Atlus So, I'm playing Devil Summoner - The Shin Megami Tensei Thread

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

I'm a few hours into the original Devil Summoner game (not that Raidou Kuzunoha stuff), so I'd like to share a few thoughts and see if anyone else played the game.

Right now I can say this:

Pros:

• Nice suburban setting and good atmosphere.
• Really good soundtrack.
• Interesting idea of allied demons having their own 'will'.
• You need to carefully tweak your party and formation, otherwise you get fucked. Not necessarily by bosses.
• Bossfights are challenging enough to tell you 'go grind, bitch', if you're not careful and didn't invest some time to buy new stuff and get better demons.

Cons:

• The same idea of free will. While the idea could be good, the execution is borked. FIrst, you can't control your demons directly, you can only choose options like 'Do whatever you want/Use offensive skills/Use defensive skills/Return/Guard'. Second, they can defy orders and choose the skills you didn't want to, which kinda lets you down during the battle (TL;DR: The AI is dumb).
• Battles are slow. That's not necessarily a con to me, since I can use the fast forward button on the emulator.
• Negotiation is almost useless unless you can understand Japanese (which turns bossfights into a grindfest).
• Graphics are ugly. Not a con to me, since I like those, but others might crap their pants over it.

Overall, I recommend you to play the game. It's not as bad as some people say, but it's definitely not a masterpiece. Google the English script, and enjoy.

(Also drunk while typing this post, so whatever)

Pic to recognize the game:

More: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/screenshot-thread.72409/page-467#post-3556069

 

[Phage]

I am a stupid so bare with me - are you referring to the Sega Saturn game, the PS2 game, or something else?

 

[oddech_wymarlych_swiatow]

As far as I understand he's playing original Devil Summoner for Saturn / PSP in japanese, with support of fully translated english script (which has been completed since June this year and still waits for implementation).

 

[spekkio]

this

I know you posted some in Screenshots thread, but using a single shot would help the n00bz recoognize the game.

 

[TheGreatOne]

Interesting idea of allied demons having their own 'will'.

So is it the same game as the one on 3DS (Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers)? Persona 2 used a somewhat similar system, your different party members had different standing with each other which presumably affected how effective their fusion skills were and on top of that each character could only use certain demon types as a Persona and could have neutral, good or great standing with any given demon species (which again presumably affected how powerful their attacks would be). But I have no idea if the first feature was completely linear or if you could alter those standings consciously (dialog choices and scenes where you could choose what to do were quite sparse).

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

As far as I understand he's playing original Devil Summoner for Saturn / PSP in japanese, with support of fully translated english script (which has been completed since June this year and still waits for implementation).

You got it right.

Interesting idea of allied demons having their own 'will'.

So is it the same game as the one on 3DS (Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers)? Persona 2 used a somewhat similar system, your different party members had different standing with each other which presumably affected how effective their fusion skills were and on top of that each character could only use certain demon types as a Persona and could have neutral, good or great standing with any given demon species (which again presumably affected how powerful their attacks would be). But I have no idea if the first feature was completely linear or if you could alter those standings consciously (dialog choices and scenes where you could choose what to do were quite sparse).

No, Soul Hackers is a 'sequel' to Devil Summoner for Saturn.

 

[Krraloth]

I own the 3ds remake and believe me demon negotiation doesn't really get easy even if you understand what they ask you.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's completely random cause it's not, but there are so many factors that influence a succesful negotiation that it might as well be luck when I nail one.

EDIT: Nevermind then.

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

I own the 3ds remake and believe me demon negotiation doesn't really get easy even if you understand what they ask you.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's completely random cause it's not, but there are so many factors that influence a succesful negotiation that it might as well be luck when I nail one.

EDIT: Nevermind then.

AFAIK, your alignment affects the negotiation too. At least only demons of your alignment can join you, while others can only give you money or magnetite.

 

[Krraloth]

I own the 3ds remake and believe me demon negotiation doesn't really get easy even if you understand what they ask you.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's completely random cause it's not, but there are so many factors that influence a succesful negotiation that it might as well be luck when I nail one.

EDIT: Nevermind then.

AFAIK, your alignment affects the negotiation too. At least only demons of your alignment can join you, while others can only give you money or magnetite.

Then again some demons are stubborn.

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

I own the 3ds remake and believe me demon negotiation doesn't really get easy even if you understand what they ask you.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's completely random cause it's not, but there are so many factors that influence a succesful negotiation that it might as well be luck when I nail one.

EDIT: Nevermind then.

AFAIK, your alignment affects the negotiation too. At least only demons of your alignment can join you, while others can only give you money or magnetite.

Then again some demons are stubborn.

Then again we play 2 different games.

 

[Krraloth]

I own the 3ds remake and believe me demon negotiation doesn't really get easy even if you understand what they ask you.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's completely random cause it's not, but there are so many factors that influence a succesful negotiation that it might as well be luck when I nail one.

EDIT: Nevermind then.

AFAIK, your alignment affects the negotiation too. At least only demons of your alignment can join you, while others can only give you money or magnetite.

Then again some demons are stubborn.

Then again we play 2 different games.

Then again you are playing it in Japanese who knows if it's not the same game?

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

I own the 3ds remake and believe me demon negotiation doesn't really get easy even if you understand what they ask you.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's completely random cause it's not, but there are so many factors that influence a succesful negotiation that it might as well be luck when I nail one.

EDIT: Nevermind then.

AFAIK, your alignment affects the negotiation too. At least only demons of your alignment can join you, while others can only give you money or magnetite.

Then again some demons are stubborn.

Then again we play 2 different games.

Then again you are playing it in Japanese who knows if it's not the same game?

Original Devil Summoner doesn't have a 3ds remake. Only a Saturn version and a PSP port.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers was also released for Saturn, but has a PS1 port and a 3ds remake.

 

[Krraloth]

I own the 3ds remake and believe me demon negotiation doesn't really get easy even if you understand what they ask you.
I wouldn't go as far as to say it's completely random cause it's not, but there are so many factors that influence a succesful negotiation that it might as well be luck when I nail one.

EDIT: Nevermind then.

AFAIK, your alignment affects the negotiation too. At least only demons of your alignment can join you, while others can only give you money or magnetite.

Then again some demons are stubborn.

Then again we play 2 different games.

Then again you are playing it in Japanese who knows if it's not the same game?

Original Devil Summoner doesn't have a 3ds remake. Only a Saturn version and a PSP port.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers was also released for Saturn, but has a PS1 port and a 3ds remake.

I see.

 

[KingOfGooseOMG]

Right on! Are you playing the Saturn or the PSP version? I had no idea they had a script out already. I'm assuming the PSP release? Been waiting on Devil Summoner in English for quite a while and intend to follow your lead. Thanks a lot for the heads up.

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

Right on! Are you playing the Saturn or the PSP version? I had no idea they had a script out already. I'm assuming the PSP release? Been waiting on Devil Summoner in English for quite a while and intend to follow your lead. Thanks a lot for the heads up.

I'm playing a Saturn version on my PC and a PSP version on the tablet using an emulator (SSF on PC, PPSSPP on the tablet). Both work quite nicely, however, I recommend to use Saturn version (lacks some content, but looks and emulates better).
If you want to get the script, look for Devil Summoner PSP translation project.

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

I have to give up on the PSP version of the game.

First of all, the game lags like hell in the forest dungeons (runs nicely in other cases). Frameskipping causes screen flickering during dungeon crawling, so it becomes really unpleasant to play (I can stand choppy movement, but audio lags - never).
Second, the combat lags when attack/skill effects are shown on the screen. Frameskipping fixes that, but constantly turning it on and off gets pretty tiring. Also, I should mention that frameskipping doesn't cause screen flickering during combat sequences.
Third, world map backgrounds are flickering or distorted.

That might be the emulator issue or the fault of the weak hardware. I guess I will continue playing the Saturn version of the game on my PC. Maybe I will try to play PSP version again later, when PPSSPP gets more updated. Like, a couple of months/years later.
Also, I tried Majin Tensei a short time ago, and (so far) I'm really enjoying it. You can understand the controls without any real knowledge of Japanese (might even write post whatever some of these options mean, however, I guess I should find a good soul who speaks Japanese to make sure everything is intact. Or get a word processor and understand what's going on by myself.

 

[oddech_wymarlych_swiatow]

Wow, you're choosing quite obscure, untranslated Megatens. Have you completed every single well-known SMT game?

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

Wow, you're choosing quite obscure, untranslated Megatens. Have you completed every single well-known SMT game?

The only game I completed in the SMT franchise is Strange Journey.

Tried SMT1 (SNES), but ended up choosing PS1 version over SNES. It has some drawbacks (and improvements), yet I prefer PS1 to any other platform. Still playing it when I'm in the right mood (using the walkthrough to keep up with the plot, however, I'd really like to actually read what these fuckers have to say and figure shit out myself, however, I dislike the bugs that are introduced by the translation).

If Persona counts, I'm playing Revelations: Persona from time to time, but only to find out what the plot is about, and then beat the Japanese version that didn't suffer the butchering that was done during localization. Don't even think about recommending the PSP remake, Shoji Meguro went full retard after Persona 3 (Strange Journey soundtrack and some SMTIV tracks are a good exception). Also tried Persona 3, but I drop it after a few hours.

SOmetiems I play Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei when I need a simple dungeon crawler to kill the time on the bus or during sleepless nights.

Also, tried Devil Survivor, but it lags like hell on my tablet during combat sequences, so I'm keeping it for later. Also, I was disgusted by the amount of pointless dialogue in the beginning.

That's about all I can remember in the current state (fuck champagne). Basically, I play different SMT games whenever I need a fix of the specific genre.

UPD: I'm also planning to play Ronde someday. For some reason, I get a boner when I see this ugly mess,

 

[H-K]

I dislike the bugs that are introduced by the translation

Fix for that here: http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/988/

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

I dislike the bugs that are introduced by the translation

Fix for that here: http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/988/

Thanks, man. Pity that PS1 version wasn't translated.

 

[spekkio]

I dislike the bugs that are introduced by the translation

Fix for that here: http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/988/

There's also this:
http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/907/

 

[oddech_wymarlych_swiatow]

If Persona counts, I'm playing Revelations: Persona from time to time, but only to find out what the plot is about, and then beat the Japanese version that didn't suffer the butchering that was done during localization. Don't even think about recommending the PSP remake, Shoji Meguro went full retard after Persona 3 (Strange Journey soundtrack and some SMTIV tracks are a good exception).

This...

https://mega.co.nz/#!jZ5CURBR!MaDH1pButy-qqS5YjvpbK8y7QmuwKfPUEgkfmUE6TYY

...will solve the problem, a patch that replaces PSP music with PSX OST.

Wow, you're choosing quite obscure, untranslated Megatens. Have you completed every single well-known SMT game?

The only game I completed in the SMT franchise is Strange Journey.

Heh, I've already done 8 Megatens, doin' the 9th and there're still before me games like DDS1&2, DeSu2, Raidou's, Persona1 etc. I wonder when I lay may hands on obscure crap like Demikids, Majin Tensei itp. maybe in 2016? And there're still some translations on the way: SMT:If, Devil Summoner, Soul Fuckers.

This franchise is fucking addiction.

 

[Siveon]

This...

https://mega.co.nz/#!jZ5CURBR!MaDH1pButy-qqS5YjvpbK8y7QmuwKfPUEgkfmUE6TYY

...will solve the problem, a patch that replaces PSP music with PSX OST.

This made my day.

And also this:

This franchise is fucking addiction.

Truer words have never been said. Shin Megami Tensei is a consistently well done franchise, in where it's hard to find a below average title. Somehow they almost always manage to appeal to a least one sect of their fanbase, and I just have to applaud that.

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

If Persona counts, I'm playing Revelations: Persona from time to time, but only to find out what the plot is about, and then beat the Japanese version that didn't suffer the butchering that was done during localization. Don't even think about recommending the PSP remake, Shoji Meguro went full retard after Persona 3 (Strange Journey soundtrack and some SMTIV tracks are a good exception).

This...

https://mega.co.nz/#!jZ5CURBR!MaDH1pButy-qqS5YjvpbK8y7QmuwKfPUEgkfmUE6TYY

...will solve the problem, a patch that replaces PSP music with PSX OST.

Wow, you're choosing quite obscure, untranslated Megatens. Have you completed every single well-known SMT game?

The only game I completed in the SMT franchise is Strange Journey.

Heh, I've already done 8 Megatens, doin' the 9th and there're still before me games like DDS1&2, DeSu2, Raidou's, Persona1 etc. I wonder when I lay may hands on obscure crap like Demikids, Majin Tensei itp. maybe in 2016? And there're still some translations on the way: SMT:If, Devil Summoner, Soul Fuckers.

This franchise is fucking addiction.

After that PSX music patch, bro, I love you.

There is a Fire Emblem X SMT game being developed. Seems like they decided to revive the Majin Tensei formula (since it's basically a Fire Emblem game with demon summoning and other SMT crap).

 

[Monstrous Bat]

I'm going to use this thread as a general dumping ground for stuff related to the more obscure Megatens.

A question for those of you who have played part 1 of Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei. Does this shit get better after Mazurka? I started playing this game a while ago, it started out okay, the dungeon design is rather meh but servicable, but this Mazurka dungeon is really getting on my nerves. I'm currently on 7F on the right side of the tower but I'm not sure if I could suffer through 6 more massive levels completely devoid of anything of interest and populated by the same 6 types of demons. Daedalus, Bien and Valhalla were fine, but Mazurka is so mind-numbingly tedious that I'm wondering if I should just skip to part 2.

Also, why does everyone say this game is super hard and stuffies? I found it no harder than SMT 1.