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[jaundicejuice]

Beat the game, and start a new game+ file. All the Mantra's you've learned the first time through carry over to the next after you visit the Karma Temple in the beginning.

I don't see why you're having such a hard time leveling up, I mean the optional dungeons and boss fights provided me with tons of experience and Macca, I was at level 84 with Serph and high 70's and low 80's with Argilla, Heat, Ciello and Gale when I reached the top of the Karma Tower to take on the final boss.

EDIT: At the end of the elemental branch are two more unlockable Mantras, the very last Mantra grants you immunity to all elemental attacks, completely nullifies them. Learning just a specific elemental Mantra cangrant you immunity against that element.

 

[Mejilan]

No problems leveling up. Getting Macca is my problem.

 

[Mejilan]

Thanks Jaundice. I think I unlocked that Mantra you speak of, but just haven't been able to afford it just yet.

 

[Tarazet]

I'm coming a little bit late to the party - actually, very late, since I've never played an Atlus RPG before in my life. I cracked open the shrink-wrap Friday afternoon, and since then I've already put in 18 hours of gameplay. To put that in perspective, that's more time than I spent with Fable, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Phantom Dust, and Panzer Dragoon Orta combined. (Maybe I should rethink getting that X360...)

I was expecting a dense, difficult game after reading about Nocturne. It is difficult, but I actually found it easier to pick up and play than FFX. The instructions are crystal clear, which is hugely refreshing for an RPG, and there really isn't very much to wrap your brain around. It just works, and the first dungeon made me feel right at home. And it wasn't until I was already mentally locked in that the difficulty started to ramp up... and up.. and up. Now I'm at the point where I have to stop and do some power-leveling, because even with all the strategies I've learned, I just don't have enough firepower to deal with even the random encounters in the highest levels of Coordinate 136, much less the boss.

There are some elements of the leveling system that I find really intimidating, and that makes me wonder if it would really be a good idea for me to try Nocturne. I'm already finding the challenge in this game to be just slightly beyond my ability, but so far I've been able to rise up to the level. If nobody could die, ever, that would be a different story.

 

[G-Fex]

I'm still playing nocturne, doesn't seem too hard to me.

then again I just started and i'm leveling up by a healing ghost so I can get stronger. Still in the hospital first wing.

 

[jaundicejuice]

Thanks Jaundice. I think I unlocked that Mantra you speak of, but just haven't been able to afford it just yet.

My first time through I only had two characters (Serph and Argilla) with the Dark God mantra, which can teach you the ability that nullfies all elemental attacks. It took a lot of dungeon crawling to earn the money but it's sooo worth it since you earn so many extra press turns because of that ability. The beginning of the game has been a total cake walk because of it.

I want to keep on with my new game+ in DDS but I need to beat some other games first, and this thread isn't helping as it keeps making me want to play DDS more.

 

[Mejilan]

Just about the only thing stopping me from 'New Game +'ing my characters is that it would take me SOOOOO long to accrue the Macca to afford the new mantras, that I'll probably get close to the end again before I've made any kind of actual 'progress' with my crew.

Blech.

 

[Socreges]

Why are the reviews only OK/good, but GAF seems generally enthralled with the game?

I ask because there's a used copy for $60 CDN at EB and I'm afraid that I won't enjoy the game.

 

[demi]

Why are the reviews only OK/good, but GAF seems generally enthralled with the game?

Because they normally do this with lots of other games?

 

[Socreges]

Because they normally do this with lots of other games?

Who is "they" and what is "this"? If you answer with a question again, so help me God...!

 

[demi]

Who is "they" and what is "this"? If you answer with a question again, so help me God...!

GOD CAN'T HELP YOU

If you like RPGs you like Digital Devil Saga

demi has spoken

buy it

end of discussion

 

[Shouta]

There's always overhype on GAF. DDS is no exception. It's a really good game but the story is incomplete with holes in the character development and the gameplay elements are really straightforward and almost simplistic at times. So most places are reviewing it lower because it doesn't feel like a full game on its own which to be frank, is right because it really isn't. It's part of a two-game Saga and they really didn't balance it so both games came out equal in terms of content from what I can gather.

 

[Socreges]

With that in mind, since DDS2 will be available as soon as I'm done DDS, that shouldn't bother me as much?

 

[Shouta]

Yeah, going from DDS to DDS2 will probably make the experience more satisfying.

 

[G-Fex]

I bought DDS anyways today.

 

[IJoel]

6 hours into DDS. Love the art, setting and thematic.

But, WTF is it with the random battles every 5 seconds. It's incredibly frustrating and annoying. I absolutely despise developers doing this kind of thing to increase the length of the game.

Oh, and another issue I have is with the lack of information on the mantras' spells before selecting them. Seems to be a ploy to sell strategy guides.

 

[tracky_dacks]

But, WTF is it with the random battles every 5 seconds. It's incredibly frustrating and annoying. I absolutely despise developers doing this kind of thing to increase the length of the game.

Yeah the random battles were very frequent, but I actually didn't mind them. I quite enjoyed them for the most part because the battle system was fun and fast paced.

Oh, and another issue I have is with the lack of information on the mantras' spells before selecting them. Seems to be a ploy to sell strategy guides.

No one ever did get to make an English strategy guide for DDS (I believe), which is a shame because if it were half as good as Nocturne's strat guide I would have bought it in a heartbeat.

 

[Tarazet]

How does Persona tie into the SMT series?

 

[IJoel]

10 hours in...


WTF!?


The random battles are the worst by far, of any other rpg I've played. On average, at least for me, they happen every 5 seconds. If I'm lucky, I can move 10 seconds with no random battle. Simply ridiculous. I keep playing it because I actually like the story, characters and the gameplay is good as well, but the random battle frequency is simply inexcusable.

 

[Kuran]

I've just finished DDS a few hours ago, it was wonderful. You have to try to enjoy the battles, as they're 95% of the experience... try to look at the rest of DDS as 'random story encounters', the last dungeon I grew kind of impatient though, and I retreated from almost all the battles... I was powerful enough to do so, last couple of bosses weren't that challenging, but great fun to beat.

 

[psycho_snake]

I bought this game ages ago but I havent got round to playing it properly. After reading all the praise for this game I think i might go and start playing it again.

 

[Kuran]

After DDS I immediatly started with Shadow Hearts: Covenant... its a nice change, it was shocking at first that I actually have to pay attention to all the random encounters from now on.. though there aren't as many.

 

[Korranator]

Finally finished it. Also killed all the secret bosses too, except for the mega super hard one in the plus game.

Can't wait DD2.

 

[nathkenn]

10 hours in...


WTF!?


The random battles are the worst by far, of any other rpg I've played. On average, at least for me, they happen every 5 seconds. If I'm lucky, I can move 10 seconds with no random battle. Simply ridiculous. I keep playing it because I actually like the story, characters and the gameplay is good as well, but the random battle frequency is simply inexcusable.

I stopped playing it because I got so aggravated by the random battles. It made it worse because they were always the same piddly enemy I could beat with no strategy, bleh.

 

[jaundicejuice]

Megaten games are dungeon crawlers.

They all have high encounter rates, lots of random battles is part of parcel of a Megaten experience. Personally I love the encounter rate, because of the press turn battle system. DDS may ease you in in the beginning but don't worry, soldier on and you'll have your ass being handed to you by status attack happy enemies later on in the game. Also some of the optional bosses hidden in the game are some of the most difficult ever to grace the genre.

 

[G-Fex]

I need those random battles right now for SMT: Nocturne. To level up of course.

 

[daemonic]

How the hell do you defeat Beelzebub (fly form)? His Death Flies move entirely wipes out my party each time. Ive been using Serph, Cielo and Heat, all at lvl 60. Is there anyway to survive that attack? I tried using Void Death, but it doesn't seem to be helping..

 

[distantmantra]

Finished DDS last night, eagerly awaiting the sequel while trying to avoid all spoilers. Has Atlus announced a firm release date?

 

[jaundicejuice]

How the hell do you defeat Beelzebub (fly form)? His Death Flies move entirely wipes out my party each time. Ive been using Serph, Cielo and Heat, all at lvl 60. Is there anyway to survive that attack? I tried using Void Death, but it doesn't seem to be helping..

Fucked if I know, I leveled up for ten to fifteen hours after getting my ass handed to me by him a couple of times with three level 60 characters (Serph, Heat and Argilla), made sure I had the right kinds of Mantra's equipped (Null Element, Void Death, ect) and still got worked over by that attack with mid 70 level characters. I know this much, don't bring Cielo into the fight since his weakness is status attacks.

Bastards more difficult than the game's end boss. A lot of the optional bosses are. The leader of the Four Holy Beasts is nigh impossible even with Level 75 characters.

 

[daemonic]

ugh looks like I'm gonna have to pass then. I do well up until he starts using Death Flies, which just wipes my entire party out, even with Life Gain in effect for all characters. I won't even attempt to beat the other optional bosses then. Man I hate giving up.

 

[jaundicejuice]

Nah, don't give up, give em all a crack and see how you do. Personally I haven't given up, I just decided to try them again on a New Game+ when hopefully I will have learned every mantra for every character.

 

[Bebpo]

So like in all these rpgs with crazy optional bosses, after you're ready to beat the game at say lvl.40 what do you do between then and fighting some optional boss that requires you to be at lvl.75? I mean grinding 35 levels seems like it would take hours of nothing but doing the same random encounters for hours (or days) straight.

I love the rpgs but I tend to just play the main story and then put it away, the idea of these super bosses where you need to be at ridiculously high levels to even have a chance (especially the ones where you need to be lvl.99) just seems like a huge waste of time :\

 

[Brandon F]

I'll hafta check, but I didn't spend too much time leveling up for the optional bosses(An hour or two at most in one bonus dungeon really). I think I have something like 40 hours on the gameclock and I killed everything under the sun outside of that one uberboss on a replay game.

I can't recall specifics for Beezlebub fly form(though he is a bitch, but not so bad as that giant dragon guy thing), but I can load up the game soon and remind myself of some strategies I used. Generally for most of these optional fights, Heat is your primary damage dealer buffed with critical-type skills and heavy physical strikes(as well as physical resistance...HUGELY necessary for some of the toughest bosses). The chick is on healing, and Serph is your alternate caster, spending most of the battles crippling the enemy and upping your party.

Again, I'll have to remind myself on how I beat each individual fight(each one did have a few wrinkles to iron out with skills), but rarely did attack magic ever come into play, same with elemental resistances. Just major buffs/debuffs, and Heat doing insane crits.

 

[demi]

Fuck all that optional shit.

 

[Brandon F]

Did someone get pwned in Dawn of Souls?

GO MAN GO!

 

[demi]

Did someone get pwned in Dawn of Souls?

GO MAN GO!

I didn't bother with Final Fantasy II because it SUCKS. There are no redeeming qualities to the game whatsoever.

I did all the optional shit in Final Fantasy I, however. Because it's BETTER.

 

[Brandon F]

Music is pretty ace in FF2, but yea...

 

[jaundicejuice]

Bebpo, here's where you and I differ in opinions, to you the leveling up is a pointless waste of time, but for me leveling up in both Digital Devil Saga and Nocturne are an addiction, a pair of vicious little circles. In DDS it's all about learning a new Mantra to unlock another, earning the money to buy that new Mantra, learning it, unlocking more, rinse, lather, repeat. In Nocturne it's all about recruiting demons, leveling them up, evolving them, fusing them and starting all over again.

Half the fun of a Megaten game for me is the random battling. Which is weird cos I general hate random encounters in Rpgs.

Fuck all that optional shit.

I know, I know, can't let it take up any playtime away from Advent Rising.

 

[demi]

I know, I know, can't let it take up any playtime away from Advent Rising.

What does Advent Rising have to do with this? Fucking retard.

 

[jaundicejuice]

Oh I dunno, you seem 'obsessed' with it a while back.

 

[demi]

Yes, because my whole plan was to rant about Advent Rising in a Digital Devil Saga thread.

rolleyes

 

[jaundicejuice]

It was merely a joke, no need to over-react.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

guys i need help. i am near the end, and im getting absolutely raped by this fucking Dhalsim looking boss (with 4 arms, comes out of the water and says i can't go to nirvana or something)

anyways my problem is i will work him down to where he has red when i hit him (meaning he is near death), but then he casts this "break nda effects" on both himself and myself and then he goes to town on us. i would be able to take him out easier but he casts that bullshit "confuse" spell. how the hell can i beat this guy? i already have anti-ice spells and pro-fire spells.

 

[jaundicejuice]

guys i need help. i am near the end, and im getting absolutely raped by this fucking Dhalsim looking boss (with 4 arms, comes out of the water and says i can't go to nirvana or something)

anyways my problem is i will work him down to where he has red when i hit him (meaning he is near death), but then he casts this "break nda effects" on both himself and myself and then he goes to town on us. i would be able to take him out easier but he casts that bullshit "confuse" spell. how the hell can i beat this guy? i already have anti-ice spells and pro-fire spells.

Personally I had no problems taking him down the first time I encountered him. But if you have a save file from a little earlier and want to do a little grinding to unlock this uber-powerful Mantra I just learned about then this might be of some help.

Have two characters equip Insatiable, Iron Stomach, AP Divide and Atma Bonus. You don't need to have two characters have these abilities, but if one misses it's nice to have another that won't. This will drastically increase the speed at which you will learn Mantras. Learn every elemental Mantra to unlock the Monotheist Mantra, which has the ability Null Attack.

You're supposedly invulnerable to every attack except Almighty, and after a couple of Debilitates even that won't hurt you. I just learned this and have fired up my New Game+ file to get this Mantra and have another go at Beez as well as learn every freaking Mantra in the game.

 

[BuckRobotron]

So, for someone who put 100 hours into SMT:Nocturne with full bestiary and might even play through again (thus the 100% bestiary)...should I bother with DDS or will it feel too "weak" (as in apparently simpler battle system, recycled enemies, etc) in comparison?

 

[Prospero]

As of yesterday, you could still score DDS1+2 at Outpost.com for a total of $80 (limit 1 for DDS1). At that price you can play it and eBay it and probably break even.

 

[Mareg]

Holy shit! DDS2 is coming out September 13!

FUCK

And the only way you can get the soundtrack is by preordering and I have no money!

FUCK!

Errr, is it ? Cause Amazon.ca says 29 september, and I happen to have combined it with We love katamary wich is coming on the 12 september.

It would be awesome if they got it out for the 13 september as it would speed up my delivery !

 

[BuckRobotron]

I actually have DDS1 on the shelf unopened thanks to that Outpost deal, but the "time budget" for rpgs was spent pretty nicely recently on SMT:N and others. Now with DDS2 coming soon, I'm wondering when I'll even get to start DDS1 or if I should just sell DDS1 off...

But since it appears people's enthusiasm for the game has survived through initial impressions, I guess I'll hold onto it for play later on.

 

[Tamanon]

Yeah, EB is still showing the 27th, drat. We'll see

Going to start playing again this weekend while away, get myself pumped for the sequel! Well more pumped if that's possible

 

[Crazymoogle]

Man, I need to start playing the game from my midway point so I can finish up in time for DDS2...which for some reason the schaumburg EB I went to has no listing for. -_-;