Best RPGs: Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne (PS2)

On the way to visit your sick teacher at Shinjuku Medical Center, you fall asleep on the subway and dream that the world is coming to an end. You awake when the train stops to an empty subway station. You finally make your way to the Shinjuku Medical Center only to find it is also strangely empty except for your friend Chiaki Hayasaka waiting in the lobby for your arrival. When you finally reach your teacher you witness the destruction of Tokyo. During the destruction you black out and meet a small boy who gives you the key to survival in this new world. You have been given the power of a demon and it is now time to prepare the world to be reborn. And so begins the dark epic tale of Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne.

Gameplay
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne uses a variation of traditional turn-based battle system with the inclusion of the Press Turn game mechanic. This is the backbone of the battle system allowing you to exploit enemy weaknesses to your advantage. During battle your team of four demons, including the protagonist, battle demons that have a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. If you damage an enemy and exploit their weakness you will inflict more damage and also gain another turn in the process. With a game that is hard and demanding and this, mastering the Press Turn system is essential to be able to stand a chance in most battles. This can also be used as a disadvantage during combat as the demons in your party can have weaknesses exploited also. This makes it crucial to have a wide variety of demons in your inventory to use in combat.

Getting demons to join your party is not always a simple task. There are two basic methods of doing this. The first is having a conversation or negotiation with a demon during combat and knowing the right things to say. Each demon in the game has its own personality type, gender, race and affiliation to a clan. By learning the things the demon likes, dislikes and wants you are able to lure the demon into your party. This is absolutely necessary to gain higher level demons and grow your party. There are exceptions though to demons you can converse with. Bosses, demons in the bonus dungeon of the Labyrinth of Amala, demons of a certain clan and demons when the Kagutsuchi is full will not join your party.

The second method of getting new demons in your party is by fusing currently recruited demons to create a new one at the Cathedral of Shadows. This is the best way to get higher level demons or otherwise non-obtainable demons in your party by fusing 2 or more lower level demons. The demons in the game are taken from deities, gods and fairy tales from many different cultures and are simply called demons for the sake of not being a better term. This portion of the game is very interesting as you will learn quite a bit about the over 100 different demons in the game and the cultures they came from.

The last game play element that is important is the use of Magatama. These are living organisms that are swallowed that allow you to learn new skills, spells and gain new abilities. Each Magatama also has a set of weaknesses, strengths and buffs that are granted to you as they are equipped. It is important to keep a close eye on which Magatama is equipped during battle or demons will exploit your weaknesses. Also, when leveling up different Magatama you will unlock specific skills. This is a very important part of the game because you can only have eight skill total equipped, so in order to learn a new skill you must remove an older skill. This makes it very important to know how you want to build the main character because once you lose a skill you are unable to get it back.

Visuals
Nocturne is a good looking game with crisp visuals, moody environments and large levels. The one area that the game really impresses is the cell-shaded character design. Each one of the over 100 demons has their own look, animations and style. The art styles for these characters are beautiful and span the range from cute and cuddly to dark and dominating. This has always been a strongpoint in the SMT games, and Nocturne raises bar with its wide variety of characters. Compared to the characters, the environments are a little plain, but the shear size and atmosphere of these spaces add a lot to the overall tone of the game. The size and scope of the last tower at the end of the game is especially impressive. The sense of loneliness and despair as you climb it is one of the best experiences I have had in gaming. It truly makes you feel small as you climb the tower to learn the truth about the world.

Audio
Though the game has a silent protagonist, the sound design is perfect for the story and game play. The music is an eclectic mix of distorted guitar, pounding drums, church organ and beautiful piano which add to the despair and power of the game. For me the highpoint for the audio is during the ascent in the Tower of Kagutsuchi. Gone are the distorted guitars and drums and in their place are simple tones with a dark melody that evokes a strong sense of melancholy.

Conclusion
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne is a great gaming experience for anyone who wants more out of their RPG than what is commonly given. The story is complex and really draws you into the characters and their motivations. It is a dark tale that feels lonely and at the same time hopeful as you unlock the secrets to the world. The game play is a brilliant take on the traditional turn-based system that keeps you thinking the entire game and never letting you lower your guard. I can not recommend this game enough to anyone with a PS2 and a love for RPGs.