Favorite Shin Megami Tensei game (Spinoffs included)

[Z-Mizz]

Just curious if anyone else in the community plays games from this series and which are their favorites.

I love all the games in the series and have played most of them, but my personal favorite has to be SMT3: Nocturne. The reason is simply because it's, in my opinon, the most challenging game in the series. I still haven't beaten it (@_@)

Other than that I'm stoked about the release if Persona 5 sometime this year! (Hopefully)

 

[BRN]

My first and only main-line series was SMT IV. My friend told me "It's like pokemon, but mature" so I was like FUCK YEAH but I still didn't expect the amount of penis and pussy

Turns out Shin Megami Tensei is GRITTY AS FUCK, difficult, and really well written! So hell yeah!
It might have been more challenging for me than it was for you because, being new to the series, I was learning as I went along. The game didn't hold my hand (the first time encountering Mamudo was awful) but it didn't punish you too hard for failure until later in the game, when you shouldn't be failing.

Good times. Also played Persona Q, but while its characters and aesthetic were solid, I couldn't into its gameplay.

I've been told I should play Devil Survivor. Thoughts?

 

[Z-Mizz]

My first and only main-line series was SMT IV. My friend told me "It's like pokemon, but mature" so I was like FUCK YEAH but I still didn't expect the amount of penis and pussy

Turns out Shin Megami Tensei is GRITTY AS FUCK, difficult, and really well written! So hell yeah!
It might have been more challenging for me than it was for you because, being new to the series, I was learning as I went along. The game didn't hold my hand (the first time encountering Mamudo was awful) but it didn't punish you too hard for failure until later in the game, when you shouldn't be failing.

Good times. Also played Persona Q, but while its characters and aesthetic were solid, I couldn't into its gameplay.

I've been told I should play Devil Survivor. Thoughts?

SMTIV is a great introduction to the series. Let me just say that every game in the SMT series is challenging, so I'm glad you pushed through to the end. The reason I think 3 is the most challenging is just because it's so unforgiving. One wrong move in a fight and demons you've defeated 4 hours before will gang the MC and wreck you. SMTIV is the same, but you don't get the chance to resurrect in 3.

What path did you choose in your first playthrough of IV? I went the chaotic route.

I feel the same about Persona Q. I think most people do. XD

You should definitely play Devil Survivor! It's a great TRPG if you're into them and even if you're new the difficulty curve is gentle, in the beginning anyway.

 

[BRN]

I didn't pick a particular path, I just answered questions honestly and tried to 'be' my character. I was mostly convinced by the chaotic route, but wasn't convinced by its conclusions, so I started trying to head towards lawful. I accidentally ended up True Neutral. Great ending.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm currently playing Super Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (lel) but Devil Survivor is now even higher up my list.

Seriously, more people should play these games, they're fantastic.

 

[Z-Mizz]

I'm so jelly. I tend to be a very level headed individual in real life, but there were a lot of lawful choices in that game that I just couldn't agree with. I thought I would get the True Neutral as well but ended up freeing the world with chaos.

I think you're going to enjoy it! And Super Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is one of those fun games that you can play in between summoning demons and shaping the world XD

I was hoping more people would respond so we could get some good SMT discussions going, because this series is highly underrated/unheard of. Well except the Persona series, which seems to be helping to get the SMT name out there.

 

[Z-Mizz]

@BRN I hope you have some free time this summer XD

 

[John the fur]

definately Persona 3

 

[Z-Mizz]

definately Persona 3

That's definitely a solid choice. Persona 3 was my first entry in the SMT franchise. It was my favorite for a long time, but the franchise has so much to offer. And as much as I prefer the atmosphere and characters of 3 compared to 4, 4 had the better gameplay.

 

[John the fur]

That's definitely a solid choice. Persona 3 was my first entry in the SMT franchise. It was my favorite for a long time, but the franchise has so much to offer. And as much as I prefer the atmosphere and characters of 3 compared to 4, 4 had the better gameplay.

i play games for story and characters
the bad part about P3 ix the tutorial length ugh
how they get your characters info (I.E. Name) is probably the most interesting in a videogame so far

 

[MarineHaddock]

Persona 2 Innocent Sin was my first entry into the series and I loved it, but my favourite is still Digital Devil Saga 1 & 2. I can't really separate them because it really does just feel like 2 chapters to a different story and there are definitely things they did better than the other. I'd recommend them to everyone I absolutely adore them, and you can fight the demi-fiend in them for the Nocturne fans. I personally feel DDS has the better gameplay, characters, music and graphics compared to the persona games but that's just me.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the first 3 persona games (1, 2IS, 3), I loved the first 3.

Also yes Nocturne is great but I have the world's biggest for Isamu so can't get any other ending because I just do whatever he tells me every single time and the game freezes on the third layer of amala on PAL copies.

 

[Z-Mizz]

DDS is definitely near the top of my list of favorite SMT games. The story, approach and style of the game make it stand apart from the rest of the series. I still like to think that one day they'll make another game in the same sort of style as DDS.

How can you like Isamu? He's such a twat <_< He's always being sneaky and manipulative and he's weak. I need to really finish that game if he actually starts doing things for himself at some point =P

 

[MarineHaddock]

DDS is definitely near the top of my list of favorite SMT games. The story, approach and style of the game make it stand apart from the rest of the series. I still like to think that one day they'll make another game in the same sort of style as DDS.

How can you like Isamu? He's such a twat <_< He's always being sneaky and manipulative and he's weak. I need to really finish that game if he actually starts doing things for himself at some point =P

I'd love if they made another DDS style story, or just used that battle stuff, seriously I prefer it so much to the way persona 3 and 4 work. It is such an interesting game and it stands out so nicely and then you got great joys to your heart like Lupa.

Sneaky and manipulative is my type and also demi-fiend can easily over power. Sadly though it is a lot about the looks and his movements (im shallow at times), something about him makes him very pretty, even if it is a thousand screaming faces yelling at me for being late. How far are you in Nocturne?

 

[Z-Mizz]

I'd love if they made another DDS style story, or just used that battle stuff, seriously I prefer it so much to the way persona 3 and 4 work. It is such an interesting game and it stands out so nicely and then you got great joys to your heart like Lupa.

Sneaky and manipulative is my type and also demi-fiend can easily over power. Sadly though it is a lot about the looks and his movements (im shallow at times), something about him makes him very pretty, even if it is a thousand screaming faces yelling at me for being late. How far are you in Nocturne?

In my opinion the battle system across all SMT are pretty much the same with a little twist here and their. Most of the games utilize the "Turn Press System". DDS was nice because they had the demon shift aspect, plus some spells and skills I think were made specifically for that game. I would love to see that return.

I'd be lying if I said Isamu wasn't attractive, but that personality D: I've never made it terribly far. I think the last time I played the game I made it to that city of Manikans.

 

[MarineHaddock]

In my opinion the battle system across all SMT are pretty much the same with a little twist here and their. Most of the games utilize the "Turn Press System". DDS was nice because they had the demon shift aspect, plus some spells and skills I think were made specifically for that game. I would love to see that return.

I'd be lying if I said Isamu wasn't attractive, but that personality D: I've never made it terribly far. I think the last time I played the game I made it to that city of Manikans.

There's quite a bit of difference based on the time they came out, like Persona 1 is a pretty different system from Raidou (though Raidou wouldn't count here), Persona 2 has a very different fusion system from mainline, but DDS is a bit of a more polished version of Nocturne. Persona 3 and 4's system doesn't feel as smooth to me but it's probably a personal thing and the entire run thing of "ill wait for an opening" got frustrating on the first battle. Sure every other game running could fail but at least it made it out my character tried even if it meant giving up a turn. But yea I'd love to bring back some of the skills from that and I really liked the fusion moves with it, especially when you're mixing human forms with the demon forms.

He's fine if you just... put some tape over his mouth and pretend he never spoke ever. There's quite a few manikin cities but I'm guessing you mean the one in the sewer before matador and not the one with that one manikin everyone found attractive.

 

[Z-Mizz]

Most of the games utilize the "Turn Press System".

Most of the games after SMT: Nocturne utilize the "Turn Press System". Should have been more specific. Whoops xP
Yeah, before SMT 3 the games tried all sort of different things.

Persona 3 and 4's system doesn't feel as smooth to me but it's probably a personal thing and the entire run thing of "ill wait for an opening" got frustrating on the first battle

The Turn Press System has always been about "creating an opening". I think there might have been moments you had to wait as part of a boss battle, but there have been moments like that throughout the entire franchise.

But yea I'd love to bring back some of the skills from that and I really liked the fusion moves with it, especially when you're mixing human forms with the demon forms.

Oh man the fusion moves were so awesome! It was so fun experimenting and trying to discover them all, which I never did on my own (>_<) They added something similar to this in the remake of Persona 4 where certain party members would have special combination attacks that only they could perform. It just wan't the same though. Also, the screen shots of Persona 5 make it look like characters become one with their personas, to maybe that will be an opportunity to perform transformations and combinations like that.

He's fine if you just... put some tape over his mouth and pretend he never spoke ever.

o: You've just made Isamu the best character in Nocturne. Now he's my bae xD

I'm guessing you mean the one in the sewer before matador and not the one with that one manikin everyone found attractive.

That's the one : D