Can someone redpill me on SMT? So SMT4A has the best gameplay,

>>377006051
Id say thats pretty much correct

>>377006051
Don't bother with SMT, the spin-offs do everything mainline does but better. Play Strange Journey, DDS, Devil Summoner and even Persona instead.

>>377006051
That's correct. IV:A is the direct sequel to IV, but IV's mechanics is more unbalanced than a tech demo

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>I feel like SMT4A's characters look the most appealing
You sound like a Bondsfag in the making. Go play SJ or Nocturne first.

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>>377006108
>>377006208
>>377006228
I heard SMT4A has really bad writing though, but at the same time it looks less boring than Nocturne and Strange Journey.

Unless Nocturne and Strange Journey have amazing twists or something I think I'm leaning a bit more towards 4A. So should I just get that one?

>>377006397
It's just edgy teenage mainline fans complaining about the japanese power of friendship cliche, which is present in 4A. It is a bit atypical for the series, but who cares about the story, it's the weakest part of the games anyway.
And 4A actually has an even more cringy "kill your friends" edgelord route if one wishes. But they choose to complain about the other one instead.

>>377006527
Oh, and another thing. You really should play vanilla 4 before 4A, because it's basically a direct sequel. 4A does reuse a lot of 4 content though, so you might consider pirating either game, to keep the average price of the two games at a fair level.

>>377006527
this

SMT is literally the dynasty warriors of jrpgs, its literally just the same fucking story over and over again in every single game, just with slightly different characters

>>377006397
Mostly because SMT's themes are about isolation and beliefs over bonds in a post-apocalypse settings (even IV has this to an extent) but Apocalypse is not with you having a cheery gang going around and 2 endings that unlike most games before

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>>377006329
I don't doubt that SJ or Nocturne are good, I just think it's gonna be desolate blandness compared to 4A. And 4A does have the most improved gameplay apparently.

>>377006527
>kill your friends

But are the friends likable or fleshed out enough for me to give a shit?

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SMT is a big meme, just play Persona.

>>377006871
Nah, not really. None of the mainline characters are. They're quite useful in battle though, unlike in vanilla 4.

>>377006527
>But they choose to complain about the other one instead.
Fuck off Danu, you're a bigger monster than your son and your route fixes nothing.

>>377006051
Nah I'd say DDS has the most unique story

>>377006984
But persona is a smt game?

>>377007095
Yes.

>>377006397
You could just play SMT4, then Apocalypse afterwards.

>>377006871
>bland
Nocturne and SJ have surreal artstyle and atmosphere, and unlike other rpg you will feel the isolation. It's a bit "cold" I might say, but definitely not bland

IV:A is more cyberpunk and is pretty lively, more than Nocturne and SJ

>>377006527
>Edgelord route

it's objectivly better to kill your friends though

>Bonds route
-kill your best bud who revieved you
-go fight YHVH just because your friends are bored as fuck and Stephens says "then why not do this"
-beat YHVH but can't perma kill him because some asshole still believes in him
-WELL SOMEDAY HE'LL BE BACK AND WE'LL BE READY!

>meanwhile in Anarchy route
-toki who explictely says will never betray you, betrays you when you choose the cosmic egg
-cans till summon a useful party member to back you up and be your waifu/husbandu for life
-achieve your best bro's final wish to be return to his base state
-just remake the universe with your friends
-YHVH actually stays dead

anarchy route is objective good ending

They're all free tho what do you mean you can only get one ?

>>377007050
Go back into your playpen, sonny, or I'll have to replace you again.

>>377007221
>your best bud who revieved you
>literally calls you his puppet form the start
Yeah, nah. Don't reply to Dagdaposters etc.

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>>377007095
>>377007138
I already played all the Personas except the 1st one. I have already impregnated Futaba so I think I'm done with Persona for a while.

>>377007018
>>377006674
The difficulty/combat/fusing is better in 4A at least right?

>>377007417
Yeah. Fusion search is godlike and boss fights are pretty fun if you do not abuse your party
Negotiation is weird and you will actually negotiate so it can be easy to get swindled

>>377007417
By a mile. Except fusion. Fusion is somehow worse.
>Norns is a regular fusion in 4A, not a special one with the three sisters

>>377007417
the combat and fusing is almost always the same, its a very oldschool series, and while they might add some persona sensibilities in a way with the characters in the newer games, it still feels like you are playing a 20 year old game

that said I enjoy SMT for what it is, but that shit really grinds my gears after a while, its so easy to burn out on games in the mainline series because they are all ridiculously long and filled with absolute grind and monotony that it starts to kill your soul after 70+ hours of this shit

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>>377007732
>>377007657
How do you think boss fights are in 4A compared to the rest of the series? Does it have the most major gods ever?

>>377007732
>unchanged
Both of IV:A's fusion is better than the rest of the franchise by a mile it's hard to go back to

And as for grindy you can go through the older games with Estoma always up and go through the shortest path and still beat bosses with the right skills equipped

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I finished SMT IV a few days ago and holy shit, map is terrible in that game. If 50% of a modern Persona game is hanging out with people, 50% of SMT IV was figuring out where to go, and it's a shame because actual gameplay was pretty fun.

Is it better in other games (Nocturne, Strange Journey, spinoffs)?

>>377008602
Nocturne has an overworld too but it's not as confusing as IV's, although you may get lost too. SJ is pretty linear, it has no overworld but you still may get lost in some dungeons.

>>377008602
What's with SMT IV players and total lack of sense direction or spatial awareness?
Sure, the minimap sucked because it had barely any markers. But the actual overworld map was rather easy to navigate. There were also only like half a dozen of major towns and other points of interest on the map. You could easily memorize how to get to them.

>>377008602
>Is it better in other games (Nocturne, Strange Journey, spinoffs)?
Well, how should I put it? Do you like teleporter mazes?

>>377008602
They fixed that in SMT4A by labeling it,

that's all it really needed to be honest.

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>playing smt

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>>377008914
If Google Maps is more useful than ingame map then something went horribly wrong.

Also, sometimes game gives you quests like these. This game is like playing Morrowind without a map.

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In another timeline mystery dungeon is the flagship pokemon title.

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>>377006527
>And 4A actually has an even more cringy "kill your friends" edgelord route if one wishes. But they choose to complain about the other one instead.
Reminder that there are people who love True Demon Route but shit on Anarchy route for being edgy

>>377010407
4A just needed more endings

I wanted one where I can side with Odin.

>>377007657
Fusion is far better though, the affinity system is much better than just choosing whatever spell.

>>377010556
I wouldn't say it's much better, but yeah, it makes a bit more sense. I was talking about the fusion itself, not the inheritance rules. There are just not enough fun and useful unique fusions in 4A.

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HOW DO I BEAT STEPHEN??

>>377010195
just play regualr mystery dungeon nigga

>>377006051
Nocturne has the best/unique story, gameplay and atmosphere.

>>377011065
>>377007071

>>377006051
SMT4A characters are almost all insuferable asshole who follow around while you do all the heavy lifting. The edgy part of the serie are great fun tho.

SJ has the best story and characters by far. But given the picture you posted you probably think Persona has a good story

>>377006674
No. Even then most jrpg just rehash the same story.