REVIEW | "Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne" HD Remastered | B3 - Boston Bastard Brigade
It has been a long time since Shin Megami Tensei III graced Western shores. One could argue that while it wasn't the turning point for the popularity of the franchise players enjoy today, it does mark it place as the game that got that ball rolling. Soon after, players got the more accessible Persona 3, with 4 coming soon after, at which the series finally had gained the presence it needed to become a success today. Years later, the game finally receives a long-overdue remaster on the PS4, PC, and Switch. But this release, if nothing else, will serve as a great history lesson for how the series would eventually develop.
Shin Megami Tensei III's plot is more or less the same as previous entries: your protagonist is living their normal Tokyo student life, and are looking for your teacher at a hospital. It's during this time that they are caught up in an apocalyptic event known as the Conception. What follows is that a cross-section of Tokyo is converted into a sphere and most of humanity was either wiped out or made into demons, manikins, or spirits.
It also turns out that your avatar has turned into a half-demon called the Demi-Fiend. You now must use the power given to you to seek out those that possess Reason, which is the literal embodiment of a specific kind of idealogy. Since the Demi-Fiend cannot wield a Reason of his own, he has to support others through their power to help them reach their ideals. Of course, there might be paths still open to you apart from those individuals.
The gameplay is mostly the same as the earlier entries. Fight demons after talking with them to gain a chance to get them to join your side. Fuse them later to make even stronger demons. Some demons won't join you if your alignment is incompatible with the demon you are trying to recruit. Thankfully adjusting your alignment is easier in this entry thanks to the Magatama system. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell what Magatamas give you which alignment, nor which alignment a demon might have. This leaves you to do some simple experimentation and possibly some save scumming.
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