.”
I always consider Persona 1 my proper introduction, but I DID rent Jack Bros. from Blockbuster way back.
Revelations: The Demon Slayer was my first MegaTen experience, and I think of it often.
“The character designs are typical generic anime-style PLZ LIKE US 2CH pandering, and they include a giant-breasted girl eating Pocky. This does not affect the game in any way, happily.”
The first time I saw the character art on the Japanese website, I thought it was terrible Death Note fan art. Regardless, the game seems complex and fun: something most Megaten games have.