So it really is as easy as they said it was. I thought maybe people were forgetting some detail that actually made it slightly difficult when describing it, but I guess they weren't!
If I've enjoyed Persona 3/4 what are the chances I'd like Strange Journey? All the reviews say it is a throwback to the older SMTs but I've never played them.
Strange Journey doesn't have nearly as much banter or characterization as the Persona games. It still has plenty of plot and dialogue but DS RPG standards, but there are no hour-long camping events or such.
If you liked the combat and demon-fusion elements of the Persona games, Strange Journey should be right up your alley. If the combat in the Persona games was dull and you just liked the dialogue / characters, Strange Journey probably won't do much for you.
I enjoyed the combat system but I'm dead tired of it after playing the same one for some 150+ hours over 2 games. Does Strange Journey's combat offer enough differences/variety to make it feel fresh for the game's entirety?
I enjoyed the combat system but I'm dead tired of it after playing the same one for some 150+ hours over 2 games. Does Strange Journey's combat offer enough differences/variety to make it feel fresh for the game's entirety?
Well... the big difference is that exploiting enemy weaknesses doesn't give you more turns. Instead, demons on your team with the same alignment will automatically perform an extra, free attack. The more demons on the team that share the same alignment as the one who exploited the enemy weakness, the stronger the extra attack.
So... yeah. Combat is mostly the same, but now you gotta take alignment into account as well. Which you didn't need to do in Persona because that game didn't have alignments at all.
Having weaknesses isn't crippling anymore. It hurts, but it's not life ending unless it's a weakness to mudo or hama.
To make up for this, some of the later bosses seem to hit really, really hard. I've only played through parts of Sector F, but it seems like Atlus put the brass knuckles on in Sector E.
Also, fusion is a lot less frustrating. Getting those perfect skill inheritances is a lot easier with the use of Demon Sources, though inheritance can be rather limited when not using sources.
Also, my alignment is now dancing between law and neutral with every decision. I'd rather stay neutral so I can make proper use of my new Black Rider.
Oh man, I just love bosses who are able to arbitrarily heal themselves and cancel stat boosts at the same time.
So, am I missing something, or... (mid-sector F spoilers)
Am I missing something about the fight with Jack? Is there someway to make him stop ever using Pure Blues, or does he just get to say "fuck you" at random and that's the end of it? I could bring gun-resistant or gun-nulling demons, but I don't think they'd do nearly enough damage to kill him between heals.
Kupi on
My favorite musical instrument is the air-raid siren.
Excuse me if this is a dumb question, but how do I tell what alignment I am? I can see my demon alignments but can't seem to find any place in the menu for my guy.
For a Shin Megami Tensei game. That still puts it at above average difficulty for an RPG in general.
If you play through on Expert on your first playthrough, the first boss and the first bonus boss can be remarkably brutal. The first bonus boss can one-hit kill the MC from full health on Expert.
I've found that the most difficult SMT games are the ones you play first. Once you've figured out the game's logic the combat system becomes much more bearable.
For a Shin Megami Tensei game. That still puts it at above average difficulty for an RPG in general.
If you play through on Expert on your first playthrough, the first boss and the first bonus boss can be remarkably brutal. The first bonus boss can one-hit kill the MC from full health on Expert.
I've found that the most difficult SMT games are the ones you play first. Once you've figured out the game's logic the combat system becomes much more bearable.
and most recent SMT games have a descending difficulty curve, too
the real ball-busting boss tends to come early, but by the mid- and endgame you've just got too many options for any well-designed enemy to circumvent
persona 2 was the last one i can remember to try and totally wreck you with bosses towards the end, but even nocturne eased off after the matador
Oh man, I just love bosses who are able to arbitrarily heal themselves and cancel stat boosts at the same time.
So, am I missing something, or... (mid-sector F spoilers)
Am I missing something about the fight with Jack? Is there someway to make him stop ever using Pure Blues, or does he just get to say "fuck you" at random and that's the end of it? I could bring gun-resistant or gun-nulling demons, but I don't think they'd do nearly enough damage to kill him between heals.
Tetrakern or attack mirrors will fuck him the hell up. Also, remember that while he can cancel your debuffs, you can still buff yourself like crazy. What I did was kill off his lackys fast, buff my guys to max, and start spamming acid breath while throwing everything I have at him immediately after he does his heal. I also threw an attack mirror on my dudes, but I killed him before he even attacked. Buffalo-head's alternate form, the fire statue thing (I forget the name), comes with a multi-heavy-hit phys attacks that completely destroys him. If you get all five hits on him it's well over 800 damage in one attack.
P3's final boss was a pain in the ass, though really only because of the reliance on party AI
that one doesn't count!
seriously, a boss that you can totally breeze through until it kills you in two attacks
just those two
sterling design there, guys
it doesn't help that you'd have to be crazy to not bring along at least one teammate with (me)diarahan
Oh how that boss pissed me off. I dominated everything up until that point (including more or less the Reaper), and then I get here.
Starts off easy enough, in fact I blew through all of the arcana changes until death. Then death isn't even that bad but it takes a bit to bring Nyx's health down so the fight can take awhile. Then that attack that does all those status effects as well as hurt you. What's that Yukari, you don't deem it important enough to heal MC, just yourself? Well thanks, here's your reward. Gameover.
P3's final boss was a pain in the ass, though really only because of the reliance on party AI
Just bring Akihiko, Aegis and Yukari. All on Support. Problem solved.
Until he charms them and they heal him to full
This is why Yukari has Charmdi. :P
Really though on my first and second attempt at the last boss with that team, once the last phase of the boss kicked in, I think my allies only got to attack once every 3 turns. It was just endless amounts of buff/debuff/samarecarm with a mediarahan/diarahan every once in awhile. The AI worked pretty well in that lengthy attrition strategy.
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I enjoyed the combat system but I'm dead tired of it after playing the same one for some 150+ hours over 2 games. Does Strange Journey's combat offer enough differences/variety to make it feel fresh for the game's entirety?
So... yeah. Combat is mostly the same, but now you gotta take alignment into account as well. Which you didn't need to do in Persona because that game didn't have alignments at all.
To make up for this, some of the later bosses seem to hit really, really hard. I've only played through parts of Sector F, but it seems like Atlus put the brass knuckles on in Sector E.
Also, fusion is a lot less frustrating. Getting those perfect skill inheritances is a lot easier with the use of Demon Sources, though inheritance can be rather limited when not using sources.
Also, my alignment is now dancing between law and neutral with every decision. I'd rather stay neutral so I can make proper use of my new Black Rider.
So, am I missing something, or... (mid-sector F spoilers)
Pokemon White: 3353-4309-8670
(PM me if you add please)
Light Blue = Law
White = Neutral
Redish Pink = Chaos
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Yeah pretty much this will speed things up a lot.
This one floor of Sector H's darkness filled areas are pretty ass because they're all like 3x3 rooms which go nowhere.
For a Shin Megami Tensei game. That still puts it at above average difficulty for an RPG in general.
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If you play through on Expert on your first playthrough, the first boss and the first bonus boss can be remarkably brutal. The first bonus boss can one-hit kill the MC from full health on Expert.
I've found that the most difficult SMT games are the ones you play first. Once you've figured out the game's logic the combat system becomes much more bearable.
Ah! Thanks!
Pokemon White: 3353-4309-8670
(PM me if you add please)
and most recent SMT games have a descending difficulty curve, too
the real ball-busting boss tends to come early, but by the mid- and endgame you've just got too many options for any well-designed enemy to circumvent
persona 2 was the last one i can remember to try and totally wreck you with bosses towards the end, but even nocturne eased off after the matador
that one doesn't count!
just those two
sterling design there, guys
it doesn't help that you'd have to be crazy to not bring along at least one teammate with (me)diarahan
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Just bring Akihiko, Aegis and Yukari. All on Support. Problem solved.
Oh how that boss pissed me off. I dominated everything up until that point (including more or less the Reaper), and then I get here.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
This is why Yukari has Charmdi. :P
Really though on my first and second attempt at the last boss with that team, once the last phase of the boss kicked in, I think my allies only got to attack once every 3 turns. It was just endless amounts of buff/debuff/samarecarm with a mediarahan/diarahan every once in awhile. The AI worked pretty well in that lengthy attrition strategy.
that's funny, because I've never seen her use it
It may be bugged or something.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
All that Ice Break is unforgivable, though. Jesus Christ Mitsuru, what is wrong with you?
Edit: Aww, Gilder, you beat me to the Element Break bitching!
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Mitsuru: Don't worry, I got this shit. 8-)
Ice Break!
8-)
Game Over
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Especially onces with very good base resistences so you don't have to waste too many slots putting voids on them.