---

I’ve played many RPGs—Earthbound, Final Fantasy, Persona—but NO GAME I’ve ever played comes close to being as good as this one. As a Final Fantasy lover, this game's aesthetics, setting, music, and gameplay are just perfect, this game is just on his own level.


Atmospheric Dread: It’s a mix of "horror"-esque and desolation. From the very moment the game begins, you just know something is off. You feel that dread in every corner of the world and the dialogues with the NPCs or "Souls"(i still don't know what they are) makes the game 10 times more interesting.

Strategic Gameplay: My only issue was the limited skill set, but that’s actually what makes it unique. In most RPGs, you just spam a "Super Duper" skill once you unlock it. Here, every slot and every choice matters. The Press Turn system is rewarding yet punishing; one wrong move and it's Game Over.

Demon Negotiation: I love how you don't just "find" teammates. You have to talk to them, bribe them, and sometimes they just take your money and run! It adds personality to the game and charm, making the encounters like rolling a dice, you either recruit that demon you desperately need or the bastard runs away with everything you gave him.

Masterpiece OST: I’m totally glad they kept the original soundtrack. Music is a very important part of the games i play, and I wouldn't have liked any changes to it at all. The Depths of Amala theme alone is worth the price of admission, but my favorite has to be the pre-fiend battle and the fiend battle theme, the mood is just so perfect, you get the feeling that you're definetly going to face and powerful or unique enemy, and it definetly is the case with most fiends, they aren't your normal bosses or default encounters..

---

The Skill Limit: As I mentioned, you have a very limited set of skills. It’s frustrating when you have to overwrite a cool move you liked just to survive the next boss. It forces you to be strategic, but it can feel restrictive.

Brutal Difficulty Spikes: If you are coming from Persona or Final Fantasy, be warned: this game doesn't hold your hand. You can be at full HP and get wiped in one turn if the RNG isn't on your side or you make 1 wrong move.

The Map & Navigation: Some dungeons (looking at you, Amala) can be a maze-like nightmare. If you don't have patience for back-tracking or getting lost, this might get on your nerves.

---

This is the first "Shin Megami Tensei" game I've played aside from Persona 4, and I completely understand why it gets all the praise. It completely deserves it.

PLEASE, play this game. It's a total gem. (This review was written mostly by me with the help of an AI to format the text more akin to something i would like to read)

[h1] The Gold Standard of RPGs [/h1] [hr][/hr] I’ve played many RPGs—Earthbound, Final Fantasy, Persona—but [b] NO GAME [/b] I’ve ever played comes close to being as good as this one. As a Final Fantasy lover, this game's aesthetics, setting, music, and gameplay are just perfect, this game is just on his own level. [h2] What makes it unique? (Pros) [/h2] [b] Atmospheric Dread: [/b] It’s a mix of "horror"-esque and desolation. From the very moment the game begins, you just know something is off. You feel that dread in every corner of the world and the dialogues with the NPCs or "Souls"(i still don't know what they are) makes the game 10 times more interesting. [b] Strategic Gameplay: [/b] My only issue was the limited skill set, but that’s actually what makes it unique. In most RPGs, you just spam a "Super Duper" skill once you unlock it. Here, every slot and every choice matters. [b]The Press Turn system is rewarding yet punishing; one wrong move and it's Game Over.[/b] [b] Demon Negotiation: [/b] I love how you don't just "find" teammates. You have to talk to them, bribe them, and sometimes they just take your money and run! It adds personality to the game and charm, making the encounters like rolling a dice, you either recruit that demon you desperately need or the bastard runs away with everything you gave him. [b] Masterpiece OST: [/b] I’m totally glad they kept the original soundtrack. Music is a very important part of the games i play, and I wouldn't have liked any changes to it at all. [i]The Depths of Amala theme alone is worth the price of admission, but my favorite has to be the pre-fiend battle and the fiend battle theme, the mood is just so perfect, you get the feeling that you're definetly going to face and powerful or unique enemy, and it definetly is the case with most fiends, they aren't your normal bosses or default encounters..[/i] [hr][/hr] [h2] The "Hard Pill to Swallow" (Cons) [/h2] [b] The Skill Limit: [/b] As I mentioned, you have a very limited set of skills. It’s frustrating when you have to overwrite a cool move you liked just to survive the next boss. It forces you to be strategic, but it can feel restrictive. [b] Brutal Difficulty Spikes: [/b] If you are coming from [i]Persona[/i] or [i]Final Fantasy[/i], be warned: this game doesn't hold your hand. You can be at full HP and get wiped in one turn if the RNG isn't on your side or you make 1 wrong move. [b] The Map & Navigation: [/b] Some dungeons (looking at you, Amala) can be a maze-like nightmare. If you don't have patience for back-tracking or getting lost, this might get on your nerves. [hr][/hr] This is the first "Shin Megami Tensei" game I've played aside from Persona 4, and I completely understand why it gets all the praise. It completely deserves it. [b] PLEASE, play this game. [/b] It's a total gem. (This review was written mostly by me with the help of an AI to format the text more akin to something i would like to read)