TheShin Megami TenseiandPersonaseries share an intimate connection with one another, essentially being two parts of the greaterMegami Tenseifranchise.Personaitself is a spin-off of aShin Megami Tenseispin-off, putting a layer of separation between the two properties. While both sub-series share attack names, demon designs, and even a greater multiverse,Personafans should not expect business as usual fromShin Megami Tensei III.
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Originally released for thePlayStation 2,Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne’s HD remaster brings one of Altus’ bestRPGsto a mass audience. WhilePersonafans might be eager to jump intoShin Megami Tensei III, Nocturneis a beast in and of itself – and a challenging one, at that.
10Don’t Expect Much Plot
ThePersonagames are all fairly story heavy, withPersona 5dedicating an astronomical amount of time to its storytelling. Anyone expecting this same level of narrative fromShin Megami Tensei IIIwill be staunchly disappointed, but this isn’t to sayNocturneis lacking in quality plot. What the story lacks in constant cutscenes or dialogue, it makes up for with rich subtext, nuanced character philosophies, and a script that puts most of thePersonagames to shame in terms of pure thematic content.
9Or Character Development
On that note,Personafans shouldn’t expect much character development either. Characters inShin Megami Tenseiare more thematic than anything, representing specific ideologies that reshape them over the course of the story. Not just that, the supporting cast aren’t main fixtures of the game, coming and going only when necessary. This does mean the core characters inNocturnearen’t as memorable as in the averagePersonagame, butShin Megami Tensei’s character writing is more about conveying grand ideas than fleshing out individual members of the cast.
8Multiple Endings Are Dynamic
Multiple endings are a staple of thePersonagames, but they’re fairly linear in nature.Persona 3’s multiple endings split off from a single decision,Persona 4’s endings simply build off one another, andPersona 5’s multiple endings blatantly push you towards the canon conclusion. This isn’t the case withShin Megami Tensei III.
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Nocturnefeatures multiple different endings tied to how you answer questions throughout the story. The Labyrinth of Amala – a bonus dungeon – also spins-off into its own finale independent of the other endings in-game. Seeing every ending inShin Megami Tensei IIImeans making bold choices and reshaping the Vortex World how you deem fit. It’s far more dynamic thanPersona.
7The Vortex World Is Oppressive
Shin Megami Tenseiis a hostile franchise compared to other RPGs andNocturneis no exception.SMT IIIis set in a world that’s been reshaped by an event called the Conception, essentially blotting out the sky as the Earth rotates around itself. Known as the Vortex World, players will be contending with danger around every corner. Virtually all of Tokyo’s natural agriculture has died, every human has been wiped out, and Demons run wild. There’s levity and decent comic relief, but do not expectPersona’s otherwise lighthearted tone.
6Magatamas
While the averageShin Megami Tenseifeatures traditional weapons and armor just like inPersona,Nocturnedoes not. In lieu of equipables, players augment their stats through the Magatama system. You can only have one Magatama equipped at a time, but each one offers a unique spread of stat bonuses and teaches Demi-Fiend new skills on certain level ups. Using the right Magatama at the right time is crucial to success inNocturne.
5Demon Negotiation
ModernPersonafans will only be slightly familiar with the Negotiation system. Players can speak with enemies in-battle to sway them into their party. Unlike inPersona,Shin Megami Tensei III’s Negotiation system is a bit more complex. Not only are Demons more demanding, they’re nowhere near as friendly and their high levels mean they aren’t liable to join right away. There’s far more trial and error involved when it comes toNocturne’s Demon Negotiation, so don’t feel demoralized when demons won’t join up.
4Press Turn
The Press Turn Battle System was introduced inShin Megami Tensei IIIand has been a staple of the series ever since. Through the Press Turn system, every party member gets their own Icon which is expended whenever an attack or skill is used. Guarding, getting a critical hit, or exploiting a weakness only uses half an Icon.
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This forces players to be strategic in even the most basic of battles, ensuring that combat is never mindless like it can be in most ofFinal Fantasy’s random encounters. The fact enemies can also make use of the Press Turn System means your party is bound to take some serious punishment if you’re careless.
3The Difficulty Curve
Personagames are harder than the average RPG, but they’ve only been getting easier with time.Persona 4was easier thanPerson 3,Persona 5was easier thanPersona 4, andRoyalis even easier than5.Shin Megami Tensei IIIis one of the hardest games in the franchise, throttling anyone who so much as refuses to use buffs or debuffs. Smart enemy AI and the Press Turn system means you need to play smart and prepare for the worst. Bosses are dangerous and grinding will only take you so far.
2Complex Dungeon Design
Persona’s dungeon design started strong with the original on PlayStation followed by thePersona 2duology, butPersona 3and4settled on much simpler set pieces. WhilePersona 5strived to feature more sophisticated dungeon design, the series still isn’t on the level ofShin Megami Tensei.Nocturnein particular has some of the most complex dungeon design in the franchise, taking players through dense mazes, grueling climbs, and thought provoking navigational puzzles. You actually need to think about your surroundings unlike inPersona.
1The Raidou Kuzunoha Connection
The originalShin Megami Tensei IIIfeatured Dante from theDevil May Cryseries as a rather important supporting cast member. The game’s later Japanese re-release (which the HD Remaster is based on) replaces Dante with Raidou Kuzunoha – the main character of aShin Megami Tenseispin-off,Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha. Raidou himself is a detective who survives the Conception, coming after the Demi-Fiend and makingNocturne’s role in the greaterSMTmultiverse all the clearer.
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