Also, is Devil Survivor in general a decent Introduction to Megaten? I know there are probably better games but...?
1. They're completely separate.
2. I'd say pretty much any game released since Persona 3 is a good way to get into the series, so yes, I think Devil Survivor's a good introduction to Megaten. Can't speak for 2 as I haven't played it yet, but people like it so there you go.
Is Devil Survivor 2 a direct sequel to DS1, or can you just start with DS2?
Also, is Devil Survivor in general a decent Introduction to Megaten? I know there are probably better games but...?
You can start with DS2. As far as I can tell, the games are not connected.
And is Devil Survivor a decent introduction to Megaten as a whole? Bit of a tough question.
On the on one hand, yeah, sure, because it's all about fusing together a team of demons geared towards ruthless exploitation of the enemy's weaknesses.
On the other hand, it's an SRPG rather than a more traditional dungeon crawler.
As someone who just had all those same questions a few days ago, I would say that yes, DS2 is a decent jumping on place. I just bought it the other day and its my first ever Megaten game and I'm enjoying it so far.
I also just got a brand new Vita and I'm waiting for Atlus to put their Persona games on sale. I'll probably buy all 3 of them when they go on sale.
Bah. If you wanna get introduced to SMT, go Nocturne. Dive in the ice with no clothes on.
It's the only way you'll learn.
On Hard mode. Hard mode is the only correct way to play Nocturne. It becomes an experience.
I mean, I can't be the only one with maniacal laughter every time I beat a superboss.
Petrifying all their minions. Debuffing their accuracy (and buffing my evade) so they can't land a hit. Charging up my super attacks. Laughing as they waste all their turns.~
Then getting into that back attack random battle that kills three members of your team in the initial round, paralyzes your main character, and then crits him dead.
But you'll be back for blood.
Tips for the SMT core games. Those Useless Spells in almost every other roleplying game... you know, the status effect abilities and buffs/debuffs? They're GOD TIER here. Oh, and resists and weaknesses mean at least twice as much as any other game in the Press Turn system (Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga) because they don't just mean extra damage - they also mean extra turns.
Tips for the SMT core games. Those Useless Spells in almost every other roleplying game... you know, the status effect abilities and buffs/debuffs? They're GOD TIER here. Oh, and resists and weaknesses mean at least twice as much as any other game in the Press Turn system (Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga) because they don't just mean extra damage - they also mean extra turns.
This is actually quite interesting and really makes me happy. I love games where status ailments and support roles play a bigger part of combat. I hate the "holy trinity" of tank, dps, heals. Games that incorporate buffs/debuffs well are way more fun to me, simply because they add an extra level of strategy and depth that's missing otherwise.
When you say "core games" which ones specifically are you talking about?
Also, another random question. Assuming I really get hooked on this series, how readily available are the older games? Have there been PSP or DS remakes of others besides the Persona games? What platform is Nocturne available on? I don't own a PS2 anymore, and I have a feeling I'm gonna be missing out on a ton of good games because of this.
This is actually quite interesting and really makes me happy. I love games where status ailments and support roles play a bigger part of combat. I hate the "holy trinity" of tank, dps, heals. Games that incorporate buffs/debuffs well are way more fun to me, simply because they add an extra level of strategy and depth that's missing otherwise.
When you say "core games" which ones specifically are you talking about?
Also, another random question. Assuming I really get hooked on this series, how readily available are the older games? Have there been PSP or DS remakes of others besides the Persona games? What platform is Nocturne available on? I don't own a PS2 anymore, and I have a feeling I'm gonna be missing out on a ton of good games because of this.
There haven't been remakes of any of the older games, other than the persona series, unfortunately, and they're the oldest games released in the US. Well...Okay, you can get SMT1 as an Iphone app, but it's not translated....for some reason.
And without a PS2, you're missing out on pretty much all the best SMT games released in the US. The handheld titles just cant compare, really.
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MaddocI'm Bobbin Threadbare, are you my mother?Registered Userregular
I don't think there are any SMT games where buffs and debuffs aren't incredibly powerful.
I would honestly reccomend p4 or DS as an introduction to the series rather than nocturne or SJ.
Nocturne is incredibly barebones storywise, you basically just have to guess where to go when new areas open up, and sometimes the randomness is simply annoying. And playing it on hard without having played an SMT game before sounds like torture, as magatama management is a pain even when I know which skills are broken and should be kept. As for SJ, it is a lot easier overall apart from having amazingly cruel dungeon design. The map actively hates you for the last third, and in the final zone it makes the Etrian Oddysey games look like pansies when it comes to map design. And EO is well known for being cruel and unforgiving.
I would honestly reccomend p4 or DS as an introduction to the series rather than nocturne or SJ.
Nocturne is incredibly barebones storywise, you basically just have to guess where to go when new areas open up, and sometimes the randomness is simply annoying. And playing it on hard without having played an SMT game before sounds like torture, as magatama management is a pain even when I know which skills are broken and should be kept. As for SJ, it is a lot easier overall apart from having amazingly cruel dungeon design. The map actively hates you for the last third, and in the final zone it makes the Etrian Oddysey games look like pansies when it comes to map design. And EO is well known for being cruel and unforgiving.
I look at it this way. If you can beat Nocturne, even on normal, the entire rest of the available english SMT games are a joke.
Nocturne is damn cruel (Especially before you get a couple hours in and get hama/mudo resist.) but efficient teacher.
I would honestly reccomend p4 or DS as an introduction to the series rather than nocturne or SJ.
Nocturne is incredibly barebones storywise, you basically just have to guess where to go when new areas open up, and sometimes the randomness is simply annoying. And playing it on hard without having played an SMT game before sounds like torture, as magatama management is a pain even when I know which skills are broken and should be kept. As for SJ, it is a lot easier overall apart from having amazingly cruel dungeon design. The map actively hates you for the last third, and in the final zone it makes the Etrian Oddysey games look like pansies when it comes to map design. And EO is well known for being cruel and unforgiving.
I look at it this way. If you can beat Nocturne, even on normal, the entire rest of the available english SMT games are a joke.
Nocturne is damn cruel (Especially before you get a couple hours in and get hama/mudo resist.) but efficient teacher.
Also the story is actually pretty damn awesome.
Dunno about the story, I honestly get bored by nocturne. I never bothered getting far though, as by the time you get to uh...
I beat dante, and the boss after him, the leader of what seems to be roughly the chaos faction. I didn't want to join the chaos faction and thus started trecking back to the other dudes to see if I could go forward in some other way. But I never bothered going back to it for that. So I guess that is a question on nocturne, does saying yes there lock me into a path, or am I just being silly. I always feel I should go back and complete is since I love p3/4, SJ and DS.
Also, thanks for answering guys. Good to know the DS2 doesn't require DS1 to play. I like SRPGs more than dungeon crawlers so it sounds like a good fit for me.
I should get Overclocked in the mail by tomorrow, I guess. And I will pick up a 3DS tomorrow too. Which is really stupid because I literally do not have enough time to play this now.
edit: But I don't want to miss out on Overclocked and new copies appear to be rare.
At this rate I will have to pick up an american 3ds to play the coming SMT games, which sucks. Especially if overclocked is hard to find seeing as how I can't afford it atm.
I can warmly reccomend ds1 though inquisitor. It is an excellent game, although since I haven't played 2 yet I can't comment how they stack up.
All I've played so far is DS1 and 2, DDS 1 and Persona 3. Buffs/debuffs were basically never used in DS1, the enemies' worked in P3 but mine never did, and in DDS1 I tried and tried because I was told they were absolutely necessary...but just like P3, mine did nothing while the enemies' always destroyed me.
All I've played so far is DS1 and 2, DDS 1 and Persona 3. Buffs/debuffs were basically never used in DS1, the enemies' worked in P3 but mine never did, and in DDS1 I tried and tried because I was told they were absolutely necessary...but just like P3, mine did nothing while the enemies' always destroyed me.
Well, I found that they do work in P3 and are pretty much necessary for some sections of The Answer, but really - with the right planning you could easily blow through just about everything in P3 with little thought.
Buffing and debuffing is king in Digital Devil Saga, though.
And I think included in all this is elemental resistance, which Megaten games put a much higher importance on than other games.
Are you talking status effects or buffs? Because I can't imagine not noticing the effect of buffs. Status effects are always more of a toss-up, unless you were fighting something weak to them.
Status buffs was the only way I could handle most of the boss fights in persona 4 on hard. Clearing the first real dungeon in one day is insanely hard even when you make sure you have the dodge increase/accuracy decrease so the bosses don't wreck you.
Bah. If you wanna get introduced to SMT, go Nocturne. Dive in the ice with no clothes on.
It's the only way you'll learn.
On Hard mode. Hard mode is the only correct way to play Nocturne. It becomes an experience.
I mean, I can't be the only one with maniacal laughter every time I beat a superboss.
Petrifying all their minions. Debuffing their accuracy (and buffing my evade) so they can't land a hit. Charging up my super attacks. Laughing as they waste all their turns.~
Then getting into that back attack random battle that kills three members of your team in the initial round, paralyzes your main character, and then crits him dead.
But you'll be back for blood.
Tips for the SMT core games. Those Useless Spells in almost every other roleplying game... you know, the status effect abilities and buffs/debuffs? They're GOD TIER here. Oh, and resists and weaknesses mean at least twice as much as any other game in the Press Turn system (Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga) because they don't just mean extra damage - they also mean extra turns.
You do not play Nocturne on Hard the first time. No. God no.
It's for NG+, when you want an added thrill. Don't cheapen the experience by making it harder than it needs to be, when Normal is no cakewalk.
Bah. If you wanna get introduced to SMT, go Nocturne. Dive in the ice with no clothes on.
It's the only way you'll learn.
On Hard mode. Hard mode is the only correct way to play Nocturne. It becomes an experience.
I mean, I can't be the only one with maniacal laughter every time I beat a superboss.
Petrifying all their minions. Debuffing their accuracy (and buffing my evade) so they can't land a hit. Charging up my super attacks. Laughing as they waste all their turns.~
Then getting into that back attack random battle that kills three members of your team in the initial round, paralyzes your main character, and then crits him dead.
But you'll be back for blood.
Tips for the SMT core games. Those Useless Spells in almost every other roleplying game... you know, the status effect abilities and buffs/debuffs? They're GOD TIER here. Oh, and resists and weaknesses mean at least twice as much as any other game in the Press Turn system (Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga) because they don't just mean extra damage - they also mean extra turns.
You do not play Nocturne on Hard the first time. No. God no.
It's for NG+, when you want an added thrill. Don't cheapen the experience by making it harder than it needs to be, when Normal is no cakewalk.
I find that I never have enough room for spells, so I never use the buffs/debuffs/etc. since they don't seem to do much. Everyone needs to have one or two damage spells, maybe a multi-target one too, a healing or status removal spell, the Hunting abilities in DDS, maybe an ability to run away or get more exp or something too. There's no room to add in a spell that makes you do 1% more damage. Even though when enemies used it, it seemed to double their damage...
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cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
I find that I never have enough room for spells, so I never use the buffs/debuffs/etc. since they don't seem to do much. Everyone needs to have one or two damage spells, maybe a multi-target one too, a healing or status removal spell, the Hunting abilities in DDS, maybe an ability to run away or get more exp or something too. There's no room to add in a spell that makes you do 1% more damage. Even though when enemies used it, it seemed to double their damage...
Posts
1. They're completely separate.
2. I'd say pretty much any game released since Persona 3 is a good way to get into the series, so yes, I think Devil Survivor's a good introduction to Megaten. Can't speak for 2 as I haven't played it yet, but people like it so there you go.
edited for clarity
DS2 is not directly related to DS1.
You can start with DS2. As far as I can tell, the games are not connected.
And is Devil Survivor a decent introduction to Megaten as a whole? Bit of a tough question.
On the on one hand, yeah, sure, because it's all about fusing together a team of demons geared towards ruthless exploitation of the enemy's weaknesses.
On the other hand, it's an SRPG rather than a more traditional dungeon crawler.
So... kind of.
It's the only way you'll learn.
I also just got a brand new Vita and I'm waiting for Atlus to put their Persona games on sale. I'll probably buy all 3 of them when they go on sale.
On Hard mode. Hard mode is the only correct way to play Nocturne. It becomes an experience.
I mean, I can't be the only one with maniacal laughter every time I beat a superboss.
Petrifying all their minions. Debuffing their accuracy (and buffing my evade) so they can't land a hit. Charging up my super attacks. Laughing as they waste all their turns.~
Then getting into that back attack random battle that kills three members of your team in the initial round, paralyzes your main character, and then crits him dead.
But you'll be back for blood.
Tips for the SMT core games. Those Useless Spells in almost every other roleplying game... you know, the status effect abilities and buffs/debuffs? They're GOD TIER here. Oh, and resists and weaknesses mean at least twice as much as any other game in the Press Turn system (Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga) because they don't just mean extra damage - they also mean extra turns.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
This is actually quite interesting and really makes me happy. I love games where status ailments and support roles play a bigger part of combat. I hate the "holy trinity" of tank, dps, heals. Games that incorporate buffs/debuffs well are way more fun to me, simply because they add an extra level of strategy and depth that's missing otherwise.
When you say "core games" which ones specifically are you talking about?
Also, another random question. Assuming I really get hooked on this series, how readily available are the older games? Have there been PSP or DS remakes of others besides the Persona games? What platform is Nocturne available on? I don't own a PS2 anymore, and I have a feeling I'm gonna be missing out on a ton of good games because of this.
And without a PS2, you're missing out on pretty much all the best SMT games released in the US. The handheld titles just cant compare, really.
Nocturne is incredibly barebones storywise, you basically just have to guess where to go when new areas open up, and sometimes the randomness is simply annoying. And playing it on hard without having played an SMT game before sounds like torture, as magatama management is a pain even when I know which skills are broken and should be kept. As for SJ, it is a lot easier overall apart from having amazingly cruel dungeon design. The map actively hates you for the last third, and in the final zone it makes the Etrian Oddysey games look like pansies when it comes to map design. And EO is well known for being cruel and unforgiving.
The "core" SMT games are Shin Megami Tensei 1 & 2 (SNES), Nocturne/Lucifer's Call (PS2) and Strange Journey (DS).
Strange Journey is considered by many to be the least of these, though personally I enjoyed it a lot.
Also, if I'm not mistaken, Digital Devil Saga (PS2) is coming to the PSN. In Europe. But since I don't have a PS3, I can't say for certain.
I look at it this way. If you can beat Nocturne, even on normal, the entire rest of the available english SMT games are a joke.
Nocturne is damn cruel (Especially before you get a couple hours in and get hama/mudo resist.) but efficient teacher.
Also the story is actually pretty damn awesome.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Dunno about the story, I honestly get bored by nocturne. I never bothered getting far though, as by the time you get to uh...
Or even necessary in some games.
Also, thanks for answering guys. Good to know the DS2 doesn't require DS1 to play. I like SRPGs more than dungeon crawlers so it sounds like a good fit for me.
edit: But I don't want to miss out on Overclocked and new copies appear to be rare.
I can warmly reccomend ds1 though inquisitor. It is an excellent game, although since I haven't played 2 yet I can't comment how they stack up.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Well, I found that they do work in P3 and are pretty much necessary for some sections of The Answer, but really - with the right planning you could easily blow through just about everything in P3 with little thought.
Buffing and debuffing is king in Digital Devil Saga, though.
And I think included in all this is elemental resistance, which Megaten games put a much higher importance on than other games.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Twice!
Didn't localize it either time!
You do not play Nocturne on Hard the first time. No. God no.
It's for NG+, when you want an added thrill. Don't cheapen the experience by making it harder than it needs to be, when Normal is no cakewalk.
As for core SMT, I'd say III > I > SJ > II > If.
I am crazy. What can I say?
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
That was the foundation of my Let's Play.
(I'll still do the challenge.)
On the Iphone!
They still did not localize it!
Heck, at this point Gideon should just give it to them out of pity.
Are you sure you were actually using buff spells?