(long blog is long)



(I am only writting on the Shin Megami Tensei titles i have played before, if there are some that are not so hateable please let me know.)



Yeah. that scene look a little familiar to you? If you've ever played any Shin Megami Tensei title. Then yes, this is this should look slightly familiar. For one reason or another the developers behind some of the most dark and sinister titles, thought to make the main character the most important party member in any fight. For those who havent played a SMT title before reading this, if the main character is taken out in battle you instantly recieve a game over.

-No party members can revive you

-No Scape Dolls (for those who have played Phantasy Star Online)

-No mercy. period.


Now yes i understand, the main character is central to the story. But honestly, a developer who understands the easy frustrations of the audience he/she plans to appropriate this to would NEVER have such a devious mechanic.

For instance, before writing this blog i was enjoying myself playing SMT: Nocturne (The video above) battling all kinds of vile creatures. When suddenly i had a random battle between myself (and my party of 3 other formidable demons) against one enemy. My odds are good for victory yes? You better believe it. Now i am a suave cocky mofo who enjoys toying with my enemies much as a cat does with a mouse (can i get an amen?) so instead of just using magic attacks and ending it quickly, i decide to use physical attacks. The attacks dont kill the enemy, as i expected, and it prepares for its own slue of attacks. It recieves two moves, two critical hits, and focused BOTH of those attacks at my main character KILLING HIM INSTANTLY. When i came to (I blacked out from rage overdose) i saw that game over scene. Why singular enemy, why? I had three other fine demons for you to ravage, but you decide to go for my shirtless tatted self.. and ruin my unsaved game up to that point..

...The worst part is... this has happened to me one too many times with all the MegaTen titles i own....

Prior to 2008 i had not much interest in RPGs, then i played FF7 for the first time and my pallet along with my pants were soaked, i had to play more. I quickly snatched up all the different RPGs i could but became especially attached to the MegaTen series due in fact to their unorthodox storylines, suggestive themes, and the Pokemon-esque style of game play. Catch a wild demon, able to use wild demon. I loved it and still do. But Final Fantasy allowed me to revive Cloud if he perished in battle! FF10 even allowed that dork titus to die all the fucking time and i loved it! Then Auron could be more awesome than he already was without this annoying Meg Ryan lookalike stinkin' up the party lineup!

Which brings us to another issue: The lack of switch out on the main character. Persona, nope your character is the leader because youve got a fat head full of personas. SMT: Nocturne, nuh uh even though you have up to 15 demons with you at a time, you cant just call the shots from behind the party lines. pssh no way... Devil summoner, aw kmon its called DEVIL SUMMONER. You should be able to throw out one of those little oni-vials and just let the violence take hold without your puny human character having to get involved. Other party-based ArPeeGees allow for switch out, why do you have to be so different MegaTen? This brings me to three different possible conclusions as to why i continue to come back and play these abusive titles:



- i love to be abused?.... I am a Sonic the FAILhog fan after all..

- I'm not hardcore enough to tell MegaTen that i dont wanna see it anymore?

- Or dispite the pain and anger, MegaTen and I can fight about our differences and have some angry makeup sex?

if you picked the third option, you are correct! Despite our differences such as MegaTen's inability to be kind to me and my main character we always come together and remeber why we're perfect together...


- Its an RPG series that takes on the controversial issues, is chock-full of demons and creatures of mythos, and always keeps me interested. Also Mara (CAUTION: POSSIBLY NSFW)