The Game Diaries: Shin Megami Tensei IV Edition
Commencement Date: 17 December 2014
Rating: M for Mature
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Initial Impressions
I've had this game since mid-April of this year. While I did play it when I first bought, something about it just didn't pull me in enough to really get through (similar to the Persona series, ironically). Perhaps my recent purchase of a 3DS XL spurred my interest to play it again.
Starting out, the game is just as difficult as I remember. The difficulty is staggering, even in the tutorial stages of the game. After dying twice within the first 15 minutes, I was able to change the difficulty to a much more possible setting and at least get through the game.
I am liking how similar yet different this game is from its sister series, Persona. This is the first Shin Megami Tensei game I've played and from what I can tell, this difficulty thing is a common trait of the SMT series. Persona is the easier counterpart, but of course, you can make Persona as easy or difficult as you want. The battle system is very similar to Persona, down to elemental attacks having the same names as they do in Persona: Zio, Bufu, Agi, etc. However, SMT IV seems to have a different feel than Persona probably because instead of your party consisting of your quirky classmates who think you're the best thing since sliced bread, your party consists of demons who aren't really friendly, but they like you, I guess. Perhaps it's because there's no visible trail of four other teenagers trailing behind me, but I feel a little lonely in SMT IV.
The Battle System
It's turn-based and very similar to Persona. As mentioned earlier, your party consists of demons that you have to personally recruit. Unlike Persona 3 and Persona 3 FES, you get to control the actions of each individual member in your party. This is an option in Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4, and Persona 4 Golden, but in SMT IV it's a given and there's no AI-controlled option when it comes to party member actions. Perhaps this is supposed to add to the difficulty, but to me it's a God-send. Maybe I'm just not good at trying to manipulate the AI to do what I want, but P3 and P3 FES were damn near impossible for me because I couldn't get my party to do what I wanted them to do.
As you prowl around the dungeon, demons are visible on the field. They appear as digital blocks, similar to the blobs that represented Shadows in Persona, that usually take the shape of a person or a bird. From what I can tell, I don't really see much of a correlation between the size of the shape that the blocks take on and how many demons await you. Some of them seem a little more ominous and some will charge at you. You can attack them with preemptive strikes using the X Button, which will grant you some preliminary damage and the opportunity to attack first when the battle actually ensues.
Burroughs
Burroughs is the name of the AI inside your gauntlet. She will offer tutorials as well as store data, items, and save/load files. All of your actions, at least when you're in the dungeon, will take place in, on, or around Burroughs. When you're in the dungeon, Burroughs is basically the Touch Screen. You can also useful install apps onto Burroughs. You will also fuse demons through Burroughs as well.
The Story
The story revolves around a young male protagonist (no female option unfortunately) who becomes a Samurai. It is the duty of the Samurai to maintain peace and fight demons. You will also have to work with these demons. Um, the 2.5 hours or so I've put in so much have yielded about this much information as far as the story goes. Most of that time was spent fighting in the dungeon so I think the story has yet to truly unfold...
Talking/Recruiting Demons
Through an app installed on Burroughs, called Scout, you gain the ability to speak to, and hopefully persuade, demons. Through these interactions, you will have to try and tell these demons what they want to hear or give them what they want so that they will want to join your team. This can be a kind of hit-or-miss situation. The best advice I can give on this would be to try and gauge their personalities and values and appeal to them. If they like your responses, they will join you. If not, they will attack you or your party. Just remember that you're dealing with demons. They don't play fair and have an innate ability to twist your words into a reason for them to kill you.
This Time in Shin Megami Tensei IV:
"Getting Our Feet Wet"
The story opens up and the tutorial stage begins. If you're anything like the rest of us, you will probably die multiple times. Once you die twice, you will get the opportunity to change the difficulty to an easier setting. You can take it and progress through the game, or you can keep the difficulty where it is and struggle for hours in the tutorial alone. Unlike in some Persona games, you are not obligated to stick to the same difficulty until you finish the game. You can change the difficulty whenever you like through Burroughs.
Primary Quests:
Tutorial Quest - You will need to complete these quests in order to move forward.
Training Exercise I
Client: Hope
Reward: 150 Macca
Task: Slay some demons.
This is the first training exercise. A Samurai must learn to battle with demons. Your target may be any demon you find. Defeat demons inside Naraku.
(Breakdown: Defeat any demon in Naraku to complete this quest.)
Personal Thoughts: Easy enough. Just defeat any demon.
Training Exercise II
Client: Hope
Reward: 150 Macca
Task: Recruit 3 demons into your party.
This is the second training exercise. A Samurai does not only battle demons. It is essential at times that you strengthen your forces by recruiting demons to your side. Once you have acquired three demons, which may be any you encounter, the quest will be complete.
(Breakdown: Get any three demons to join your party. You will need the Scout app from Burroughs.)
Personal Thoughts: This took me some time. This Quest allows you to get used to talking to demons. What I would suggest is first, make sure the demon you try to recruit is lower in level than you are. If a demon is a higher level than you, it will not join your team. Something to do with the weak serving the strong, not the other way around.
Second, after you get the first or second demon on your side, you'll notice a lot of repeats. If this is the case, I would suggest killing off the demons you already have on your team. Doing so will prevent, in the case that the demon you're trying to recruit doesn't accept your offer, the enemy from having more than one chance to inflict damage on you and your party.
Also, as you continue to go through Naraku even after you finish this Quest, try and recruit as many demons as you can.
Final Training Exercise
Client: Hope
Reward: 500 Macca
Task: Obtain the valuable item and return to Aquila Plaza.
This is the final training exercise. A Samurai must have a thorough grasp on his surroundings. I have hidden a certain item of value in the 2nd Stratum of Naraku. Find it and return to the Aquila Statue Plaza with it. And make no inquiries regarding its nature...
(Breakdown: Go to the 2nd Stratum of Naraku and find the valuable item. After finding it, head to the Aquila Statue Plaza.)
Personal Thoughts: Simple enough. The valuable item is a woman's ring (don't remember exactly what it was called in the game). It's located in the 2nd Stratum on the upper level.
Advancing the Story: New Quest
To the Roof
Client: Burroughs
Reward: 0 Macca
Task: Go to the rooftop.
I went ahead and made the task at hand into a quest. You have an appointment on the Mikado Castle rooftop with Master Jonathan and Master Walter.
All you need to do is go where you planned to meet and speak with Master Jonathan.
(Breakdown: Go the the Mikado Castle rooftop and speak to Jonathan.)
The next Quest introduces Challenge Quests. While I don't believe Challenge Quests are normally mandatory, they are in this case.
To My Fellow Samurai
Client: Navarre
Reward: 100 Macca
Task: Complete the three quests and return to K's Tavern.
Pardon my abruptness, but I have issues a quest to you and Walter. I hope you'll pardon my doing so in a quest outline, but I'd like to apologize for my earlier rudeness to you. I wish to hone my own skills alongside you. There were three Challenge Quests posted to the blackboard earlier; complete them all and return to K's Cavern.
(Breakdown: Complete the three tasks (Deliver Gryphon Talon x3, Slay Orthrus x1, and Deliver Deep Green Moss x3) that were on the blackboard in K's Tavern.)
Challenge Quests (Complete all three of these quests in order to complete To My Fellow Samurai)
Collect Demon Claws
Client: K
Reward: 30 Macca
Task: Deliver Gryphon Talon x3.
This is a job from Q the Blacksmith. He requires 3 Gryphon Talons. Gryphons may be strong, but they can be beaten. Also, he said he'd start selling the "Bone Sword" at his shop, which would be perfect for you guys. Best of luck!
(Breakdown: Find 3 Gryphon Talons. You can obtain these by defeating Grypons in Naraku, who will often leave these behind.)
Gather Some Naraku Lichen
Client: K
Reward: Holy Fruit x2
Task: Deliver Deep Green Moss x3
This is a job from B's Pharmacy. There is a certain type of mass that grows within Naraku. We've recently discovered that it has analeptic effects. B would like you to find 3 Deep Green Mosses. Whoever delivers them first gets the product.
(Breakdown: You can find Deep Green Moss in Naraku. It's not really a race, so don't feel like you have to rush.)
The Lion's Roar Within Naraku
Client: K
Reward: 1000 Macca
Task: Slay Orthrus x1
The two-headed Orthrus that appeared on the second level of Naraku is very powerful. Lets have a race to see who can slay it the fastest!
(Breakdown: Defeat the Orthrus that is located in the 2nd Stratum of Naraku. They say it's a race, but there's no need to lose. Regardless of how long you take, you will be the first to slay it.)
The conclusion of these Challenge Quests brings about the next Main Quest, A Missing Fellow Samurai, which will be covered in the next installment of The Game Diaries.
Thank you for reading, and please keep an eye out for part two.
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