Playstation SMT: Questions and Discussion

[r3v3rs3]

So I am looking forward to play an SMT or Persona game for PS2. To my knowledge there are four of these on the system:
1- SMT 3: Nocturne
2- Devil Summoner
3- Digital Devil Saga
4- Persona 3

If I missed a few feel free to correct me. Anyway these games require heavy investment of time so knowing more about them beforehand wouldn't hurt. Here are my likes/dislikes:

1) Do not like random battles (particularly with lengthy dungeons!).
2) Do not like character grinding.
3) Game length should preferably be from 10-30 hours for main quest. If it goes around a little longer shouldn't be a problem. But 50+ hours (for main quest) is a little too much, especially if the game doesn't look interesting enough to hold my interest.

So, out of these games which one should I play? Between if you have anything interesting to add about the games don't hesitate. This is just a discussion thread!

 

[Crow]

To my knowledge there are four of these on the system:
1- SMT 3: Nocturne
2- Devil Summoner
3- Digital Devil Saga
4- Persona 3

You missed Digital Devil Saga 2, also on the PS2.

I think DDS is a pretty solid game, albeit a tad depressing. I played Persona 3, I thought it was a terrible game although Chandoo would say otherwise. Oh well.

 

[Muaaz]

I'm not into these type of games but I've heard much hype about Persona 3 recently .

 

[Chandoo]

oh my god !

another shin megami tensei fan !! on pakgamers !!

ZOMG !!

first order of importance.

BUY NOCTURNE, and PERSONA (preferably if you can find Persona FES that would be better).

 

[BeLoShI]

Go for Persona 3 u wont regret to Buy it and Play it.

 

[Crow]

1) Do not like random battles (particularly with lengthy dungeons!).
2) Do not like character grinding.
3) Game length should preferably be from 10-30 hours for main quest. If it goes around a little longer shouldn't be a problem. But 50+ hours (for main quest) is a little too much, especially if the game doesn't look interesting enough to hold my interest.

All that = Persona
All that =/= DDS

Get DDS.

 

[Chandoo]

^ stfu heretic !

nocturne is one of the best RPG's EVER. Its a bit more difficult compared to the avarage RPG though, but its a great experience.

 

[r3v3rs3]

Well I started with Persona 3 because I had this one already downloaded before. The others I have yet to download.

Played P3 for about two hours. The graphics are not as good as I was expecting. Also, the character movement animation feels off. Music is a mixed bag with both good and bad soundtracks. I like the story and the setting though. In particular, I like how the game is presented in a more non-conventional way than normal RPGs.

 

[Chandoo]

stick to it, the story will get even better the more you progress into the game, and you'll get into superb boss battles etc plus you'll meet some really powerful team members which will make the small fry encounters easier.

 

[r3v3rs3]

I searched a bit online and people are saying that the game is around ~65 hours long. Unless I get bored around 30-40 hour mark I probably will continue though. Anyway, given the playthrough time it would take me around 2 months to complete this game.

Also, found an awesome article while searching:
http://schlaghund.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/persona-3-as-narrativist-ludologist-litmus

Surely, it goes a little too much towards the negative side of the game. However, since it is an article and not a review it's fine. Really well written article in my opinion.

 

[Chandoo]

if a very heavy western based site like gamespot can give persona RPG of the year over other main stream hits like mass effect and the witcher, surely the game's got something great about it.

again, i can only advice you to stick to it, the rest is up to you.

oh and , they just announced another shin megami tensei game for the ps2

 

[r3v3rs3]

Time to revive the thread. I played Persona-3 for about 10 hours but I have kept it aside for now. There are few particular reasons why I didn't like this game as much as I wanted to. However, there is not much point going into detail over here.

Downloaded DDS-1 and SMT3: Nocturne. For now I am playing DDS. The aesthetics are awesome except that I don't like freaky monsters. Music is really good. Gameplay wise the mantra system is cool. My only real complaint is random battles. This is a big problem as these just take away the freedom of movement away from the player. Also, it is mega annoying if you get stuck in maze or a puzzle and you get battles every few steps. Regardless, I am getting used to it. About 8 hours into it. Can you guys tell me how long is the main quest (excluding side quests)?

nocturne is one of the best RPG's EVER. Its a bit more difficult compared to the avarage RPG though, but its a great experience.

Yes, maybe. I have read similar comments before from other people. After only playing it a bit I can only say that the feel of this game is so different from other rpgs. Seems like a game that tries to move away from cliches.

 

[r3v3rs3]

OK few days ago I finally picked up DDS-1 again. Last time I played I left it at the start of last dungeon. First enemy in the dungeon was a boss so I was expecting a short clean boss rush. But was I wrong or what! The last dungeon itself is one third of the main quest.

After bearing through my old ps2 lens (astronomical load times for random battles) I finally killed the second last boss of main quest and saved just before the final encounter. Thanks to my lens the game hangs up (with a blank screen) at the rendered sequence before the final boss. I don't have particular inclination to get a new lens immediately so I guess this is it for now (as far as dds-1 is concerned).

Anyway, the game is long but not like some other RPGs. It's anything close to 35-38 hours for completion of main story. Some of the dungeon design gets repetitive by end but still it's a good game with nocturne's battle system setup in a more traditional way.

Incidentally, I also happened to read quite a few spoilers from DDS-2's story. So, without spoiling anything for others it is much more interesting than the first part.

 

[Chandoo]

man, i've always wanted to play DDS, haven't seen it in any shop here, guess i'll have to use the internets !

and persona 4 got released yesterday

another great SMT title to look forward to.

 

[r3v3rs3]

Yes it seems, according to reviews, that they did fix or improve number of issues with P3. The thing I disliked the most about P3 was the awfully uninspired graphical design during dungeon crawling. If they did something about that P4 will automatically be much better.

Between the wikipedia page for devil summoner 2 that there is no confirmation for an English release. I thought there would be a confirmed release just like P4?

 

[Chandoo]

don't bet on it, the first devil summoner didn't get received quiet well here (and it wasn't an interesting game to begin with imo). There's very little chance of the second one getting an english release. Although it shouldn't be hard since the game is primarily a text based title.

But still, persona 4 should hit the local markets any day now .. im excited !!

 

[r3v3rs3]

Before DS2 comes out, time to question and discuss once again! So, what is the current info on the planned 360 title(s) for this series. Any info on exactly which sequels are planned? Now some random tidbits.

There has also been an online MMO for sometime named Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine. I guess it's Japanese only. Doesn't look all that impressive. Anyway, the game is handled by Cave's new online division. This will be their first game I think.

Also downloaded DDS-2 and Persona-4. I don't plan to play persona 4. Of the first 15 hours or so I have seen, it looks like they could have made a short anime movie from this lol.

DDS-2 is brilliant. The fact the you just pick up right away from where the last game ended establishes a sense of continuity. Also, since I read a few spoilers, I can't wait for them to happen -_-. It's definitely on my "to play" list unless some other games take priority.