Shin Megami Tensei IV
Price: $19.99
Buy it on: Amazon
It's not easy to get people on board the Megaten train even with the success of Persona, and understandably so as the older SMT games can seem outdated. If you've ever had the slightest bit of curiosity about the older SMT games, or you're a Persona fan and want to cover some bases, Shin Megami Tensei IV is your best way to have a foot in each world.
The first thing that will hit newcomers to the series is the difficulty. While not one of the hardest Atlus titles Shin Megami Tensei is certainly not a like a stroll through the park and is a big step up from Persona in terms of difficulty. You can't stop and smell the roses in SMT4, and while a lower difficulty setting is available you're still well within range to get bopped if you aren't playing smart.
The second thing you'll notice is the ideal SMT/Persona gameplay. I'm a big fan of the enemy weakness exploitation featured in Atlus games and that's here in full force as is something called the "Smirk" system. This system gives you the chance to do even more damage after an effective attack. Of course, you also have full access to your typical SMT fair; negotiating, fusing, and creating your own party is still very much the name of the game. Stepping in with a more traditional Megaten feel are battles that you often can not escape from or bypass by juking on the overmap. There will be plenty of times where you have to fight it out, and things can get unexpectedly hairy.
As you'd imagine, the story is phenomenal and one of the game's strong suits, but it does take a darker path than some of the installments in the Persona franchise. I think it's all the much better for it, but if you're looking for a story about plucky high schoolers maybe you should stay away. The feudal Japanese system mixed with medieval Europe theme works wonderfully, and the music is as intoxicating as is tradition for a Megaten game.
What makes this such a truly fantastic title is the scope of the whole thing. You really do get your money's worth with this game as it lasts around 40 hours for the story alone. While also featuring cutscenes that could be mistaken for a RPG console release. The entire game is fully voice acted, complete with fully realized 3D environments and a surprisingly mature story for a handheld RPG. This is the closest you'll get to a full blown SMT game without dipping over into some of the less friendly titles. If you've ever had a small interest in the franchise, SMT is where you should begin.
Published Jan. 30th 2018
