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Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, originally released in 2003, holds a revered position among JRPG fans and is considered a defining title of the PlayStation 2 era. This HD Remaster breathes new life into the cult classic, offering a chance for veteran players to revisit a beloved experience and introducing a new generation to its unique charms. This review delves into the remastered version’s strengths and weaknesses, exploring its captivating narrative, challenging gameplay, and the enhancements that bring it up to modern standards.

A Post-Apocalyptic Tokyo and the Demi-Fiend

The story of Nocturne begins with the protagonist, an ordinary high school student in Tokyo, visiting a deserted hospital with friends. Amidst rumors of a cult and a horrific incident, a catastrophic event transforms Tokyo into a demon-infested wasteland. The protagonist is fused with a mysterious entity known as a Magatama, becoming the Demi-Fiend, a being caught between humanity and demon. Nocturne follows the Demi-Fiend’s journey through this ravaged world as they uncover the forces behind the Conception and make choices that will determine the fate of humanity, demons, and even gods.

The Demi-Fiend

Unlike some mainline Shin Megami Tensei titles, Nocturne avoids clear-cut alignments of Chaos, Neutral, or Law. The narrative unfolds gradually, revealing the motivations and philosophies of the compelling cast of characters. Each character’s beliefs and actions are rooted in their individual experiences and perspectives, adding depth and nuance to the narrative’s central conflicts. The game offers multiple endings, each reflecting different philosophical stances and offering a satisfying conclusion to the Demi-Fiend’s journey.

Exploration in Nocturne

Demonic Combat and Strategic Depth

Nocturne’s gameplay, while notoriously challenging, is deeply rewarding. The turn-based combat system revolves around exploiting enemy weaknesses and utilizing a diverse skillset. Elemental spells like Agi (fire) and Zio (lightning), alongside almighty and physical attacks, offer a wide range of offensive options. Character stats influence damage output, evasion, and accuracy, adding further layers of strategy. Buffs, debuffs, and status ailments like mute, poison, and bind contribute to the complexity and strategic depth of the combat.

Negotiating with Demons

A key element of the gameplay is demon recruitment. Similar to Pokemon, players can persuade demons to join their party. However, these negotiations are far from straightforward, often involving bribery, flattery, or even combat. Successfully recruiting demons adds to the strategic possibilities, allowing players to tailor their party to their preferred playstyle. Demon Fusion further expands the strategic options. By combining two or more demons, players can create new, more powerful demons with unique skillsets. Special Fusion unlocks even more powerful combinations, further rewarding exploration and experimentation.

Demon Fusion

HD Enhancements and Quality of Life Improvements

The HD Remaster introduces several welcome improvements. The Suspend Save feature allows players to save anywhere and resume their progress seamlessly. Demon Fusion now allows skill inheritance, ensuring valuable abilities aren’t lost when fusing demons. The addition of the Merciful difficulty provides a more accessible experience for newcomers or those who prefer to focus on the narrative. Players can also adjust the difficulty mid-game if they find the challenge too daunting.

Updated Visuals

Visually, the HD upgrade enhances the game’s distinctive art style, with cleaner textures and improved character and demon animations. The audio has also been remastered, offering both English and Japanese voice acting options. The enhanced visuals and audio contribute to a more immersive and engaging experience.

The Price of Nostalgia: DLC Concerns

One significant drawback is the handling of DLC. Content previously available for free in the original release, such as the Dante character and certain music tracks, are now locked behind paid DLC. This approach feels unnecessarily greedy and detracts from the overall value proposition of the remaster.

Dante from the Devil May Cry Series

Conclusion

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster successfully revitalizes a classic JRPG, offering a compelling blend of challenging gameplay, a thought-provoking narrative, and updated visuals and audio. While the DLC practices are disappointing, the core experience remains a must-play for fans of the genre and a worthy entry point for newcomers. Despite its flaws, Nocturne HD Remaster delivers a devilishly good time.