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[SatelliteOfLove]

The only refinements I can think of from later Persona games that SMT3 could use are things like easy access to ability descriptions and some minor fusion issues.

In terms of the supposedly barebones story, this is such a common complaint and I just plain don't get it. I never once felt like I needed more cutscenes, exposition or yammering to stay engaged with the game. Things like demon conversations and compendium entries, occasional NPCs, very thoughtful cutscene placement, the environment and the atmosphere kept me plenty captivated. That's one of Strange Journey's flaws actually I think, too much yammering on the ship! Keep it simple and austere, makes everything so much more effective.

True, but still no Shuffle button during fusion. I hope SMT4 comes out with that.

@bolded: THIS! After long, dark, brutal dungeons full of bosses, such cutscenes are excellent breathers and hit like a truck. (SPOILERS!) The minimalist and skilled direction of them helps immensely, too.

 

[charlequin]

True, but still no Shuffle button during fusion. I hope SMT4 comes out with that.

They should really just expand on the DevSur system and let you pick your own abilities from the list.

 

[Koroviev]

They should really just expand on the DevSur system and let you pick your own abilities from the list.

This would be really nice. I'm just going to re-roll the skills until I get ones I want anyway.

 

[7threst]

This would be really nice. I'm just going to re-roll the skills until I get ones I want anyway.

I definitely like rerolling way more than picking the skills you want. There is something very satisfying by having a fused demon take on skills that are rare and are based around luck when rerolling. Choosing skills would make fusions way easier (and for some people less tedious) but also less exciting.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

They should really just expand on the DevSur system and let you pick your own abilities from the list.

This is a different flavor yes, as long as it would never go as far as SJ's distinction-eroding system or creates mudflation of the best stuff.

This would be really nice. I'm just going to re-roll the skills until I get ones I want anyway.

My 3-of-4 system works wonders, espeically later on when great level-up granted skills become commonplace.

 

[White Man]

I lost my copy of Strange Journey the last time I got arrested. Can anyone hook me up?

 

[Finalow]

I'm not saying I want S.Links in Nocturne, I'm saying give me something else besides dungeon crawling. When I compare SMT3 to Persona I feel like Persona has more gameplay elements across the board z

that's SMT, it's like asking for a DQ without a turn based bs.
Persona with more gameplay? No, it is just different, for some people can be better. hopefully we'll have that social links thing only in P3 and P4.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I lost my copy of Strange Journey the last time I got arrested. Can anyone hook me up?

I've seen local copies in the wild. I'll see what I can do.

 

[Aeana]

And so begins one of the nightmarish parts of SMT2. I have to go to all of the shrines, which means lots of backtracking.

Shrine #1.

Sarutahiko is a little bit cray. We knock some sense into him and he gives us Masakado's left arm. This one wasn't too bad.

Shrine #2.

This place is a little crappy, but not too bad. Lots of teleportation. It's much worse without a map, but I used one.

Eventually, we run into Sukuna Hikona, whom players of Raidou 1 may remember from a particularly gross scene. He says he's been trapped in here, so he joins our group and we escort him out, and he rewards us with Masakado's left leg.

Next!

This place is awesome. It looks like we could just walk forward to the door, right? No. Of course not.

Yeah.
I'm gonna use this map, because I don't have all day.

At the top, we run into Baphomet. And beat him.

Oonamuchi was being kept down by the man, so we get Masakado's right arm as a reward.

Next.

This place is also a bit of a jerk.

It has these areas that look wide open, but when you cross them and look back, there's a wall. One-way walls are cool.

At the top, we run into Ooyamatsumi, and he also wants us to lead him out, so we do, and he gives us Masakado's right leg.

This is the next shrine. This is the very first shrine we could access, and it's the one where I turned turned that dude back to normal from stone, long, long ago. It's a pain in the butt to reach from the rest of the underworld. I had to go all the way back up to Holytown and then to the Valhalla passage and back down just to reach it.

At least he gives us Masakado's body without a fuss.


Okay, so we've got Masakados arms, legs and body. Where's his head? Well, long ago, there was someone talking about having a severed head back in the grand church in Holytown. It was kinda gross.

But I want it. I haggle a bit and get the price down to 10,000 macca.

So now we have all of the body parts, but they're still just body parts, and not a body. What's a gal to do with a bag full of body parts? Oh, I know, let's fuse them together.

The master of the cathedral of shadows literally begs us to let him fuse Masakado's body back together, so I'm not about to refuse.

But something isn't quite right. He talks slowly, and he looks weird. What's up? Let's go see Hiruko.

Indeed, Hiruko says that a body needs a soul. But fortunately, he's safeguarded Masakado's soul personally, so that's pretty convenient.

Fwooosh, instant Masakado.

Masakado thanks us but then he and Hiruko rush off to the sealed cave without really telling us anything. That's a fine how-do-you-do, really. Now we have to go find the place all by ourselves.

 

[walking fiend]

Currently playing Strange Journey; best jRPG after SH2 I have played, loving it.

Though I am stuck at the second continent boss, lol.

 

[Finalow]

starting to think that in Nocturne a physical fighter MC is much better than a magic one. with magics I'm fucking useless during boss fights, like I use 2 good spells and mp are already gone.

 

[Aeana]

starting to think that in Nocturne a physical fighter MC is much better than a magic one. with magics I'm fucking useless during boss fights, like I use 2 good spells and mp are already gone.

Physical's a great way to go, especially in the Maniax version (which the English version is) because they added pierce for the hero for finishing the extra stuff.

 

[vicissitudes]

You can switch out your party mid-battle in SMT3, too!

And yes, SMT3 doesn't have triple fusions, but it isn't a feature of later games. It's been in the series since the first game.
They did simplify fusion a bit in 3, removing triple fusions and reducing the number of races, but they also expanded it a lot compared to the earlier games as well with mythology fusions and sacrificial fusions and things like that. I'm not really sure why they made some of the changes they did, but I think it works well enough overall.

As for dungeon crawling... that's SMT. That is really the core of SMT. Dungeon crawling. I'm not really sure how else to put it, honestly.
This is, of course, one of the reasons why they started making the spinoff series, so they could explore other types of systems, but SMT is dungeon crawling, and it's nothing to do with age. Strange Journey came out in 2010, it's a dungeon crawler! And SMT4 will be one, too.

Being alone in a big, scary world where the battles never stop is the heart and soul of the series.

Huh I didn't know about being able to switch demons in battle. Thanks for the tip.

Yeah the dungeons can be too much at times but the story is starting to get a lot more interesting at the part where people are realizing their reasons.

 

[perfect free]

Plane shifting feels bizarre, man. But it seems like we’ve all made it here in one piece... wherever “here” is.

And it doesn’t seem like the Schwarzwelt is even close to running out of surprises.

(Aesthetically, I think it’s kinda neat, but I decide to keep this to myself... the rest of the crew would just think I’m nuts.)

Anyway, Arthur wastes no time in putting us (read: me) to work. We’ve got to find the tunnel to the next sector, just like we did in Antlia, and to do that I’m going to have to launch these cute little signal beacons in several appropriate locations.

Time for some exploration! C’mon Jimenez, let’s hit the town!

As I traverse the florid avenues, I come across several (mostly) friendly demons who strike up conversations as I approach.

Well that was easy. He'll probably ask for something harder next time I see him, though.

No problem, crow dude, I can keep an eye out...

Hidden door, you say? We'll see about the whole "never finding it" thing, since... now I know there *is* a door and all. Way to go. Don't know who this Master Mitra is, but if things go like they did back in Antlia I'll probably be finding out soon enough.

I also come across some lovely ladies who call themselves “Disir” and request my help in dealing with a... renegade tree?

Something happens involving a white room, me getting whacked really hard, and nearly blacking out. I don’t know who ends up pacifying Yggdrasil--I sure as hell don’t think I have anything to do with it--but the Disir seem grateful anyway and give me this nifty ring. (Screenshot fail on my part.)

After all that excitement, I manage to find a couple of especially roomy areas and launch the beacons as Arthur instructs me.

Back to the ship for my next mission! Hmm... well, the beacons did the job and we've identified the location of the next tunnel, but it seems like we’ve also picked up another distress signal nearby.

How many are alive on board the Elve? Will our help get there in time? We'll see...

 

[7threst]

Does anybody know what raising the Luck stat in Nocturne actually does? I know it was a really, really important stat for Serph in Digital Devil Saga since you needed it just for an attack to connect, but in Nocturne it doen't seem to really affect anything more than more chances for critical hits (which is nice, but more strength and vitality is also welcome when building a character around physical skills). Does it also raise the amount of Macca at the end of the battle or the items gained after battle or something?

 

[sazabirules]

Can anybody tell me how close I am to finishing Persona 4? I'm at the dungeon where

Spoiler

you're trying to save Nanako

. I think I'm approaching the end of the game. I want to finish quickly since I have Nocturne waiting for me.

 

[vicissitudes]

Does anybody know what raising the Luck stat in Nocturne actually does? I know it was a really, really important stat for Serph in Digital Devil Saga since you needed it just for an attack to connect, but in Nocturne it doen't seem to really affect anything more than more chances for critical hits (which is nice, but more strength and vitality is also welcome when building a character around physical skills). Does it also raise the amount of Macca at the end of the battle or the items gained after battle or something?

I believe it's only for critical hits and better chance at getting rare item drops. Seems kinda useless, I never put any points into it.

 

[neoemonk]

I played the SNES translations of SMT 1 and 2 about five years ago. Looking at those screenshots, I have no recollection of those games.

I do remember cheesing my way through the first one with charm bullets though.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

I believe it's only for critical hits and better chance at getting rare item drops. Seems kinda useless, I never put any points into it.

I know it also is used in reguards to ambushes, but that may be cumulative to the active party(?)

Luck: It is a Mystery

 

[Finalow]

Physical's a great way to go, especially in the Maniax version (which the English version is) because they added pierce for the hero for finishing the extra stuff.

well too late for it now.

 

[Aeana]

Off to find that cave.

Found it!

At the entrance, Masakado gives me the sun pillar and his katana, and wanders off to recover. Hiruko informs us that the Amatsukami are imprisoned in this cave, so let's free them.

So I free Tsukuyomi, Takemikazuchi, Tajikarao and Omoikane first. They don't really say much of import, except Omoikane lets us know that now that they're free, we can create them via fusion.

Finally, there's Amaterasu. She has quite a lengthy spiel about the history between the Amatsukami and the Kunitsukami which you can read about on Wikipedia if you're so inclined. The bottom line of this is that she regrets what went down between the two and hopes to not repeat the same mistake again.

Outside, Hiruko and Amaterasu head off to the Kongoshinkai to spoon, and we're on our way once again with no hint of what to do next.

Fortunately, someone in a local bar (I forget which one) lets us know that, indeed, one way into the demon world is to gather the 7 pillars.

And Louis Cyphre helpfully informs us that Abaddon is no longer in the underworld, he's been banished to the demon world.

I guess we need to go to the demon world, huh?

In the disco, someone helpfully informs us that the prize for winning the dance contest during the full moon rave is a Moon pillar. We probably need that.

And the winner of the last dance contest gives us a little bit of a hint about how to win. She's doing her magic power 9 dance. What this means is that we need a magic power stat of 10 or better to beat her. Fortunately, I already knew about this, so I prepared in advance, but it can be a pain if you aren't ready for it, especially since there's no logical reason to put any points in magic power since the hero can't use magic.

Aleph dances furiously!

CONGRATULATION!! Moon pillar get.

Outside, we run into Zain again. He's all hot and bothered about the situation with the Factory workers being held against their will, so he asks us to work with him to fix it. 'Kay.

Down in the Factory area, we storm a previously inaccessible part of the prison where Hiroko was being held earlier.

But when we try to free the workers, it seems that they really, really don't want to leave. Just like Hiroko. What's going on?

Zain acknowledges that the conditions here are terrible, and it's super weird that people don't want to leave. We've heard some suspicious things about the watchtower, so he's off to check it out, and we're gonna follow.

Tower!
This place has 13 levels, and the first 12 are really super tiny, and the top floor is not much bigger.

At the top, we find Zain on the ground. There's a demon guarding the watchtower, and he didn't see it coming. He tried to fight him alone and failed, but we're not going to be that stupid. Let's see what manner of demon beat up the great Zain.

It's... a demon on a toilet. It's Belphegor, and he's on a toilet. And he beat Zain.

Well, now it's just a toilet. Yet another really easy boss fight. I swear, never let anybody tell you that SMT1 and 2 are hard, because they are almost FF4-easy.

Further in, we find Siren. She ignores us and continues to sob uncontrollably. Well, now what?

Back at the bar in Holytown, this guy gives us a bit of a tip. Rumor has it that there's some sort of radiation keeping everybody in line in the Factory, but it's actually Siren's singing. She has the ability to steal the souls of men. The Center ripped her from her happy life with her lover in the demon world and imprisoned her in the watchtower, and now all she does is mourn her parting from her lover, inadvertently subjugating all of the workers.


We really need to get into the demon world somehow.

 

[perfect free]

My squaddie Norris has been starting to hear voices inside his head. I tell him to pull his shit together, but I don’t think he’s hearing me. Before I know it, he’s off and running, assumedly to the palace.

Man, now I’ve gotta rescue Norris’ dumb ass and find the Elve? I have a feeling this palace is going to be a doozy whenever I find it. I hope it’s not going to be hard to fi--

Oh. Well then! (I love the music in this area. It’s a refreshing change from the chaotic tribal-drums-and-choir thing, but it’s still very foreboding and eerie.)

Again with the Master Mitra spiel. Wait... did he say “a new body”? The hell is going on in here? Not that the thought isn’t tempting, but... no, gotta put it out of my mind and keep exploring.

Customer? I don’t know as I’d call myself... someplace fun, you say? Wellll, okay. I’m sure it’s not a horrible death trap.

Oh, I love what you’ve done with the place! A little mood lighting, a crew member manacled to the wall, some tasteful bl--A CREW MEMBER MANACLED TO THE WALL? I take a quick look around the room and find several more similarly positioned. But wait, who’s in here with me?

Oh yeah! I thought I recognized the imperious hand gesturing! Zelenin informs me that her ship crashed and was attacked by demons, and that after the attack she and some others were brought here to the palace.

You seem a little, uh, fatalistic there, Z. C’mon, turn that frown upside down! Look at all these cool demons I summoned!

Oh, I can tell we are just going to get along so well. Eventually, though, she talks herself into accepting a copy of the program... just in case. And just in time, too, because a Bifrons shows up to take me to see Master Mitra.

Fuck you, that’s my name! I feel very brave until the Bifrons backhands me in the mouth with its candelabra. Someone else in the room (wait, who else is in here?) pipes up and identifies me, though. Moment ruined.

I’m not sure I like these tough philosophical questions the head honcho demons are throwing at me.

Ummm... by “men” you’re of course figuratively referring to your demon hordes... right? No? They're actually crew members? Well shit.

After Mitra poses the question, I get a lovely little bell and am told to go back to my ship and talk it over with the crew. K, let me just get right on that!

Back on the Red Sprite, Arthur details the rescue mission, but notes that we can only make an explicit point of going after people we absolutely know are in the palace... so that means Zelenin and Norris, but no one else, I guess. Once we’re all clear on the objectives, we head out. I give Jimenez Mitra’s bell to help create a convincing hullabaloo. Hope I don't end up needing it later.

They do their thing... and gunshots and crazed roars fill the air. It’s now or never - let’s get to the palace!

 

[Jucksalbe]

For anyone that missed it: archnemesis posted some nice Vita wallpapers a few month ago.

 

[HitokiriNate85]

Guys, I could use some honest advice/info.

First off, I'm awful at finishing RPGs. I really enjoy starting them, which is an issue. Also, I always get to urge to play an RPG during the summer.

I'm posting here because I was reading a bit of the thread yesterday and it made me want to open up the copy of FES that's been on my shelf since release. However, I'm not sure that's a great idea. I already started Xenoblade a few months back(had to put it down because I didn't have the free time to play an RPG) and I'm also considering picking it back up.

As RPG-GAF, could you guys give me some pros/cons of the two games in comparison? Does FES have any elements that would be annoying to someone who usually doesn't play RPGs? Regarding Xenoblade, I really like the soundtrack, active combat, auto-filling health between fights, ability to save anywhere, and that dying isn't punished much. The biggest contrast to all the positive elements is that the story is pretty damn boring so far, and I was 20 hrs in, maybe more.

 

[Jucksalbe]

Regarding Xenoblade, I really like the soundtrack, active combat, auto-filling health between fights, ability to save anywhere. The biggest contrast to all the positive elements is that the story is pretty damn boring so far, and I was 20 hrs in, maybe more.

Persona 3 is about as long as Xenoblade (if not longer), so if you don't have much free time, try to play Xenoblade first, even if it's not as good.
Fes certainly has the better soundtrack, but you won't find any of the other points you mentioned here.
I guess a good compromise would be to play Xenoblade until the end of the first half (you'll know when that is) and then stop. It only gets worse after that and you can use the time to play Fes.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Well I beat Dragon's Dogma and I started a new game in Raidou 1. Planning to beat both games. PC with capture card is dead so I can't post pics. Maybe I'll post cellphone pics of some stuff.

 

[Deleted member 13876]

Anyone know the title of Digital Devil Saga 2's title/loading screen? Can't find it anywhere and loved the ominous feel of it.

On another note, almost burned through all my PS2 SMT games I bought a few years back now with the completion of the DDS games. The other ones I got being Persona 3 and 4. All that remains is Nocturne, which for some reason seems daunting. Played the first half hour of it a few years back but never played any farther.

 

[cacildo]

Lets take this opportunity to remember an amazing easter egg i noticed on Strange Journey

Amazing!

 

[HitokiriNate85]

Persona 3 is about as long as Xenoblade (if not longer), so if you don't have much free time, try to play Xenoblade first, even if it's not as good.
Fes certainly has the better soundtrack, but you won't find any of the other points you mentioned here.
I guess a good compromise would be to play Xenoblade until the end of the first half (you'll know when that is) and then stop. It only gets worse after that and you can use the time to play Fes.

How about the story in P3? I know this thread is full of fans, but is it particularly engaging? How is the pacing in terms of balancing story to gameplay? I always got the impression that it would have a clear divide, like perform story section followed by long gameplay/non-story involved section. Does the game have a lot of humor? What would sidequests?

I was in the Makna Forest in Xenoblade, btw.

 

[Jucksalbe]

How about the story in P3? I know this thread is full of fans, but is it particularly engaging? How is the pacing in terms of balancing story to gameplay? I always got the impression that it would have a clear divide, like perform story section followed by long gameplay/non-story involved section. Does the game have a lot of humor? What would sidequests?

P3 has two very distinct segments. Most of the time, you're free to do whatever you like. You go to school, meet with other people ("S-Links") and you can go to a dungeon to do quests, grind or work towards a specific goal.
Once a month there's a mandatory story sequence. Overall the story is more about the substories with your friends, the main story is "okay" (better than Xenoblade's) but nothing special.
Gameplaywise the pacing is excellent. You learn new stuff that really changes your game even 40-50 hours into the game. It's a game that's good at the beginning, gets great a little bit later and then gets better and better.
Don't know about humor. The overall tone is serious, but it's got its moments here and there.

I was in the Makna Forest in Xenoblade, btw.

Oh, already? Then screw Xenoblade, read the rest of the story somewhere else if you want to, you've seen the most important parts. Bear in mind, though, I seem to be in the minority in my opinion on Xenoblade.

 

[Aeana]

Don't know about humor. The overall tone is serious, but it's got its moments here and there.

Operation: Babe Hunt.

 

[perfect free]

Anyone know the title of Digital Devil Saga 2's title/loading screen? Can't find it anywhere and loved the ominous feel of it.

That's "Atonement".

 

[Deleted member 13876]

That's "Atonement".

Thank you. Really couldn't find it anywhere.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Really embodies the 'if you thought things were bad before, you have no idea' tone of DDS2.

 

[Vamphuntr]

At least the game makes fun of itself.

Junior Detective Kit

"Negotiating" with a giant turtle

Head stretching

I have some bad news for you :/

Some boss that died in 10 seconds

 

[cj_iwakura]

Raidou 1's endgame gets so delightfully insane.

 

[7threst]

I can't caputere screens, so no pics from me...

So I started a new game in Nocturne and made some good progress without much hassle. Except, the Matador... man, I will keep my mouth shut about that fight being easy. I kept losing and losing and losing, all because I was just too lazy to go back to Ginza to fuse some demon's that would work in the fight. In the end, I had to since I kept losing.

For the fight with Matador I used Uzume (null Force/Expel), Nozuchi(drain Force) and Nekomata (drain Force) while I ingested the Hifumi Magatama. He kept using Mazan all the time and only once used a focus attack and once andalucia. So yeah, I won without much problems aand didn't need a skill like Fog Breath at all.

I did forget how big the underpass actually was though. In my mind, you would exit pretty soon after the fight with Matador but actually you're only half way the underpass when you fight him.

Right now I'm at Ikebukuro and exploring around the headquarters there.
I'm about to go to the Labyrinth of Amala for the first time and am looking forward to that. The Labyrinth is easily my most favourite part of the game. The music and atmosphere when exploring there is absolutely incredible.

 

[HitokiriNate85]

P3 has two very distinct segments. Most of the time, you're free to do whatever you like. You go to school, meet with other people ("S-Links") and you can go to a dungeon to do quests, grind or work towards a specific goal.
Once a month there's a mandatory story sequence. Overall the story is more about the substories with your friends, the main story is "okay" (better than Xenoblade's) but nothing special.
Gameplaywise the pacing is excellent. You learn new stuff that really changes your game even 40-50 hours into the game. It's a game that's good at the beginning, gets great a little bit later and then gets better and better.
Don't know about humor. The overall tone is serious, but it's got its moments here and there.



Oh, already? Then screw Xenoblade, read the rest of the story somewhere else if you want to, you've seen the most important parts. Bear in mind, though, I seem to be in the minority in my opinion on Xenoblade.

How about combat? Thoughts on playing FES vs 4?

 

[Finalow]

the hell, why there are no healing points in the dungeons of Nocturne, like I found one at second or third dungeon of the game and then nothing.

 

[Finalow]

I guess a good compromise would be to play Xenoblade until the end of the first half (you'll know when that is) and then stop. It only gets worse after that and you can use the time to play Fes.

wut? The best of Xenoblade's plot comes after the first half, and it is a pretty nice plot overall.
weak points are the characters (especially the main) and the final scene that seems rushed.

 

[kai3345]

Been playing P4, Nocturne, DDS1 and Raidou 2 on and off for a while now, but I'm farthest in P4 so I think I'm gonna continue exclusively on that one.

 

[perfect free]

Inside the palace, the demons are all gone thanks to the diversionary force’s work. I make my way back up the floors and locate Zelenin, who’s still in the torture chamber. But before I can get her out, that annoying-voiced demon who dumped me in the chamber the first time around shows up, captures me again, and puts me in a second chamber filled with bodies, promising that “the experiment will start soooooon.” I can’t wait! (Yes I can.)

Eventually Norris is let into the chamber with me. The demons remove his Demonica, watch as he struggles to breathe, then splash “madman’s blood” on him, apparently turning him into some sort of ghoul. In what is admittedly not my finest hour, I stand idly by and watch all this happen. Then I get to fight Ghoul!Norris. He’s pretty easy.

I feel along the walls and find a passage connecting my cell to Zelenin’s. We start to look for a way out, but it turns out we have another visitor--of a very different sort:

Mastema decides to aid us in our escape. He does this by digging a hole into the floor with his bare hands. We make our way down to the bottom floor, where Mastema presents us with a forma Norris was carrying as well as a few choice parting words... maybe he can sense my alignment?

He leaves, and we should be going too. On my way out the door I run into the Macabre greeter. We fight, and it’s not so bad except for the fact that he can and will poison the whole party. (I was mad and didn’t take any screenshots.) Once he’s dealt with, it’s back to the Red Sprite.

Zelenin shares exactly what happened when the Elve crashed. Doesn’t sound too pleasant. Once she heads off to sickbay to rest, Arthur gives us new orders: there’s a strong possibility that the Rosetta Manifold, which is the key to traversing any given sector’s quantum tunnel, is actually Mitra himself. Well, I guess we know what that means!

Jimenez is ready to kick some uppity demon ass! But he also asks a pretty good question: how many times are we intended to keep on performing this kind of mission? Arthur seems to think it could be a while.

I now have a new forma that lets me detect hidden demons in the vicinity. This lets me spot the demon who kept capturing me and chucking me in a cell before. Gee, he’s a little big for someone so sneaky. He’s also easy enough that I manage to auto-battle him to death after buffing myself up a little.

Jimenez and I break up a scuffle involving a Bifrons (geeze, another one?) and an odd, scared little demon (actually three-quarters demon) called a Bugaboo. J takes a liking to the guy and convinces it to become his ally.

After 8

Spoiler

million

floors of exploration, I finally corner Mitra, who is not particularly pleased to see me threatening him. We fight. He uses ice, and my armor makes me weak to ice, so that’s not fun. He also can inflict Strain (gradual MP loss) on the party, instant-kill a single party member, or just generally hit me really hard. Despite all this I squeak by without having to retry the battle. (For some reason my screenshots of this fight came out 10% DS screen, 90% reflection of my hand, so no battle pics.)

Rosetta Manifold triumphantly in hand, I return to the ship, where we prepare to plane shift to the next sector.

 

[randomkid]

Man, Mastema looks so freaking cool. Can hear his awesome theme in my head now. That dread, so good.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Yep. Amazing how one static Kaneko portrait can convey so much.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Boy is P3Vanilla NG+ gonna be a slog. Need to do all her requests again before fighting her.

Is maxing all the S Links going to be tough, or is there more breathing room without worrying about the Aeon link and stats?

 

[Finalow]

Inside the palace, the demons are all gone thanks to the diversionary force’s work. I make my way back up the floors and locate Zelenin, who’s still in the torture chamber. But before I can get her out, that annoying-voiced demon who dumped me in the chamber the first time around shows up, captures me again, and puts me in a second chamber filled with bodies, promising that “the experiment will start soooooon.” I can’t wait! (Yes I can.)
--

damn the more I see the more I want to play it. :E
still need to order it on amazon.

 

[Absoludacrous]

Boy is P3Vanilla NG+ gonna be a slog. Need to do all her requests again before fighting her.

Is maxing all the S Links going to be tough, or is there more breathing room without worrying about the Aeon link and stats?

Maxing S Links on NG+ is generally easier since you don't have to worry about meeting your stat dates (like having courage at a certain level by 6/19, etc). That said though, it's never really hard, but you'll need to be a slave to the guide for the most part.

 

[Aeana]

So we need to find a way into the demon world. Someone around Holytown points us toward the grand church.

In front of one of the doors, we hear some guy shouting that he's giving up.

Inside, we come across this guy. He wants to see the demon world for himself, but he has hit a bit of a roadblock. He knows that you need to have four dolls, and you have to place them just so that their energy is in tune with the demon world's, but he only has one doll. Well, if you think way back to the beginning of the game, we picked up Hanada's dolls after he opened a portal, but our dolls only open a one-way portal. We accept this guy's sleeping doll, and head to the summoning room here in the grand church.

We place the dolls, replacing our dancing doll with his sleeping doll, and the a portal opens! Let's go in!

Sadly, or time here is short for now. Just south of the entrance, we run into...

Petersen. He explains that his lover, Siren, was kidnapped and taken to the human world, likely to use her song to subjugate others. He admits that he was once one of these hapless souls, but they ended up falling in love for reals after a while. So we offer to take him to her!

Siren! No need to sing such a sad song, for I am here.
Yes, we have saved the day once again. Siren cheers up immediately, and they head back to the demon world together.

In truth, this part of the game is the saddest of them all, because it means the overworld music in the Factory returns to normal, and is no longer this amazing piece of work. Oh well.

Outside, on the news display, the bishop is on screen telling Zain to turn himself in, or they'll cut off the air supply to Holytown.

Zain has seen the news, and he's decided to go to the Center, because he is confident that the Center's words were not hollow. But he's not going to turn himself in, he's going to fight! Right behind you buddy!

Well... maybe we'll take the long way.

Back in the demon world! I've gotta hit up this town to get some new equipment and hit the casino and stuff. While I'm here..

I run into Louis Cyphre in the bar. Fancy meeting you here! He says that we've come to this place by the "back door" and that we should really try to find the proper way in.

Maybe we should.
Exploring some more, we come across...

An Arcadia resident? And it kinda looks like a hologram or a ghost or something. He says he's come here to find the secret of eternal life so he can make Arcadia into an ideal world.

How did an Arcadian get down here?!

Not far away is this thing. Nearing it, we find that it's some weird distortion in space. Going into it, we end up...

Huh. Isn't this place familiar?

Whoa, whoa, what?
Arcadia citizen: It doesn't matter what Zain says, this is an ideal world. Oh, wonderful Arcadia... truly an ideal world.

What's going on?
As we explore, we come across more people.

Gimel's words are everything for us. Zain must be telling lies.

Gimel will surely defeat Zain and put an end to his lies.

We believe in Gimel, he's our savior. Zain's words are meaningless.


Huh.
At the top of the area, we find...

Gimel himself.
"So now you've seen it, huh... the truth about my Arcadia. As I'm sure you've figured out, Arcadia is not a truly ideal world. It is a fabrication. But even if it isn't real, is it such a bad thing to give people the peaceful world they truly desire? Without knowing any better, they are happy thinking that everything they experience is genuine. What's real is what people want to believe is real. That's what matters."

This is kind of crazy. But naturally, now that we've seen the truth, Gimel isn't about to let us leave here alive.

In theory. Beat him anyway.

And now we have a choice.

This is a major alignment-affecting decision. Now that Gimel has been defeated, you have the opportunity to enter the name of a new savior, destroy the computer (and kill everyone connected to it), or walk away. Since we're Switzerland here, we're just going to walk away from it all, no matter how hard it is.

Outside, it clearly doesn't look much like Arcadia, since it never existed. But there is another building. What's that about?

Inside is a transporter machine that puts us...

Back in the passageway to Arcadia from the Center. Huh. Well, for some reason my position arrow isn't showing up on the map here, but I'm right next to the bottom right orange square. The previous path to Arcadia stopped at the room a little bit to the west. In there was a machine that was a teleporter to Arcadia. But... it turns out it wasn't a teleporter, it was a virtual reality machine!

At any rate, I said we'd take the long way to the Center, and we certainly did... but now it's time to check in on Zain.

 

[MechaX]

Like a fucking boss, Teacher.

Yeah, I think I'm just going to replay Nocturne at this point. I wish I could have used my PS2 emulator some more, but it gets some odd transparency and frame-rate slow-down issues. It may look extremely blurry on a big HDTV with component cables, but it looks fine enough on a smaller TV. Also going to do Hard mode, but I may end up kicking myself pretty hard for those X4 Magatama prices.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Like a fucking boss, Teacher.

She's quite possibly my favorite female character in any game, ever.