Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army (Sony PlayStation 2, 2006)

Devil Summoner is unlike anything you have played before, it truly is unique. Fans of the Shin Megami Tensei games Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga should love it and if you have never played those games this would actually be an excellent jumping on point and introduction too the series for you. For starters, the story has been excellent but more importantly it has been lighter than Nocturne or DDS which have very and I mean very mature stories, DS however is much lighter in it's tone and even quite humorous at times, I got a kick out of the cheesey cop show theme music. Their is no spoken dialogue however so you must not mind doing a lot of reading. The game is broken up into chapters and in each chapter you must solve a new mystery and later on you will find out how it all fits together. Graphicly as any fan of the shin megami tensei games knows they feature some of the best art direction and are some of the most stylish looking games out their especially in their character models and DS does not disapoint here however all of the backgrounds are pre-rendered which I personally like but I know others are not exactly fond of. Now for the best part of the game in my opinion though others may not feel so, the combat, combat is simple but frantic and a blast too play. As most people already know combat is real time instead of tuned based like nocturne and DDS, you basicly have 3 sword attacks, a 3 hit combo a thrust attack and a spin attack and then you have your gun which can be loaded with different types of bullets like fire, ice or electricity that way you can exploit demons weeknesses as all demons are weak against something as all fans of the shin megami tensei games know. And of course you will always have one demon too help you out in combat wether by healing you or much like your gun using their abilities too exploit demons weaknesses. Fans of Nocturne should especially love this game since you once again can confine demons too make them fight for you and fusion returns also so you can combine your demons too make new ones. I bought Devil Summoner and Tales of the Abyss at the same time but thus far Tales has sat on my shelf because I have not been able too put Devil Summoner down so I think it is easy too say that I highly recommend giving DS a try.

For fans of Atlus RPGS, one can anticipate a somewhat different style of gaming and atmosphere that will define each game, and Devil Summoner is no exception. A break from the FF XII and Suikoden fantasy setting, or the futuristic Xenosaga and Phantasy Star; Devil Summoner invites you to a semi-gothic world set against Japan's Taisho Era filled with demons and conspiracies. As the detective Raidou Kuzunoha, you must unravel the mysteries behind the Super Soldier Project and the demon-possessed Kaya Daidoji. Here is what I like and dislike:

Likes:
Fast-paced cut and slash battle system which mimics the Dot Hack series with summoned demons as aid. An intense plot with enough twists and turns to engage your interest until the very end. Beautiful CG-rendering of Japan's Taisho Era. You can confine or release demons of a decent variety and fuse them to create amazingly powerful ones.

For hardcore gamers, clearing the game will only be the beginning. There is a "challenge mode" which brings you back to the beginning of the game (lv 1) with unlocked secret dungeons, upgraded demons, and near-impossible bosses.


Dislikes:
There is no differentiation between dungeons or towns (the towns ARE part of dungeons), in other words, you encounter battles on your way to purchase supplies or to chat with NPCs. The encounter rate, be warned, is comparable to FF VII, you fight for approximately every 5,6 steps you run.

The gaming itself is short, you could beat the game within the 28~32 hr range if you make a fly on it. The dungeons are limited, there is only a limited few stages in the capital and their "dark" counterpart for you to explore. Towards the end of the game, you will find yourself frequenting familiar sights.

Conclusion:
If you liked previous Atlus titles, chances are you would like this game. Some might find fault with the new battle system, but I personally favor it over the old turn-based battles in the Shin Megami Tensei series. The dark intrigues of demons and sorcerers smoothly entwined with historical landmarks, events, and people of that era, a tribute of Atlus's brand of story-telling. Not as dark and foreboding as the Shin Megami or Digital Devil series, but no less entertaining. I rather prefer the light-hearted tone of Devil Summoner. If you are frowning upon a shelf full of game titles with little to offer and are desperate for a change of pace - I strongly recommend Devil Summoner. Chances are, you might have some fun.

This is the second Shin Megami Tensei game I've purchased, and it follows many of the similar themes...an incentive-watching shopkeep who unlocks items based on your spending habits, demons everywhere, and of course the usual weakness-exploiting combat system.

Compared to the other SMT games I've played (the other being Digital Devil Saga 2), this one is a bit more upbeat, letting you play a rather cleanly heroic detective/summoner role. The nostalgic feeling of playing in the 1920s adds atmosphere to the game and charm to the characters. Collecting demons and combining them into stronger forms is pleasantly addictive.

Your own enjoyment of the game will live and die on the combat system, which is a mix of button-mashing combos with Raidou's sword and careful use of the demons on your roster and the ammunition Raidou has available. Raidou and his demons level seperately, and completed fights always have some sort of reward..if you need to gain resources via fighting, it's not too hard, and can really be worked to your advantage once you hit level 20.

If you are new to the Shin Megami Tensei series-this is the one to buy. I had played both Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga long before playing Devil Summoner (but I do not have experience playing the any of the original SMT games that were only available in Japan), and found it far easier (in a good way) than these two, but just as enjoyable. One of the things I really enjoyed in all of these games is the fact that the designers decided to use "enemies" from folklore from around the world, rather than making up their own "monsters". The artwork is beautiful, and gameplay is easy, but not insulting. I highly recommend this game, in addition to Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga (Parts 1 & 2). Also-be on the look-out for Persona 3 (another Atlus game) due out this summer! If you can get ahold of Persona 1 & Persona 2, you should give them a try as well. Both were made for the Playstation 1 for distribution in the US, but work quite well on the PS2, and are fun and interesting games (keep in mind-the graphics are the best they could be for the PS).

This is the only game in the Shin Megami Tensei series that I've played that was not a turn based RPG. Like all the other games in SMT, it has good character design. The battles can get a little bit difficult, because the random encounters are pretty frequent, and healing is not very accessible.
I would recommend this game to fans of the series, but for those who are not, maybe look into it more before purchasing.