SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI: NOCTURNE / LUCIFER'S CALL



Official Site: [ click here ]

PAL Release Date: June 30th 2005 under the name Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call w/ a RRP of $79.95.

Story:

"In Tokyo, Japan, a high school student on his way to visit his teacher at the hospital meets a reporter who tells him a bizarre story about a recent clash in a local park, which the man believes is tied to the occult.

After the strange run-in, the boy arrives at the hospital in Shinjuku only to discover that the hospital is empty and his teacher is nowhere to be found. After wandering around the deserted building, the boy encounters a mysterious man in the basement. Shortly after, from the rooftop, he witnesses a catastrophic event--the Conception. The earth shakes and a bright light engulfs everything on the horizon. When the boy awakens, he finds his appearance drastically altered. As he wanders the hospital halls, he comes to realize that he has been turned into a demon.

In the aftermath of the destruction, the boy sets forth on a journey where he must battle against demonic forces to bring order to the chaos. The world awaits its rebirth, but will it ever be the same again?"

Reviews:

GameSpot - 8.5
IGN - 8.6
Electronic Gaming Monthly - 8.5; 9.0; 8.5
1UP - 8.5
Edge UK - 7

Screenshots:



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SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI: DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA



Official Site: [ click here ]

PAL Release Date: Unknown. Out now in Japan and the US.

Story:

"In the Junkyard, rival Tribe fight an endless war – vying for supremacy and the right to ascend to Nirvana. Everything begins to change when a blinding light interrupts a skirmish between two Tribes. Serph -- you --, leader of the Embryon, awakens after the flash to find that his opponents have been violently slain. In a crater left behind lies a young girl with black hair.

The people of the Junkyard soon discover the effects of the mysterious light; Tribe members transform into demons, and feed an insatiable hunger by devouring their enemies. Along with this new “Atma” comes another strange power: emotion.

Soon after, the Karma Temple issues a new law: “Devour the other Tribes and bring the black-haired girl to Nirvana.” Hostility only grows, as the Tribes renew their efforts with increased hatred and zeal.

The Embryon struggle to defeat the opposition and protect Sera, the young girl, who may just hold the key to everything…"

Reviews:

GameSpot - 8.2
IGN - 7.8
Electronic Gaming Monthly - 8.0; 8.5; 8.0
1UP - 7.5
Gaming-Age - A-

Screenshots:



Note: Digitial Devil Saga is part 1 of a 2-parter. DDS 2 is out now in Japan and out late August 2005 in the US.



Finished DDS sometime ago and am 30+ hours into Nocturne. Impressions/reviews of both titles coming soon. But put simply the "MegaTen" series has easily been my favourite RPG series this current gen and we really need more games like these to be localized here, so I'm calling out all PS2-owning RPG fans to support Lucifer's Call when it's released in a few weeks time. Seriously, you won't be disappointed!

Wait...Shin Megami Tensei is actually getting a local release!? *jumps for joy* :D

I'll be sure to try and pick it up. The Japanese RPG genre (or sub-genre, whatever) needs a lot more support here in Australia, we miss out on a shitload, and that which we don't miss out on gets discontinued almost immediately.

It's really such a shame how many great Japanese titles we've missed along the years (Chrono Cross, Castlevania: SOTN, Final Fantasy Tactics, Xenogears/Xenosaga, Parasite Eve 1 to name but a few), so I too am actually surprised they're releasing SMT here. Unfortunately, no word on a release date for DDS though. I'm assuming it'll depend on how well Noct... I mean Lucifer's Call sells down here -- so best to buy three copies, I'd say. :P Probably be worth a mint on eBay in a few years time. ;)

I've payed Xenogears on PS1. All I can say is that those rats a fucking huge and the end boss is NUUUUUDEEE!!! :P

And I heard Tensei had some sexual content... not that thats why I'll buy the game for... :| ...

While we're on the subject of Japanese RPGs, I highly recommend Shadow Hearts: Covenant. I bought it the other week and have absolutely loved it. From the great characters, mostly brilliant voice acting to the awesome battle system (perhaps one of my favourite ever) it's easily worthy of your money. It has a riveting story too, if not at times cliched.

I've been thinking about that one. I can pick up the NTSC version for as little as $25 (delivered & brand new). I've also thought about picking up Star Ocean: Till the end of time for $27 (NTSC, thankyou) but I'm holding off Xenosaga Episode II until I get my driver's licence.

Why? Because all RPGs take a huge amount of time and I'm trying to minimise my collection by selling off my Xbox. As much as I like the concept of playing it, I'll have to hold it off. And when I do get around to buying these games, they'll probably be even cheaper

I'll probably pre-order Lucifer's Call tomorrow, make sure I get a copy. :D

Here's the PAL cover for Lucifer's Call. Pretty crap in comparison to the awesome US cover, but it's got Dante on the front so hopefully it'll help generate some local interest.




BTW, [ DVD Crave ] has the game for pre-order for only $70.14!

Given that it's hard to tell exactly what the box-arts look like at that size, I actually dig the PAL cover over the NTSC cover.

I didn't wind up going out to pre-order the game yesterday, but rest assured I'll be doing so this weekend. I'll probably throw a pre-order down for God of War at the same time.

I take it noone's purchased the game yet? :(

The purchases keep getting a head of me man, I'm remaining hopeful that this'll stick around my area for a little while, a local Megamart had a good amount of copies this week, and with the way they move obscure RPGs I should be able to hold of for 2+ weeks on buying it. They still have a bunch of copies of Shadow Hearts Covenant over there. :P

I wound up buying Tales of Symphonia this week since it's so damn hard to find and I was amazed to stumble upon it in a local Target.

Yeah, our store got a heap of copies in when it came out...really strange. :|

I'm a bit confuzzled... DDS takes place after Lucifer's Call/Nocturne?

I just got LC today and am having a ball.

So it's a good RPG, then Prez?

*pissbolts*

:P

I'm not sure that the stories are connected, but DDS was released after Nocturne.

Die scum!!!! :P

Yeah, did a bit of research on that and was relieved to see I hadn't played them out of order.

12 hours later... this game is an absolute blast. Nonetheless I'm more looking forward to DDS mainly because of this clip. I simply love the Etro Anime song Danger they use in that clip but I can't find the bastard anywhere on mp3 :(

Anyhoo just wanted to re-iterate what a great game this is and urge everyone to support it... just as you should support any game that NIS America manages to get from Eastern shores... they tend to pick some corkers.

After FFX I'd grown tired of this style of gaming and I had started to think my dislike of FFX was born of that boredom rather than there being any problems in the game itself. Nope... Lucifer's Call is about as traditional as you can get in this genre and I'm having a ball with it.

Not only is this game providing me with wonderful entertainment (I'm yet to take Tekkan 5 out of its wraper - I bought both the same day) it has proven that I'm right and FFX does suck. :D

I've got a copy of the CD soundtrack which came with the game! Muahahahahaha!... Muahahahahaha!...... Muahahahahaha!......... Muahahahahaha!............








Muahahahahaha! :P

As for which is better, I'd rate Nocturne/Lucifer's Call over Digital Devil Saga. But it's really hard to say because DDS is really only half a game (in that the story doesn't completely end) with DDS2 coming later next month. I will say that I found DDS somewhat easier than Nocturne (oh and BTW, I played DDS first -- they're different games but there's some small references to Nocturne in DDS). It's somewhat a dummied down version of Nocturne in that it's a little less forgiving and you probably won't die as much. Also the awesome Fusion and Conversation Systems are gone, you'll have a set party of 5 instead (3 of which go into battle compared to 4) and there's now a much user (and newb) friendly development system very much similar to -- wait for it -- FFX's Sphere Grid System, but it's still more or less the same as the Magatama ingestion system. The story, as expected, rocks and like Nocturne, has a more dark and mature (and non-cliched) theme than your typical Jap RPG. Characters are less intriguing than the weird bunch in Nocturne, I must say, but you'll quickly grow to like them just as well.

So yeah, if you loved Nocturne (glad to see that you are Prez), then you'll no doubt dig Digital Devil Saga also -- though perhaps not as much.

I've heard a rumour that the CD soundtrack doesn't come with Danger on it.

Wha it's not?

*grabs CD*

I've only gone through it once and that was when I first got the game, so I haven't really thoroughly listened to it to be honest.

OK, hang on...

*2 minutes later*

Well colour me surprised, you're right, it's not on the soundtrack. Wonder whose bloody grand idea was it to omit only the games title song from the freakin' soundtrack. What a bummer.

The music, however, to the final boss encounter is in it, thankfully. I tellz ya, it's the best music I've heard to a boss fight. Ever! Just makes me want to go tackle it again this very instant.