Was Shin Megami Tensei IV Worth It?

To celebrate the remastered version of Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne, we’re taking a look at recent Megaten games. Today we’ll be asking “Was Shin Megami Tensei IV Worth It?”

Important Caveats

SMTIV released back in 2013. The game goes on sale every so often for about $10 on the Nintendo eShop. Physical copies will set you back quite a bit more as the aftermarket is bonkers for 3DS games. I bought a used physical copy when the game came out but have long since sold that for a profit, and now I have a digital version on my 3DS. What I’m going to really be hammering in on is whether this game is worth your time.

Background

This is the fourth entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series, which is the main line of the Megaten (Megami Tensei) franchise. It’s not the most profitable line in the franchise, as that honor goes to Persona, which sells like gangbusters. It’s an old franchise that started way back in 1987, so a lot has changed since its inception.

There’s a lot of clickbait and misinformation about this franchise out there, so let me set the record straight. For example, there’s a myth that SMT III Nocturne, the previous numbered title in the series, sold poorly. This isn’t necessarily true, as Nocturne enjoyed a lot of success over its lifespan and was even reprinted multiple times.

Sure, Joker might be in Smash now and even has his own amiibo, but for quite a while this series didn’t enjoy broad mainstream appeal, especially when competing with juggernauts like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest.

Atlus is clearly comfortable developing for Nintendo’s handhelds and that likely factored into their decision to put this title on the 3DS.

What does it do well?

The atmosphere is great. Without spoiling anything, wandering through Tokyo as an outsider is an absolutely surreal experience. The soundtrack is also fantastic, with some of the tracks being absolute bangers. I was drawn in by certain parts of the story and the characters reactions and choices felt genuine.

The stars, of course, are the demons. While they aren’t as over-the-top as in Apocalypse, some of the demons are absolutely hilarious. It goes a long way to making you feel like there’s actually a diverse and bustling world full of both humans and demons trying to survive in the hellscape that is Tokyo.

Incidentally, demon fusing is the easiest it’s ever been, and the developers actually walked it back in the next title to make it a little less easy to have totally stacked demons.

What could it do better?

There’s no easy way to say this, but the early game is a slog. Naraku, the first dungeon, is a strong frontrunner for worst dungeon in the game. Progress feels absolutely glacial at points. The game really opens up once you get into Tokyo, but then you’re presented with the fresh hell that is the world map. Thankfully, the next game (SMTIV Final/Apocalypse) mitigates these issues.

It is difficult to be a completionist, as some of the demons only have a 1 in 256 chance of spawning. If you’re here for the grind, then go ham, but casual players will have a difficult time filling out the demon compendium.

My final gripe is the endings. The best one (Neutral) can be a pain to get, as it’s dependent on balancing your alignment through answering questions throughout the game. There’s roughly a 17 point alignment window for neutral, and some dialogue choices can give 10 points, which is a huge swing. Incidentally, you’ll definitely want the neutral route if you’re invested, since it not only has the most content but is also canon in respect to the next game.

For what it’s worth, here’s a best to worst ranking of the endings: Neutral, Chaos, Law, White (Bad end, essentially).

Is it fun?

Do you want a tough, grim JRPG? This might be the title for you. Don’t get vibe checked by the Minotaur!

Less hardcore RPG fans might want to stick to the spinoffs or more accessible franchises like Dragon Quest.

Stephen Hawking is also in this game, if that makes a difference.

Value?

For $10-20 on the eShop, it’s a good deal. Your choices for playing this title are digital copies or emulation unless you want to shell out for a physical cartridge. While the game is good, I don’t recommend paying scalper prices. The game certainly has a respectable play time.

For what it’s worth, Atlus did recently poll consumers to see if they would be interested in a port of this game or other previous titles. Atlus hasn’t gone full Capcom yet, but if Tokyo Mirage Sessions, Catherine Full Body, Persona 4 Golden on Steam, or the Nocturne remaster are anything to go off of, then it might signal that they don’t want older titles to be lost to history. I would bet on a Persona 3 remaster first, but I’m still keeping my hopes up.

Was Shin Megami Tensei IV Worth It?

I’m a big Megaten fan, and I’ve enjoyed revisiting this title every so often since its initial release. I do think that its sequel is a bit better, but I’ll be covering that soon.

TL;DR: the game is good but won’t hold your hand. If you’re getting into the series then it’s a good place to start as it doesn’t require any knowledge of the previous titles.

Consider playing the game organically on your first cycle, as it will make it easier to adjust your choices. If you’re just here for the story then prioritize the Neutral ending and go on to the sequel. You’ll probably need a guide to keep track of your alignment.

Looking for more?

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