Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

Mechanics

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse for 3DS is a jRPG game focused mostly on combat with demons based on various mythologies and religions that terrorize post-apocalyptic world of future. The player is traveling through varied three-dimensional locations and he tries to reach enemies who become stronger and stronger. The exploration is shown from third-person perspective and it gives the player full control over his movement. On the streets of Tokyo one can encounter many non-playable characters that give valuable story information and allow the player to complete short side quests. In addition to that, there are countless demons that – depending on their attitude – can fight the player or allow him to pass through freely. If the player is fast and strong enough, he can attack the paranormal creatures and destroy them before the actual battle starts. Otherwise he is transported to a special arena.

While learning new details of the plot of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, the player must make many moral decisions which can get him closer to the role of the peacemaker or to the role of an anarchist. However, the game doesn’t force the player to select any of the sides. The developers resigned from the moral decision tree available in previous installments of the series because it limited the selection of neutral interactions and forced a specific ending.

Similarly as in previous entries in the series, the battle is turn-based. The player doesn’t fight the enemies alone – he can choose one companion from a group of seven characters who support him with unique abilities. Player is also joined by three demons out of 450 available (it is the greatest number in the series) that can be recruited during the game. What’s important, the game allows the player to convince the enemy to join his side even during combat. Additionally, it is possible to combine two or three demons into one powerful unit. Each monster has specific abilities, which makes it easier to select which ones to combine in order to obtain the wanted result.

During the battle each side has equal number of action points, but can impact the number of actions of the opponent. Successfully taking advantage of enemy weaknesses and teamwork can change the order of turns, allowing one team to take the initiative more frequently while the opponent’s options will become limited. Once the battle is over, each participant receives experience points and sometimes equipment parts which improve his statistics.

Technical aspects

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse for 3DS offers three-dimensional graphics that has anime style. The gameplay is accompanied by hard, climatic music. The game is available in Japanese and English language versions and the dialogues are fully voiced-over.