Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Review

Any game in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise (this includes the Digital Devil Saga, Devil Summoner, and Persona offshoot series) is incredibly hard to describe. MegaTen, also known as SMT, is one the most popular JRPG franchises, right up there with legends like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The franchise's non-Persona games have reached cult status.

How can I possibly describe my feelings about playing the most famous game in an iconic franchise almost two decades later? Perhaps I will need to mention another mythology-heavy, god-slaying game from the same era.

This game is as much a part of my PlayStation 2 collection as the original God of War. Although it's iconic, it was not a game I enjoyed.

Shin Megami Tensei is primarily about controlling and summoning demons. Your player character must choose a path that honors your moral code and the rest of the heavens. There are many endings to every game, lots of demons and dungeons, as well as an absurdly difficult level with almost no learning curve. Imagine a maturer, more audacious Pokemon that constantly punishes you and sends you to literal Hell.

Nearly all of the games that were released prior to 2000 were from Japan. However, SMT: Nocturne was released in North America and Europe in 2004 and 2005 respectively. It quickly became a cult classic. A turn-based JRPG that's heavy on dungeon crawling and merciless trial and error, the game sets the tone by ending the world in an event called "The Conception" within the first ten minutes.

The rest of the game is spent in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo where there are only five humans left. You're not human anymore. A young, mysterious boy drops a Magatama parasite-like worm into your brain. This transforms you into the Demi-Fiend.

You can not only fight and recruit demons for your cause but you can also find and digest Magatama to alter the Demi-Fiends' abilities. There are many factions competing for power in the new world. Each one of them is trying to gain enough power to return to Kagutsuchi the sun at the centre of the new Tokyo. The world will be rebuilt in the image of the person who has the strength to stand up and reach the star. You can bet on yourself or choose a side as the Demi-Fiend.

The Japanese version was an actual re-release. This was the original source of the meme "Featuring Dante From The Devil May Cry Series". The titular Dante was shown as a recurring boss, and a potential party member. Dante was replaced by Raidou Kuzunoha, a second re-release. This HD remaster, which is actually the fourth edition, replaces Dante with Raidou Kuzunoha, a character from another SMT side-game. It also includes several new features such as improved graphics and voiced dialogue.

The game is dark and dreadful from the beginning, and it doesn't seem to be stopping. It is a very isolating atmosphere. The world is filled with demons and creatures, and the absence of human or plant life only further emphasizes how hopeless the situation is. The humans who are still certain are something.

Two of your friends and a teacher survived The Conception together, but they talk down to and disrespect you. Your teacher is also a key member in the cult that caused The Conception.

The only remaining humans are a cult leader, who tried to kill yours, and a pulp fiction writer who knew The Conception was coming but is as confused as you about it. There isn't much hope. It should be obvious that Loki, who is depressed, has been drinking his way to debt.

The game's graphics are minimalistic, and it still feels and looks like a PS2 game even in HD remaster. The first SMT game to use 3D models. They have a charm, but they don't age well. You won't find the simple visuals accompanied by an engaging and moving story here.

The narrative is reminiscent of a Nietzschean morality drama. The story's human characters are the focus of the narrative. They say many things that don't make sense or are just plain cryptic. Everyone seems to experience character regression as the game progresses.

They become less real characters by the second act and more philosophical characters pretending to be human before giving up their humanity and selling their souls to powerful demonic entities. Dante/Raidou are special guests stars who add little to the story, but can be a pleasant late-game addition to your party, if you so desire.

Unfortunately, a plot driven primarily by characters who want to become the new world's Ubermensch is not a good idea. They will continue to destroy everything and everyone they come across. There are many sections in the game that don't give any clues as to what next. Unless you know the answer or look it up, you will be almost always confused about what is happening or where to go next.

You're not likely here for the story, graphics, characters or story. SMT's legendary gameplay and mechanics are what made this game legendary. You can sum them up by saying, "Fucking hard."

This game is one of those games in which it is possible to lose in tutorial battle. It is also likely to have influenced the trend. It is expected that you will fail multiple times and learn from them. However, sometimes your mistakes can be things you didn't know or are blown up by RNG. It is necessary to be familiar with the movesets and abilities of demons as well as what you can combine them into. You could be losing so much time trying to level up monsters in the originals because your inherited skills were completely random.

The remaster lets you choose the number of skills that can transfer from one creature to another. You can still use the old method of inheritance if you prefer the old way.

The recruiting process has not changed much. You must negotiate with demons to get them on your team. However, it's not likely that they will join you. You can make a demon do whatever you want, only for it to run away with your valuable stuff.

It is crucial that you learn how to use buffs, debuffs and capitalize on your weaknesses in order to win actual battles. Level grinding will not get you far. The game is very proactive in warning you about any potential enemies and giving you tips on how to fight them. You can be overwhelmed by any enemy, particularly the Fiend fights.

The Fiend battles, despite or perhaps because they are difficult, are one of the most enjoyable parts of the game. The game features twelve Fiend race bosses, each of which can be chosen, and all are extremely powerful but also very personal. One of the most famous fights in JRPG history is against the Matador. He acts as a gatekeeper and teaches you how to use battle system correctly or you will be punished.

The Fiends, unlike most brooding and navel gazing casts, are full of charm, humour, and life. They are all an iteration or death, but they lighten up the room and bring joy to the atmosphere. Their charisma is unmatched, whether Matador proclaims "I challenge you to a duel" or Hell Rider yelling "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa duel" in their dynamic entry. Although the fights are brutal, I enjoyed my time with these guys.

Most of these criticisms focus on a game that hasn't changed much since its inception 18 years ago. What does Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster actually add? The biggest addition to the game is the Anti-Frustration Fusion skill feature and the graphical upgrades.

This is because the "easy" difficulty makes every battle, even those against Fiends or final bosses, seem absurdly easy. You can beat the game by simply walking up to everything and just punching it to death. You also get three times as much EXP and more money after battles. This makes it easy to access other areas of the game. Although it is DLC, it is completely optional and free.

The Mercy and Expectation Map Pack is another new feature. This DLC allows you to access two new areas that you can grind for EXP and cash. It is available in all game modes, even if you are not playing on Merciful difficulty. However, this DLC is not available for free. This leads me to my biggest criticism about the remaster: cold hard cash.

Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD remaster is $49.99/PS44.99. This title has remained relatively unchanged since its last re-release. It is amazing that a game that looks and feels the same as it did 20 years ago can be remastered in this age of remasters. Many additional features, such as meme generator Dante, are only available to those who pay for DLC.

You're correct - Dante was still in the original version of the game. However, you must pay $9.99 to get him back. This basically amounts to a stylish skin which is completely insignificant to the story and gameplay. It's a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a game that hasn't changed the audio since 2004.

I was born in the PS2 era, which is when this game was first released. I still play these games to this day. I love games that are weird and gunk. I also enjoy going back to old toys my parents never bought. But this is a completely different beast. It was so empty and made me question my taste. I have never felt so disconnected from a video game.

Yet, I could have forgotten all about it if it had been fun. It wasn't.

It was difficult to play what felt like a power fantasy, even though I tried to reduce the difficulty. Most importantly, I cannot get over a game where I don't care if it's having fun or not.

While I can see that a lot of it is intentional, I still think the most important thing about a game is the "am I having fun?" part. For SMT III, there are only a few moments of joy with the Fiends and the very relatable Collector Manikin. You also have the chance to meet Hee Ho, an ambitious and charming merchant who truly deserves a story from his perspective.

This leaves me with a little bit of a dilemma. This is a remaster I would not hesitate to grade low if it weren't for its iconic status. Its popularity amongst fans and the entire genre makes me wonder how I should grade it. Atlus's efforts to distribute older titles to a wider audience is also something I love.

This is probably not the best bridge.

I hope that people will disagree with me, or have a different experience. This game has a rich history. I hope that this remaster will reach people who enjoy it or have never had it before.

For me, I rely on Nietzsche and God of War's climax - god is dead. He was killed by unfun and disappointing remasters.