Shin Megami Tensei

[Anonymous No.1897290]

Where do I start with this series?

It sounds fucking awesome but it seems like the early games only saw a Japanese release.

[Anonymous No.1897297]

Indeed, the only way so far if you don't speak rune is to play the fan translations. Both SMT games are on SNES, but the first MT games are on NES. Unfortunately if you can't play these on real machines/TVs without a flashcart or repo. SMT's first outing in US was I think Persona, but start with 2 if you're playing PS1.

Just remember to get SMT 1 with Aeon Genesis+that addendum patch someone else made.

[Anonymous No.1897302]

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/megaten.htm
Here's a detailed feature about the series. There are unofficial translation patches for the Super Famicom versions of I, II and If... by Aeon Genesis.

[Anonymous No.1897303]

>>1897302
If... isn't done yet, sorry for forgetting to mention that.

[Anonymous No.1897305]

>>1897290
There are translations for shin megami tensei 1+2... but not for the megami tensei games.

you can find them here
http://agtp.romhack.net/project.php?id=smt

Related question, does anybody knows where I can find the patches for smt1/2 which don`t have those wierd text gliches? I know there are supposed to be fixed patches, but the gliches still occur.

[Anonymous No.1897313]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10886965/smtstarterguide.png

This is from the /smtg/ OP. It's more or less accurate, but there are some further rules of thumb with this series.

On the fanbase:

The fanbase is 99.99% cancer. This includes mainline fans. This is mostly due to the fissure between mainline and persona. Post at your own risk.

On the Persona subseries:

Persona in particular is an experiment in removing some of the complexity of the mechanics in favor of weeb-pandering, to various degrees. Interesting and varied results abound, and the games aren't really that bad, but the types of people it attracts have formed the SMT cash cow. Persona has long since gone to shit, so don't expect any masterpieces from past, present, or future entries.

On other spinoffs:

Mainline SMT has some really solid mechanics and lore. Spinoffs of the series involve taking the mechanics of the mainline titles and slapping them on other genres, such as ARPGs (Raidou) and SRPGs (Devil Survivor). General consensus is that while they are good SMT entries, they aren't very good compared to others of the genre.

On earlier titles:
It's actually pretty likely that ATLUS will be translating these soon. SMT1 is already on mobile devices iirc, but the fan translations are workable enough. Keep in mind that they aren't really necessary to the plot at all other than some minor shit you could read online if you really wanted to.

[Anonymous No.1897320]

>>1897290
>It sounds fucking awesome

All the old games are first person dungeon crawlers that use mechanics that, even at the time are kind of out of date. They are console versions of the kind of dungeon crawler games that were done in the 80's.

The most obvious thing is that you can't see anything until you are right on it and the levels are barren. They could have in the snes games have it so that you could see them beforehand, but whatever, it emulates the style of those older games.

So basically "not for everyone" series.

[Anonymous No.1897321]

>>1897305
>There are translations for shin megami tensei 1+2... but not for the megami tensei games.

The SNES ports of 1 and 2 are translated:

http://www.romhacking.net/translations/2263/

[Anonymous No.1897337]

>>1897320
This. I highly recommend starting with Strange Journey and then going for SMT 1-2 after that. SJ will ease you into both the gameplay mechanics and some of the concepts in SMT (like how to read the spell names). They are both good games but there is a lot you will have to get used to when playing them.

[Anonymous No.1897340]

>>1897321
>It's at 1.0 now

[Anonymous No.1897341]

>>1897340
Finished yesterday.

[Anonymous No.1897718]

That's exciting stuff! Congrats to the author and contributors.

[Anonymous No.1897730]

>>1897321

How do the two versions of the games compare?

[Anonymous No.1897771]

>>1897337
Seconding, it's what I've done.
SJ->1->2->wherever you want

I still haven't finished Grus, though. Shit's hard.

[Anonymous No.1897819]

I also started with Strage Journey and it's a good introduction to the series, I think.

The only /vr/-related megaten I've played is Soul Hackers on the 3DS which is a remake/enhanced port of the original Sega Saturn game. I think it could also be a good introduction to the series because it has the classic first person dungeon crawling gameplay and also you need to use in-game currency in order to summon demons, which is something the older games also have, if I'm not mistaken. It's not really frustrating or anything, it just makes you a jew with magnetite, by the end of the game you end up sitting on tons of magnetite and there's a lot of ways to get lots of it from the casino or other minigames as well.
Soul Hackers is a kind of sequel to the first Devil Summoner game, has some returning characters, but it isn't necessary to play the first one to follow the plot in SH since it's an all new story and new characters, but there's references to the first game. (I think they're working on a translation of the PSP version of DS1).
The game is also not very hard like Strange Journey, but not completely easy either.

[Anonymous No.1897825]

>>1897819
>Strage Journey

The cover guy looks like a lego man to me.

[Anonymous No.1897865]

>>1897825

That design is what actually made me get interested in the series.
Before that I only knew about DeSu, Persona 3 and 4, and just ditched them as another weeb JRPG, the SJ cover made me curious about the series, and ended up not disappointed.

I think the demonica helmet is both dorky and badass at the same time.

[Anonymous No.1897898]

Just started playing the first SMT on SNES. So far all I can say is that the music is kickass and I'm kinda digging the weird atmosphere. It's pretty cool that the game does not make it super obvious what to do and is not afraid to fuck you up on the early encounters, but I'm such a casual that it's getting harder and harder not to look up a walkthrough.

[Anonymous No.1897975]

>>1897825
I thought the demonica looked so stupid when I first saw it, but it sort of grew on me like something from a cheesy sci-fi.

[Anonymous No.1897991]

>>1897898
the battles aren't hard. The hard part is figuring out where to go.

Good luck finding a certain gem.

[Anonymous No.1898016]

>>1897730
Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei is way better than the Famicom versions.

No passwords, better graphics, etc. There is literally no reason to play MT1 and 2 on Famicom. In fact, that translation group shot themselves in the foot, by waiting till 9/11 to release a translation of MT1.

[Anonymous No.1898052]

>>1898016
Well, MT2 on Famicom did have a pretty damn good soundtrack:
http://youtu.be/oGEzqWGp2WA?t=12m5s

[Anonymous No.1898096]

How jarring is difference between official and Aeon Genesis translations? I played the first SMT game with law path bug fix which I believe also updates names and I'm kinda hesitating to play sequel - will I be able to recognize demons and spells names or are they completely different?

[Anonymous No.1898131]

I think the Digital Devil Saga spinoff series is a pretty good way to get into SMT style mechanics and spells. It uses similar systems to nocturne while being more friendly towards new players.

There's always persona, though persona 1 and 2 have very different mechanics from like, every other game.

>>1898096
I read in /smtg/ yesterday that there's been a fix for the SMT1 patch that fixes spell names and the bugs that the aeon genesis patch has but I haven't actually looked into it myself.

OP if you start with strange journey... try to avoid having a stat build that favors magic. I had it once and it didn't work out very well.

[Anonymous No.1898673]

/vr/, What are dos and don'ts, tips and tricks for playing any MegaTen game?

[Anonymous No.1898719]

>>1898673
Here >>>/vg/78459536

The Tips and Tricks guide in the OP is exactly what you're looking for.

[Anonymous No.1898813]

>>1898052
>Well, MT2 on Famicom did have a pretty damn good soundtrack:

Did the SNES version get removed? Why would it be different?

[Anonymous No.1899240]

>>1898131
>>1898096
Orden's patch IS Aeon Genesis' but fixed.
Don't use Aeon Genesis patch.
Use Orden's patch.

[Anonymous No.1899250]

>>1898131
The magic build in Strange Journey can work extremely well if you explore properly and do side-quests. There was a gun that Frost Ace gives you in the third sector which is very good until very late in the game and rapes everything early on. Some of the later guns are crazy, too. Honestly any build in SJ can work well if you equip your protagonist appropriately, and none of them will make the game much harder to win.

[Anonymous No.1899254]

>>1897297
>if you don't speak rune
>rune

Are you fucking kidding me?

Moon, ffs

[Anonymous No.1899283]

>>1899240

lol

http://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,18540.0.html

look how defensive he got on there

[Anonymous No.1899465]

>>1899250
This. The first time I played through SJ my character had magic boost and I always favoured guns with elemental attacks and had my team of demons have at least one different elemental attack each so that I could make use of the demon co-op attacks. The Frost Cannon made me overpowered as fuck for a while.

[Anonymous No.1899974]

>>1897898

Just wait til you get to Ginza. Probably my favorite track in the game.

[Anonymous No.1900192]

>>1899283
Gideon Zhi is a fucking idiot. Him and the old guard of translators.

[Anonymous No.1902009]

>>1899974
mfw that track started playing in SMTIV

[Anonymous No.1902070]

>>1897290
Just whatever you do, save Nocturne for last since it's arguably the best. Also check out DDS because it's similar in gameplay, but is missing demon recruitment and fusion.

[Anonymous No.1902335]

This is probably the best place to ask. Can anybody give me a link to an already patched english rom of kyuuyaku megami tensei now that it has been translated?

[Anonymous No.1902338]

>>1902335
Funny, I uploaded this the other day and forgot to share. Here you go:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/yrrttd1sr2mn3pv/Kyuuyaku+Megami+Tensei+%28Japan%29+%5BT-En+by+DDSTranslation+v1.0%5D.sfc

[Anonymous No.1902346]

>>1902338
You're the man anon thanks

[Anonymous No.1902358]

I'd go far to say it's worth the 3DS for Soul Hackers.

Seriously, it's one of the best in the series.
>that night time cyberpunk atmosphere
>a group of likable characters that have their ups and downs
>fast gameplay and is challenging
>good dungeon design
>awesome OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ4NXkAgYU8

>tfw Sony cock blocked us on both Devil Summoner games for the longest time