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[Lissar]

She sounds so half-hearted when she says it, too. Not sure if that was intentional or not.

I figured it was intentional. If not, it's terrible. Though, she puts more enthusiasm into it than I would be able to in such a job.

No one really answered my question the last time I asked it and I don't feel like making a thread over it. I'm trying to figure out whether I should play this or SMT4. Which game is more mechanically sound/deep?

No one can really give you a good answer to this, since SMTIV isn't out yet even in Japan. I'd be inclined say SMTIV since Soul Hackers is somewhat old-fashioned (though if that is to your taste, go for it.) But no one can give you a real answer.

 

[Riposte]

Maybe this will help: Lets say I hate grinding and the less I have to think about it existing (including the mere possibility of it me overpowering the game like that), the better. Since almost all JRPGs function like that to some extent, I see it as a spectrum where I have an easier time sticking to the game that is more on the "sound" side. I think I'll have a better time with the game that is most vigilant in that respect. Which do you think that will be (and I realize this will be partially based on guessing)? (I don't really mind an "archaic" nature of games, besides that.)

 

[Just take it with you.]

I had to mute the game. I couldn't take "hee-ho at the casino!" anymore.

What will you do?

What will you do?

What will you do?

Who will you talk to?

Who will you talk to?

Who will you talk to?

@#$%^*% shut up!

Yeah, I don't think Atlus thought this feature through particularly well when they implemented it. The shopkeepers et al. didn't really need to be voiced.

 

[Aeana]

Maybe this will help: Lets say I hate grinding and the less I have to think about it existing (including the mere possibility of it me overpowering the game like that), the better. Since almost all JRPGs function like that to some extent, I see it as a spectrum where I have an easier time sticking to the game that is more on the "sound" side. I think I'll have a better time with the game that is most vigilant in that respect. Which do you think that will be (and I realize this will be partially based on guessing)? (I don't really mind an "archaic" nature of games, besides that.)

I'm still not really sure what you mean, but demons don't level up in Soul Hackers, so there is no reason to grind, ever. Doing so doesn't really get you very far. Leveling up the hero lets you fuse/recruit higher level demons, but even that can only get you so far ahead. The battle system is a simple turn-based system, however. SMT4 has the press turn system from SMT3/DDS. You also learn abilities from your demons in SMT4, and they can level up, so there will be inherently more of a grinding aspect to it.

 

[Soriku]

Maybe this will help: Lets say I hate grinding and the less I have to think about it existing (including the mere possibility of it me overpowering the game like that), the better. Since almost all JRPGs function like that to some extent, I see it as a spectrum where I have an easier time sticking to the game that is more on the "sound" side. I think I'll have a better time with the game that is most vigilant in that respect. Which do you think that will be (and I realize this will be partially based on guessing)? (I don't really mind an "archaic" nature of games, besides that.)

Soul Hackers has an easy mode and I think SMT IV will have too. Though honestly, if you play smart and fuse good demons with good skills, you'll rarely have to grind at all on the normal difficulty at least.

 

[Lissar]

Maybe this will help: Lets say I hate grinding and the less I have to think about it existing (including the mere possibility of it me overpowering the game like that), the better. Since almost all JRPGs function like that to some extent, I see it as a spectrum where I have an easier time sticking to the game that is more on the "sound" side. I think I'll have a better time with the game that is most vigilant in that respect. Which do you think that will be (and I realize this will be partially based on guessing)? (I don't really mind an "archaic" nature of games, besides that.)

Not that you absolutely have to grind in all of the games, but Megaten is kind of known for being grindy. Especially if you start going demon fusion mad (which is a huge draw of the series.) I always grind in the games just for demons alone, so I couldn't tell you if the game is balanced well for those who don't want to. There is an easy mode, so I suppose you could go that route.

What will you do?

What will you do?

What will you do?

Who will you talk to?

Who will you talk to?

Who will you talk to?

@#$%^*% shut up!

Yeah, I don't think Atlus thought this feature through particularly well when they implemented it. The shopkeepers et al. didn't really need to be voiced.

Really, just cut the voicing for those repeatable lines and everything would be fine. I don't mind the voice acting otherwise, but that makes me want to turn it off.

 

[Busaiku]

You can skip voices by mashing.

 

[Deified Data]

What will you do?

What will you do?

What will you do?

Who will you talk to?

Who will you talk to?

Who will you talk to?

@#$%^*% shut up!

Yeah, I don't think Atlus thought this feature through particularly well when they implemented it. The shopkeepers et al. didn't really need to be voiced.

I think voice work for the majority of the characters is exceptional. The only areas I'd recommend removing it from would be the little comments you listed above. I don't need to hear that over and over. Shopkeeps should have voiced flavor text and "chat" dialogue, but everything else should be silent.

 

[lunch]

It's so weird that my GAF username is identical to one of the character's names. It keeps throwing me off and it's slightly unsettling.

 

[Kincaido]

It's so weird that my GAF username is identical to one of the character's names. It keeps throwing me off and it's slightly unsettling.

I went into Persona 3 blind and named my character Shinji. Some scenes were kinda awkward to me...

 

[MarcoZombieCannon]

I think voice work for the majority of the characters is exceptional. The only areas I'd recommend removing it from would be the little comments you listed above. I don't need to hear that over and over. Shopkeeps should have voiced flavor text and "chat" dialogue, but everything else should be silent.

And then you have the odd parts where a character is voiced for the first half of a conversation, but missing the second half. With Nemissa/Hitomi still talking to him and everything. It's weird.

I'm up to the

Spoiler

Auto Plant

now, but I'm taking a break from the dungeon to go fuse better demons (still rocking a lvl 15 Jack Frost, lol) and look at the stuff in Paradigm X I haven't seen yet. I ran into my first freeze a little while ago in battle, luckily I had *just* left the terminal room. Consider me hooked though!

 

[Zero-Crescent]

Loving it so far. I'm past the second Vision Quest, and I found a real good spot to farm Magnetite.

Spoiler

After finishing the VQ, go to the Hot Springs Forum in Paradigm X and talk to the old man; answer all of his questions in the affirmative and talk to him outside the bank. He'll tell you about the Demons on the freeway. A new area will be added to your Amami City map, so go there and enter the freeway by way of the tollbooth at the start of it. After the guard lets you through, he'll tell you to avoid the holes using left and right on the d-pad.

Now the trick is: Don't avoid the holes. The battles can be somewhat tough, but they're winnable. Best of all, each battle gives you around 300 Magnetite and 100 experience, and since you're moving forward automatically, you're not losing any Magnetite. When you've had enough or need to heal, start avoiding the holes, take the offramp when you return to the map screen, and heal at the Sea Ark in Amami Bay. There are three auto-moving segments, and the side-quest's (very tough) boss is located shortly after the final segment, so I'd say the best place to get off the freeway is after the second auto-moving segment, since you'll be at the Amami Bay off-ramp. I usually get around 2000-4000 per run, depending on how long my party lasts.

Also noticed quite a few returning voices from Persona 4

Spoiler

Tomoko - Chie (Erin Fitzgerald); Yuichi - Yosuke (Yuri Lowenthal); Video Store Owner - Kanji (Troy Baker); Pharmacist - Dojima (J.B. Blanc)

EDIT: Whoops, it's Magnetite, not Magicite. Guess I had FFVI on the mind. Thanks, Aeana!
EDIT 2: Checked again, and it looks like the freeway is 3 segments, not 4

 

[Aeana]

*Magnetite

(._. )

 

[Data West]

I have never seen a handheld game freeze so much. Ever.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Wow, the video store owner totally is Kanji, never noticed.


Got my first game over, Amami Airport's boss(reality, not VQ).

Spoiler

Screw you too, Finnegan, I'll kill your demons then you.

 

[Chance Hale]

I have never seen a handheld game freeze so much. Ever.

Is this a common issue? Weird if so, hopefully fixable although I'm still confused about whether retail 3DS games can be patched easily.

Picked this up on the way home but not going to start it today, want to finish some of the games I've already got going. Can't let the backlog overwhelm me

Wanted to grab it before it sold out of the first pressing. Is Eterian Odyssey in the normal edition now? My gamestop was sold out so it was hard to tell.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Is this a common issue? Weird if so, hopefully fixable although I'm still confused about whether retail 3DS games can be patched easily.

Picked this up on the way home but not going to start it today, want to finish some of the games I've already got going. Can't let the backlog overwhelm me

Wanted to grab it before it sold out of the first pressing. Is Eterian Odyssey in the normal edition now? My gamestop was sold out so it was hard to tell.

It really seems random. It hasn't happened to me, but I'm sure it's bound to at some point. There's an app you unlock after the second dungeon that lets you save anywhere, so that should minimize the frustration.

 

[Eyothrie]

Another noob question.. I waited for an explanation in the game, but I haven't seen anything on the moon phases. Would somebody help me understand what they're for?

 

[MarcoZombieCannon]

It really seems random. It hasn't happened to me, but I'm sure it's bound to at some point. There's an app you unlock after the second dungeon that lets you save anywhere, so that should minimize the frustration.

My problem with back-upper is that it replaces the Quit option in the menu, and there is no soft reset in Soul Hackers. I'd rather not have to quit and re-enter the game if I wanna load.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Another noob question.. I waited for an explanation in the game, but I haven't seen anything on the moon phases. Would somebody help me understand what they're for?

They determine when spells like Estoma and such wear off, and some demons won't negotiate under a full moon(at least without an app equipped).

 

[Vamphuntr]

The animated mechi when you upload a demon in the pet shop is amazing. Please tell me one of you has ripped it already!

 

[Deified Data]

So how is my alignment going to effect gameplay? I haven't encountered any effect yet.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Sorry, Urabe,

Spoiler

you traitorous failure.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Is it possible to fuse demons to acquire the bosses in this one? Can I make Snappy?

 

[buddha0991]

*Magnetite

(._. )

Aeana pls

 

[mugurumakensei]

Alright, I've decided on what my competition will be. Best original drawing of Jack Frost, Pyro Jack, and Black Frost will win a copy of Soul Hackers. Change of plans though, It will be a physical copy of the game. Only people in the continental U.S. are eligible for this competition.

PM me so as to not spam the OT.

You have until noon Saturday central standard time.

 

[ForteanMan]

Question:
Hopefully some of you have gotten to this point or past it, but

Spoiler

When you fight Finnegan at Amami Float or whatever, after Yui-ich has been kidnapped, does it matter how you answer. I mean what difference will it make if you fight him one on one, versus fighting him with Nemissa.

?

 

[Varna]

Yeah... money seems ridiculously easy to come by. Will any of the currency ever be in short supply?

 

[bishopcruz]

Couple more hours in, at the

Spoiler

airport

with my actual crew. Seems like the name of the game is ABF always be fusin. My biggest issue is that my Zoma is a piece of crap and anyone who is not my MC seems to be made out of paper. It sucks kicking a whole lot of ass running through a dungeon, getting surprised and having 1/2 your party wiped out in a round, and these are demons that were either recruited in the area, or fused to be higher level. Odd.

Wish there was a bit more feedback in combat as far as weaknesses are concerned too.

Loving the game though, as I said before it has the best negotiation system I have seen in this series to date. So satisfying when you finally recruit a demon after trying for several different fights.

 

[Ponn]

Wait, so you get Club Nintendo coins for the DL version but not the retail version?

 

[Man God]

I'm level 18 or so and put all but three points into Nemissa's Magic stat and she routinely one or two hit kos bosses...so long as she hits. Guess I should put a few more points into agility and int.

 

[TurnipFritters]

Question:
Hopefully some of you have gotten to this point or past it, but

Spoiler

When you fight Finnegan at Amami Float or whatever, after Yui-ich has been kidnapped, does it matter how you answer. I mean what difference will it make if you fight him one on one, versus fighting him with Nemissa.

?

Spoiler

If you fight him without Nemissa, he summons copies of your demons as his allies. If you fight him with Nemissa he has his own specific team

.

Is it possible to fuse demons to acquire the bosses in this one? Can I make Snappy?

Nope. Some bosses summon regular demons as allies though. A few of the story bosses have shown up as demons in SMT4 though, so maybe look forward to that?

Couple more hours in, at the

Spoiler

airport

with my actual crew. Seems like the name of the game is ABF always be fusin. My biggest issue is that my Zoma is a piece of crap and anyone who is not my MC seems to be made out of paper. It sucks kicking a whole lot of ass running through a dungeon, getting surprised and having 1/2 your party wiped out in a round, and these are demons that were either recruited in the area, or fused to be higher level. Odd.

Generally the demons you can recruit in any given area aren't gonna be very good for actual combat. Fusion is the key!

I'm level 18 or so and put all but three points into Nemissa's Magic stat and she routinely one or two hit kos bosses...so long as she hits. Guess I should put a few more points into agility and int.

Int will boost her magical accuracy.

 

[vall03]

Spoiler

If you fight him without Nemissa, he summons copies of your demons as his allies. If you fight him with Nemissa he has his own specific team

What about before that boss fight?

Spoiler

Picking up Yu-Ichis hat? Any reason for that?

 

[TurnipFritters]

What about before that boss fight?

Spoiler

Picking up Yu-Ichis hat? Any reason for that?

Not that I know of.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Nope. Some bosses summon regular demons as allies though. A few of the story bosses have shown up as demons in SMT4 though, so maybe look forward to that?

Noooo, this playthrough will now be Snappy-less

 

[ForteanMan]

Spoiler

If you fight him without Nemissa, he summons copies of your demons as his allies. If you fight him with Nemissa he has his own specific team

.

Thanks!

 

[cj_iwakura]

Couple more hours in, at the

Spoiler

airport

with my actual crew. Seems like the name of the game is ABF always be fusin. My biggest issue is that my Zoma is a piece of crap and anyone who is not my MC seems to be made out of paper. It sucks kicking a whole lot of ass running through a dungeon, getting surprised and having 1/2 your party wiped out in a round, and these are demons that were either recruited in the area, or fused to be higher level. Odd.

Wish there was a bit more feedback in combat as far as weaknesses are concerned too.

Loving the game though, as I said before it has the best negotiation system I have seen in this series to date. So satisfying when you finally recruit a demon after trying for several different fights.

Hint with the Zoma: use it as your support demon. Mine in the Saturn copy had Paraladi, Posumudi, Recarm, Estoma, etc. It's not cut out for fighting unless you put a LOT of work into it.

And yeah, I think Atlus USA have more fun with the negotiation with each new rendition. This has some of the most hilarious conversations yet.

 

[Deified Data]

So I think I have a new favorite SMT soundtrack.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Something I noticed, the price of elements in the compendium is the same no matter what you set the difficulty hack to. No easy rank up fusions :O

 

[Splash Wave]

I can go to either the Sea Ark or the optional Airport right now: which do y'all recommend?

 

[Vamphuntr]

I can go to either the Sea Ark or the optional Airport right now: which do y'all recommend?

The sea ark is only to grind. It has all of the demons you have met so far in the game. The more you progress the more rooms/floors unlocks to fit the new demons you met.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I can go to either the Sea Ark or the optional Airport right now: which do y'all recommend?

Spoiler

The airport isn't optional, Sea Ark is.

 

[Splash Wave]

The sea ark is only to grind. It has all of the demons you have met so far in the game. The more you progress the more rooms/floors unlocks to fit the new demons you met.

Whoops, thanks.

One more thing: does Paradigm X get more important from a gameplay perspective later on? I feel like it's pretty under-utilized at this point.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Whoops, thanks.

One more thing: does Paradigm X get more important from a gameplay perspective later on? I feel like it's pretty under-utilized at this point.

Sadly, not really. It's integral to a few events though.

 

[Moonlight]

Likewise. Haven't run into any problems with freezing (and I've been saving regularly with Back-Upper in the event it starts), but tons of table-breaking text.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Likewise. Haven't run into any problems with freezing (and I've been saving regularly with Back-Upper in the event it starts), but tons of table-breaking text.

Ran into that finally(the text thing), during an Ippon-Datara conversation.

 

[Moonlight]

Speaking of, I love that guy. I just tell him that he's a good guy and I walk out of the battle with 1700 yen. I swear I got together like 10,000 yen in ten minutes from all the random encounters with him.

 

[cj_iwakura]

It was pretty nifty to see an SMT1 boss appear as a Nemechi demon.

 

[vall03]

Speaking of Nemechi, how many times can it evolve? I feel like I might do something wrong here and I also want a better Demon selection too.

 

[ohlawd]

Do you guys wander around with a full party of 4 demons?