Atlus Digital Devil Saga Roleplaying Review

candlewaxicing

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $50.00 from Ebay

Summary:
Digital Devil Saga is the latest release in the Shin Megami Tensei series. Shin Megami Tensei which translates to "True Goddess Metempsychosis" has been releasing games since 1992. If you are looking for a dark and different type of RPG, then I suggest trying any of the Shin Megami Tensei games.

The Junkyard, a world where emotions don’t exist and the rain is endless. But even the Junkyard has laws to follow, which are issued by the mysterious Karma Temple. You play as Serph the leader of the Embryon tribe. One of six tribes in a war that will only end when one tribe is left alive. Nirvana is what awaits the tribe that is left. The war only intensifies when a bright light sweeps across the junkyard during a battle between the Embryon tribe and another tribe. Awaking only to find slain enemies and a crater with a strange black-haired girl inside. The light also changes everyone in the Junkyard forever. Physical changes occur and now the people of the Junkyard can become demons. Creating a hunger to devour their enemies. Not just a physical changes occur as they begin to feel emotions. Later the Karma Temple issues a new law: “ Devour the other Tribes and bring the black-haired girl to Nirvana.” Now Serph and his tribe must protect this girl and devour all who stand in their way. As it is the only way they can reach the promised land of Nirvana.

This game takes between forty and fifty hours to complete. It also gives a new game plus and optional bosses which gives it good replay value. The second part for Digital Devil Saga is set for the fall of 2005. I suggest keeping your saved data seeing that you can load it in Digital Devil Saga 2.

Aylmer

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $50.00 from Game Zone

Summary:
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga is the sequel to the hit game Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne.

The latter was famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, for being one of the hardest RPGs ever created. Maybe even THE hardest.

Well, the first thing I want to say about Devil Saga is...it's not nearly as hard. It's still challenging, still a lot of fun to play, and the bizarre visuals and music are there, but this Shin Megami game is nowhere near as difficult to play as it's predecessor. Personally, I think that's a good thing. I have not talked to anyone who completed Nocturne, but Devil Saga is beatable. If you are a completist, you can safely pick up this title knowing you will finish it.

Nocturne was renowned for it's weird and twisted graphics, haunting music, and sick story line. Devil Saga has, for the most part, kept that tradition alive. But, it's not that close of a sequel. It can stand on it's own as a decent RPG, with no experience necessary playing the other games in the series in order to fully enjoy it. But, if you did play, or attempted to play Nocturne, you will find some things that are familiar. But you will find many more things that are new.

The graphics have changed some, the battle system has radically changed, and the music is familiar at times, though most of it is new. And the storyline is way, way different. One gameplay element that deserves special mention is that the random battle rate is less than half of Nocturne's.

Devil Saga begins on a timeline long after the events of Nocturne, and humans have regained control of the world. However, they are busy fighting each other. Humanity is divided into several tribes, all vying for control of each other's territory. The humans have regained the world, but the world is the sick and twisted battle scarred remnants of the demon world of Nocturne.

It is during a battle that something happens to the world the humans inhabit. They are all stricken with a strange light that leaves a weird tattoo on them. After this they can morph into demons. They are not total demons per se, and they can freely transform from humans to demons and back. When they are human, they must depend on recovery items and guns in battle. When they are in demon form, they can have supernatural powers, but these powers come at a terrible price. That price is cannibalism. They must eat their enemies.

This need is woven into the very cool character development system, which is totally unlike that found in Nocturne.

However, it should be stated that it is obvious that the same effort that went into Nocturne is not in Devil Saga. The insane difficulty is gone, but so is the ultra deep gameplay and subplots. The game looks good and plays good, but lacks the overall polished feel that Nocturne had. For instance, the levels are huge and well designed, but are repetitive. The enemies are not as varied, and the map overworld is not as sophisticated. This is offset somewhat by the very cool character development system, but the truth is, Devil Saga does not have the 'wow' factor that Nocturne had.

Still, this is a worthy and unique RPG. It is enjoyable, and is hard to put away once you start playing. If you are fond of a little bit of kink in your gaming, give this a try. It does deserve it's M rating, with lots of sexual references and some strong language.