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[RevenantKioku]

My, what a shithead he was. That brings back memories of some controller-throwing good times.

You know what pissed me off the most? Aside from him giving his 11k in HP back to himself? Well, my party had full HP (Thank's Daisoujou), so when he does his death call, yeah just kill the protagonist why not. Jesus. I don't even know what approach to take to this.

 

[Prospero]

You know what pissed me off the most? Aside from him giving his 11k in HP back to himself? Well, my party had full HP (Thank's Daisoujou), so when he does his death call, yeah just kill the protagonist why not. Jesus. I don't even know what approach to take to this.

It's been a while since I played this, but if I remember correctly, the Trumpeter's special attack

Spoiler

kills whoever has the lowest HP in the party.

So keep count of his turns, and before the special attack comes around, just

Spoiler

summon in a low-level, low HP demon beforehand as a sacrifice.

 

[RevenantKioku]

It's been a while since I played this, but if I remember correctly, the Trumpeter's special attack

Spoiler

kills whoever has the lowest HP in the party.

So keep count of his turns, and before the special attack comes around, just

Spoiler

summon in a low-level, low HP demon beforehand as a sacrifice.

That can't be right.

Spoiler

Lowest max or current? Even then, my protagonist has 40 Vi, so his HP outclasses everyone else's. So with everyone at max HP, my demons have a lot less HP than him, and Trumpeter still killed him.

 

[Prospero]

That can't be right.

Spoiler

Lowest max or current? Even then, my protagonist has 40 Vi, so his HP outclasses everyone else's. So with everyone at max HP, my demons have a lot less HP than him, and Trumpeter still killed him.

Maybe he

Spoiler

kills whoever has the highest HP then,

and you should

Spoiler

summon a high-HP demon?

I don't remember exactly, but I'm certain his actions aren't random.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Maybe he

Spoiler

kills whoever has the highest HP then,

and you should

Spoiler

summon a high-HP demon?

I don't remember exactly, but I'm certain his actions aren't random.

I just went and FAQed it,

Spoiler

Its heal the lowest HP to HPMax for the first, and kill the lowest HP to HPMax for the second, and if everyone his at full HP, kill a random one.

So I guess I'll just have to play it out with someone who can Recarm.

 

[Shouta]

I had a Parvati that could Samrecarm for that battle heh.

 

[HooDoo]

nm, found the solution.

Dang, I love this game.

 

[teiresias]

So is SMT: DDS a good game for someone who loves console RPG's but hasn't found one worth playing in like three years? Does one need to have prior experience with the other games to know what the hell is going on in DDS?

 

[MrDaravon]

It's independent from all the other SMT games, there's no backstory or anything really.

 

[ferricide]

So is SMT: DDS a good game for someone who loves console RPG's but hasn't found one worth playing in like three years?

depends on why you love them and why you haven't found one worth playing in the last three years. it's a very good one, but it may contain exactly what you've been hating.

 

[tracky_dacks]

Okay, so I've decided to take the plunge and I ordered both Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga and should be in my hands on Monday. Question is: which game should I tackle first & moreso in terms of getting accustomed to the series?

 

[Bebpo]

Okay, so I've decided to take the plunge and I ordered both Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga and should be in my hands on Monday. Question is: which game should I tackle first & moreso in terms of getting accustomed to the series?

Do DDS first as it's shorter, easier, and more straight foward. Also since SMT3 is a good deal better it's best saved for 2nd. Then by the time you finish SMT3, DDS2 should almost be out and you can jump into that

 

[tracky_dacks]

Thanks Bebpo, think I'lll do just that!

BTW, when will you post your DDS2 review (unless I've missed it somewhere)? Your DDS one was an awesome read!

 

[Erdrick]

I picked up DDS last week, and have just tried it out for about half an hour. It's very good for what I have played. It has that SMT feel that I first really experienced with Persona on the PS.

Thanks to DDS, I have actually gone back to SMT:Nocturne and actually been making some progress. I still love it.

I'm so glad these games have come here. Definately nothing quite else like them. So unique and refreshing in comparison to everything else out there. While everyone and their dog is all drooling over another "Tales" game (No disrespect to that series, it just comes off as supremely vanilla to me.) I will stick with the darker, harsh and real world of Shin Megami Tensei.

DDS, as an aside, has very good voice acting. Good job Atlus for getting this out here and not skimping on the stuff that matters.

 

[Bebpo]

Thanks Bebpo, think I'lll do just that!

BTW, when will you post your DDS2 review (unless I've missed it somewhere)? Your DDS one was an awesome read!

When I get off my lazy ass and write it

 

[Dead]

My game box is dented ;_;

 

[Suikoguy]

i'd just like to chime in and further reccomend this game to anyone looking for a good console style rpg. I thought Nocturne was good, but I really like this game

 

[Eric P]

i passed on nocturne because i didn't really have the time when it came out, but i just picked this game up yesterday.

I like it, so far. I've only really played about an hour and a half of it, but I really, really like the battle system.

-Eric P

 

[mrkapawutzis]

So, is there a strategy guide for this game and it's sequel? :ducks:

 

[Korranator]

Is it dungen based like SMT:N ?

 

[zarkand]

I just got my copy today in the mail. I have only completed to first dungeon, but so far everything is amazing, the graphics are really good. The battle system so far is really good. I have only completed to first dungeon so the skill system hasn't really opened up yet. But even from early battles I see where needing to change around your skills, and party members will be the only way to get by in battle. So I doubt this will be a game were there are only 3 or 4 good party members and the rest are just coming along for the ride. As for the voice acting, correct me if I am wrong, but is that Crispin Freeman as Heat, Steven Blum as Gale and Johnny Bosch as Cielo? I wish they had cast of characters somewhere, to make sure.

 

[Brandon F]

So I doubt this will be a game were there are only 3 or 4 good party members and the rest are just coming along for the ride.

I pretty much used the default three the entire game, only capitalized on the other members when the game sorta forces them to be in the party for a dungeon or two. The only real difference between the characters are their innate elemental strenths/weaknesses, that and the way they grow their stats(which you have no control over).

Equipped skills are pretty much the defining aspect of your team, and though you CAN go all nuts and segregate all 5 members to specific skill paths, even swapping them in and out of battle when necessary; it's generally easier to just crunch the most bang for your buck in your preferred three, and go nuts. Or at least it worked well for me.

 

[MrDaravon]

So, is there a strategy guide for this game and it's sequel? :ducks:

No guide, unfortunately =/. From what I hear, Doublejump passed on it because the game wasn't "deep" enough to warrant a guide, although I don't know if that's actually what happened. 2 is supposed to be much longer, so hopefully we'll get a guide for that, or better yet, a 1 & 2 combo guide (think Arc).

 

[ferricide]

As for the voice acting, correct me if I am wrong, but is that Crispin Freeman as Heat, Steven Blum as Gale and Johnny Bosch as Cielo? I wish they had cast of characters somewhere, to make sure.

yeah, i think it is crispin freeman. i just know he's that guy i hear in a ton of crap, anyway. i don't watch anime dubbed, so i only hear these guys in games.

cielo is clearly the dude who plays allen in xenosaga. i don't know his name. i think he's miscast, but i guess that's mostly because i think of allen. but i honestly don't think he sounds "right" for that character design.

 

[Shouta]

http://imdb.com/name/nm0097765/
http://imdb.com/name/nm0293342/
http://imdb.com/name/nm0089710/

IMDB entries for those 3. Not credited yet for their work if they are in there. I can tell right away if I hear them but I haven't played the game yet myself.

Bosch is one of the few people VAs working regularly in the industry at the moment that had a stable television gig that wasn't VAing at one point (at least of the top of my head). Crispin Freeman does a lot of theater work on top of his VA work too heh.

 

[Alex]

Cutting straight to the point, I nabbed this tonight and it'll be my first SMT game. Any general knowledge or information I should have going in?

 

[the year 20XX]

Bosch is one of the few people VAs working regularly in the industry at the moment that had a stable television gig that wasn't VAing at one point (at least of the top of my head).

Hey, Johnny Bosch! That guy was... adequate! As a replacement Power Ranger!

...whose show I watched a lot of for some reason.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0776239/

Dwight “ (Ice Cold) Howlin’ Mad Reginald Barclay Murdock” Schultz has shown up in a lot of games, most notably as the long-winded old guy in FFX and FFX-2.

Sad.

 

[zarkand]

cielo is clearly the dude who plays allen in xenosaga. i don't know his name. i think he's miscast, but i guess that's mostly because i think of allen. but i honestly don't think he sounds "right" for that character design.

Yeah after hearing more of his voice in the cut scenes,I don't even know what I was thinking when I confused the two voices. Just

Spoiler

What the hell is up with him talking with a different accent all of a sudden?

Am at coorindate 136, I think I tried to learn too many different skills instead of focusing on a group for atleast a little while.

 

[Brandon F]

Alex: I recommend getting everyone in your party a "devour" skill ASAP, it's pretty cheap and will make the early goings a lot easier since you get huge bonuses for eating 'frightened' enemies over merely killing them.

Beyond that, you are pretty free to develop how you want. Covering all the elements is pretty recommended, and something to keep in mind for the way lategame is that if you develop a characters element they are 'weak' to, you can eventually learn an immunity, which is pretty vital for the crazy optional bosses and toughie dungeons. But no rush on all that...

Also, be sure to re-enter the first dungeon immediately after you beat it. Head to the boss room again for a helpful bonus.

Finally, any sellable stuff(cells) always fetch more money during MAX on the solar gauge thing.

 

[The_Sorrow]

How's the storyline in this bad boy? Really thinking about picking it up.

 

[ferricide]

How's the storyline in this bad boy? Really thinking about picking it up.

i really, really like the story. more than i like the gameplay (though i think i was just a bit burned out from, and also preferred, SMTN in that regard -- the gameplay is really quite good in this game, though.)

anyway, the characters are really good, the story is dramatic, but not terribly typical. i mean, yes, it does have that anime-ish "feel" that will turn you off if you're jaded to that sort of thing, but really, it's pretty damn unusual. add in really good voice acting, and excellent character designs, and it's a keeper. of course, there's not as much story as there would be in an FF title (although bebpo has mentioned there's more in DDS2...) anyway, this isn't a game to play just for the story -- fortunately, you don't have to -- but it's a good one to play and enjoy the story.

 

[Bobety]

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY

I just got it in my mailbox!!

Thankyou videogamesplus.ca!

Go to hell dvdboxoffice, you fucking suck!

 

[zarkand]

I am currently

Spoiler

in the brutes base Anja, the first part of it.

and fighting boss. Are there any skills in this game that will prevent a party character from turning into stone? I am fighting this one boss and every other turn he casts stone spell then attacks that character member thus shattering them. I don't think I have any skills in my currently learn that does that. I don't want to play waste money to find and see.

 

[MrDaravon]

I was stuck on that too, until I found out Repel Death/Void Death block the stone effect. Don't ask me why.

 

[zarkand]

I could have sworn that Void Death didn't work against the boss of waterway when he cast his gate to hell that also could stone a character. But yeah void death did work, with it I when back and owned him. But the amount of bosses using pyshco rage is starting to make me mad. I want something like that.

 

[MrDaravon]

I just beat the game, and I'm telling you now - get the resistance for whatever all your characters are weak against (ex. Have Serph get Resist Fire). It's a pain in the ass since you have to go all the way through the mantras for that element, but the last level is going to be very difficult without it. I was hitting battles with enemies that would get the first attack, then find my weakness, do it 6 times, and wipe out my party before I got a turn. Also, for the 2nd half or so of the last level, get Null Nerve (? Or whatever the auto ability that nulls nerve attacks is). There's another enemy that will put your people to sleep, then their buddy will cast a spell that kills any of your guys that are sleeping.

I got to the last level without either of those things, and had to spend 5 hours or so leveling up to get all that stuff. If you can get there with those things, or close to it, you'll be fine. Make sure you've got each characters best elemental attacks too obviously =p.

 

[zarkand]

I already have Serph learning the final fire mantra, but I have a lack of funds for the others. My main party is Seprh, Argilla, and Gale, at first I just kept in Heat, but he sucks at magic and I used far more magic than physical skills plus they drain a lot of HP. I still need to have Argilla learn Mediarama, and I think I am a bit behind in both skills and levels. In terms of levels Serph is level 42, Argilla is 39, Gale is 37, Heat is 34, and Cielos 35. In terms of skills my main party (Serph, Argilla and Gale) have at least to level 3 elemental mantra's learned. Argilla and Gale are learning the level 4 of there weakness, even when they are learn I think I am going to have a tough time because I lack funds to move the to the 5 and final level. I think am going to start having a buffet and learn iron stomach, and AP divide for my main characters so that I can really start learning mantras.

 

[MrDaravon]

You'll start getting anywhere from 10k to 55k a battle in the last level, so you'll start to see a dramatic increase in your funds there. Really, you could just level up in the first part of the level (before you start fighting the aforementioned enemies) for good experience and money.

 

[Bobety]

Put about 5 hours into it so far, and I'm loving it

A couple of quick questions: Do the party members you're not using gain any experience/atma?

Gale just joined me and he's a fair bit higher level than all my other characters (he's 20, my main 3 are lvl16), should i use him or continue using heat? Is either character actually better than the other later on?

Does anyone who's gotten far into or finished the game have any advice as to which mantra paths are good to focus on for each character? I was thinking mostly physical attacks for heat, healing and a bit of elemental magic for argilla, and the hunt/physical path for serph...hows that?

Thanks.

 

[tracky_dacks]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you bobety, though I've got my main 3 to lvl. 20 by the time Gale joined.

Since I'm still early into the game, I can't really offer much advice that'll prove successful in the long run, but thus far I've found that having every character learn Dia and Devour to be very benificial. Oh and have your characters learn a variety of elemental magic spells as well particularly the element they are weak to. Eg: As well ice (which is his strength), I'm having Serph learn fire elemental skills (which he's weak to) as well to help nullify the enemy's fire attacks.

I'm loving this game!

 

[Bobety]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you bobety, though I've got my main 3 to lvl. 20 by the time Gale joined.

Yeah i figured i was supposed to be around lvl20 by then, the last boss i fought (the chick in the thong with the unicorn minions) was ridiculously hard at lvl15 :lol

 

[MrDaravon]

As far as I can tell, inactive members do share in atma, I'd guess they get somewhere around 2/3 what active members get. Inactive members don't share experience, but there are mantras later that will give them that (Don't bother with the one that gives them some, just get the one to the right of it that gives them 100%). I made that one of my first priorities, and it kept all of my people in top shape.

 

[theREBELins]

I picked up this game last weekend to serve as a distraction between studies, and I just wanted to echo what has already been stated: This game is sweet!!!

I've only put a few hours in so far, but after my exam today I'm going sit my ass in front of the TV for quite a long time