Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
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| Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne | |
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| Developer(s) | Atlus |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus, Ghostlight, Ubisoft |
| Release date(s) | February 20, 2003 (JP) January 29, 2004 (JP - Maniax version) October 14, 2004 (NA) July 1, 2005 (EU) |
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature PEGI: 12+ CERO: All Ages |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | 1 DVD |
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is a role-playing game for the PlayStation 2. It is the third main game in the Megami Tensei series. Shin Megami Tensei III was released many years after Shin Megami Tensei II, and was the first Megaten game in the series to be released into the United States.
The player takes control of a half-human half-demon silent protagonist whom the player names. The protagonist is often referred to as the "Demi-Fiend" (or "Hitoshura" in the original Japanese version) among fans to avoid confusion.
A director's cut version, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax, was also released in Japan. This version has additional features such as the Labyrinth of Amala (an optional stage), a sixth ending, and Dante from the Devil May Cry series. This is the version that was translated and released in North America as Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. This version was also released in Europe in June 2005, with the addition of French and German language options, renamed to Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call due to trademark issues.
In addition, a Collector's Edition of the game came packaged with a music CD containing 30 tracks from the game's OST.
Contents |
[edit] Plot Synopsis
(Synopsis taken from official Atlus website)
- Call it what you will-
- a revelation from god, or a curse of the demon king
- The fact remains that our world came to an end.
- A heretic called upon an unearthly light,
- and devastation ensued.
- Chaos crawled out of the depths of the ocean,
- from the black abyss.
- Death upon death...
- Nothing but death in this barren land.
- Who can we pray to!
- There are only demons and fiends here.
- A voice in the dark beguiles me.
- "Truth is a mystery, unravelled by the candles' flames."
-
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- ---- From The Journal of a Man Who Wandered into Another World
- ---- From The Journal of a Man Who Wandered into Another World
-
In Tokyo, Japan, a high school student on his way to visit his teacher at the hospital meets a reporter who tells him a bizarre story about a recent clash in a local park, which the man believes is tied to the occult.
After the strange run-in, the boy arrives at the hospital in Shinjuku only to discover that the hospital is empty and his teacher is nowhere to be found. After wandering around the deserted building, the boy encounters a mysterious man in the basement. Shortly after, from the rooftop, he witnesses a catastrophic event--the Conception. The earth shakes and a bright light engulfs everything on the horizon. When the boy awakens, he finds his appearance drastically altered. As he wanders the hospital halls, he comes to realize that he has been turned into a demon.
In the aftermath of the destruction, the boy sets forth on a journey where he must battle against demonic forces to bring order to the chaos. The world awaits its rebirth, but will it ever be the same again?
[edit] Characters
[edit] Main Character/The Demi-Fiend
An average high school student.
He becomes involved in the Conception when visiting his teacher, Yuko Takao. His journey in the Vortex World begins once he has been granted demonic power. He is referred to as the Demi-Fiend by many, having the body of a demon and the heart of a human.
In the original Japanese version, his demonic form was known as "Hitoshura".
He has no default name, but in the radio play he is named "Naoki".
[edit] Yuko Takao
A teacher at the high school that the main character attends.
She is popular with the students because she emphasises logical thinking over rote memorisation. She joins forces with Hikawa to bring about the Conception because she is tired of the world, which she sees as full of people meaninglessly wasting their potential, without the energy or drive to make a difference. As the Maiden of the Vortex World, she expected to be the cornerstone of a world of freedom, but finds herself betrayed by Hikawa and used as a mere tool in his quest for a world of stillness.
Her failing is a lack of self-esteem in her own power and ability to change the world. This causes her to be easily swayed by those who possess the confidence and conviction that she lacks, such as Hikawa. In her mind, she was only one small person unable to make a significant difference to a big world. In reality, she was well respected by her students and was already influencing their lives in a positive way: a good example of this is Chiaki's desire to ask Yuko for advice on what she should do after graduation.
The irony is that, as a school teacher who directly influences the Conception by sparing the lives of three of her students and later on as the Maiden of the Vortex World, she was in the greatest position of any character to create the new world.
[edit] Chiaki Hayasaka
A classmate of the main character.
Born and raised in an upper-class family, she has a habit of talking down to people. Like Isamu, she is also drawn to the Conception. Though she is confused and scared at first, she quickly adapts to the law of the Vortex World and follows the path of creation. Calling the previous world too cluttered and full of unnecessary things, she resolves to create a simple, primal world where the strong reign supreme and the weak are disposed of. Thus, she establishes the Reason of Yosuga.
Chiaki's descent begins when she is thrust from a world where she always gets her own way to one where she is powerless and weak at the hands of the demonic populace. Her key fault is pride, for if she had sought help from anyone at any point she may have realised her own weaknesses and grown as a person. Instead she struggles alone through the Vortex World, and grows to despise the lower class that she has been dumped into, vowing never to be placed into that same situation again. The result is the Reason of Yosuga; a world without a lower class for her to fall to. This would theoretically create a world where she was eternally safe.
However, in such a world, the weakest citizens no matter how strong would automatically be considered the "lower class". The only way for Chiaki to avoid this fate is to be the strongest of the strong, something that she believes she will be as the creator of the world. The irony is that her world of safety would be one of eternal paranoia and torment, as she defends her position from all threats- perceived and real- every single day for the rest of her life.
It is interesting to note that in the entire game, Chiaki is the only thing that is ever explicitly referred to as "evil".
In the original Japanese version, her default name was "Chiaki Tachibana". This was changed in the English localisation due to the limited number of characters allowed in each main character's name.
[edit] Isamu Nitta
A classmate of the main character.
He has a relaxed personality; however, he has a tendency to be cocky. He is also very fond of his teacher, Yuko Takao. Before the Conception, he is confident and independent, shown by him going off on his own to search the deserted hospital for his missing teacher. In the immediate aftermath of the Conception, however, he struggles to cope with the new world and instinctively seeks out Yuko and the main character for support and help.
He fails to find Yuko and loses all faith in other people, severing all ties to his friends and drawing upon himself for comfort and strength. He resolves to create a world where the Self is absolute, and no-one can interfere with anyone else, thus creating the Reason of Musubi.
Isamu does not seem to be aware of the inherent contradictions between his philosophy and actions. He proclaims that individuals should be inherently isolated, but constantly relies on other characters for emotional support and help in establishing his Reason. Isamu is ultimately spoiled; his desire for a world of Musabi is not because he believes in individuality, but simply because he wants a world where he can do whatever he wants without consequence.
[edit] Hikawa
Chief Technical Director of a large communications company called Cybers, and a high-ranking officer of the Gaea cult.
He is said to be the one responsible for the occurrence of the Conception. After the emergence of the Vortex World, he organises the Assembly Of Nihilo, which becomes one of the two strongest demonic forces. His dream is a world of silence, where the dangerous passion of man is neutralised, and everyone is at one with the world: this, he calls the Reason of Shijima.
Hikawa is a mysterious man because he deliberately stays underneath the radar. He was able to hold a powerful position in a prominent communications company without leaking a hint as to his true belief. After the Conception occurs, many believe it to have been the work of the ancient Assembly of Nihilo; no-one suspects that it was actually Hikawa.
He is a man devoted to the Reason of Shijima from the very beginning and acts accordingly. Every move he makes is calm and calculated as he swiftly moves his way towards realising his vision of a new world. But also like Shijima, he is utterly emotionless in his actions, using Yuko as his pawn and destroying all resistance with no hesitation and minimal effort.
The only variable in his plan is the Demi-Fiend; he is the only character to which Hikawa shows any hint of emotion, expressing his disgust at the previous world and his hope for a future of silence.
[edit] Jyoji Hijiri
A writer for an occult magazine.
He meets the main character while collecting data for an article on the riot at Yoyogi Park. Even after the Conception, his sense of duty as a reporter pushes him to investigate further. He considers himself too weak to survive in the Vortex World, so he stays within the Terminal Room, studying the Terminals and their connection to the mysterious Amala Network.
Hijiri's main motivation is to discover the truth. Even after the Conception, this goal does not change. He does not pursue Hikawa out of a sense of moral righteousness, but simply because he wishes to learn the meaning behind the Vortex World. Soon, knowledge becomes everything to him, from him disregarding the worth of human life in the Vortex World to bribing the Demi-Fiend with the facts that he has discovered through the Amala Terminals. With knowledge comes power, and with power comes corruption.
Hijiri does not seem to realise that he could create a new world until he learns this information through the Amala Terminal. It is also notable that he never mentions the dream that the Demi-Fiend, Chiaki and Isamu all share upon entering the Vortex World.
There is speculation that Hijiri is in fact a reincarnation of Aleph, the main character of Shin Megami Tensei II, who was condemned to an eternity of suffering, death and rebirth as a result of committing the "ultimate sin".
[edit] Dante
The famous demon hunter from Capcom's Devil May Cry series.
He is asked by someone to hunt down a number of demons, including the main character. Such being the case, he will encounter the main character several times in the game as a formidable enemy. In the Fifth Kalpa of the optional Labyrinth of Amala dungeon, the main character is given the chance to hire Dante into his main party.
Dante only appears in the "Maniax" version of the game. He still owns the double-sided coin he had in Devil May Cry 2.
On Dante's inclusion in the game, designer Kozy Okada said: "One of the staff members in Japan, who happened to be a big fan of the DMC series, came up with the idea of including Dante from Capcom's in an upcoming SMT game. At first I thought it was a crazy idea, but realized that Dante is a devil hunter and this might actually work out and presented the Nocturne game concept to Capcom."[1]
In exchange for Dantes presence in Nocturne, The artist responsible for the character designs in the Shin Megami Tensei series was brought into the DMC3 project to design Dante's devil trigger form.
[edit] Mysterious Old Man
A mysterious individual in a wheelchair who appears before the main character throughout the story.
His purpose and true identity are unknown for the majority of the game. By completing the optional Fifth Kalpa dungeon in the Maniacs version, his identity is revealed to be Lucifer.
[edit] The Young Nurse
A mysterious individual in a black mourner's garb who acts as the attendant and mouthpiece of the Mysterious Old Man.
Her true identity is never revealed, but she bears a physical resemblance to Yuko Takao even though the top half of her face is hidden behind her veil. She also hints that she was close to the main character before the Conception, though this could be a lie designed to entice the main character over to her master's cause.
[edit] Mysterious Young Boy
A mysterious young boy who appears before the main character throughout the story.
He is the one who bestows the power of a demon upon the main character, and observes him throughout the events of the Vortex World as a means of entertainment. By completing the optional Fifth Kalpa dungeon in the Maniacs version, his identity is revealed to be Lucifer. His form is also similar to that of Louis Cypher, a human pseudonym used by Lucifer in previous Shin Megami Tensei games.
[edit] The Old Nurse
A mysterious individual in a black mourner's garb who acts as the attendant and mouthpiece of the Mysterious Young Boy.
Her true identity is never revealed.
[edit] Settings
While the entire game takes place in Tokyo, you cannot roam freely throughout the entire city. You can only go to certain areas:
[edit] The Reasons (Kotowari)
The Vortex World is merely a foetal stage of the world, created by the Conception in preparation for its eventual rebirth. For a person to create the new world, they must possess a powerful inner philosophy that encompasses a set of natural laws that the new world would be based upon: this is called a Reason (Kotowari in the original Japanese version).
The laws of the Vortex World dictate that it is forbidden for a demon to create a Reason; thus, most demons in the game follow one of the three Reasons created by key characters throughout the course of the game.
[edit] Shijima
"All at one with the world."
- Shijima is a Reason based on stillness and oneness, influenced by Buddhism and the concept of Nirvana. It is a world of perfect harmony, where there is no 'self' whatsoever, and no passion to cause dissent, conflict and destruction. Individuality is eradicated, and replaced with an collective inner peace where everyone is equal to a god, all working together as cogs in the giant, stable machine that is the Universe. This Reason is most closely associated with the Law alignment of previous Shin Megami Tensei games. It is speculated that this world would have a short lifetime. Yuko Takao even states "...a world of stillness... is just so much wasted space."
[edit] Musubi
"I am the centre of the world."
- Musubi is a Reason based on solitude and isolation, where the Self is absolute. Every single person would live in his or her own independent world, completely sealed from any other living being. Using one's mind, a person could shape their world at will into their own personal paradise, living free from the unwelcome interference of others. This Reason is most closely associated with the Neutral alignment of previous Shin Megami Tensei games.
[edit] Yosuga
"The world only needs beautiful things."
- Yosuga is a Reason based on elitism and survival of the fittest, where only the chosen elite would possess the right to live. The useless and weak elements of society would be purged from the world, leaving only the powerful and strong. Power is acknowledged as being the only thing of true worth, and only the strongest of the strongest would have the right to rule. This Reason is most closely associated with the Chaos alignment of previous Shin Megami Tensei games.
As a demon, the main character is also forbidden to create his own Reason. However, he can choose to defy the laws of the Vortex World and follow no Reason, which leads to either the "Neutral" or "Demon" endings. By completing the optional Labyrinth of Amala dungeon in the "Maniax" version of the game, a sixth ending- "True Demon"- can be gained instead.
[edit] Changes from predecessors
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is the product of a long period of development between Shin Megaten games. Many other games like Persona, Majin Tensei, and Devil Summoner seem to have influenced Nocturne.
- No first-person viewpoint by default. Shin Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei II both used fixed first-person viewpoints in dungeons. In Shin Megami Tensei III the first-person viewpoint is only usable after completing the game once, and can be turned on or off as the player desires.
- Fewer humans. The games released in between SMTII and Nocturne all had more of an emphasis on human action rather than that of demons.
- A new battle system. Classic Megaten games had a simple turn-based system where characters attacked in one round based on their speed rating. Nocturne has a different turn-based system in place called the 'Press Turn' system. In this system, the player is assigned Press Turns equal to the size of his party (although a special event allows the player to gain an extra press turn) and can re-use some of them by scoring Critical Hits or exploiting elemental weaknesses. In contrast, if the attack is nullified or reflected, the player loses some or all of his press turns based on the severity of the defense. This also applies to the opposing side.
- A new alignment system. The previous Shin Megami Tensei games had two factions of Law and Chaos in opposition with the player choosing to ally one side of the conflict. The player could also follow the path of Neutrality.
In Nocturne, the new alignment system allows the player to side with one of three Kotowari (Reasons) or with other factions, or none at all. - New setting. Shin Megami Tensei games have always centered on the power of gods waging war across Earth, with nuclear holocausts and religious oppression of demons. Nocturne does this differently by introducing the concept of a Vortex World, a world in a state of chaotic limbo that hasn't had its natural laws selected yet.
- Cel-shaded graphics. The graphics in Nocturne are fully 3D and cel-shaded.
[edit] Cultural differences
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne was rated "All Ages" by the CERO, rated M by the ESRB, and rated 12+ by PEGI and the USK. This is due to societal and cultural differences. Some American gamers consider the ESRB to be harsher than its foreign counterparts. However, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is the only game that was rated "All Ages" by the CERO and rated M by the ESRB.
[edit] Awards & Recognition
- G4TV "X-Play"'s Best Role Playing Game of 2004
According to GameRankings.com, of 8th February 2007, the average review score of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is 84%.
- "The role-playing genre has its share of sword-wielding heroes and huge epic adventures set against the dark reaches of space, but it doesn't have nearly enough modern-day demon catastrophes. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is a refreshing, challenging change of pace in a genre that all too often treads the same well-worn, well-loved territory."
- "Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne isn't just good because it's different. It's good because it offers some refreshing gameplay, lots of variety, and a sublime world in which to conquer or destroy. It may even represent the evolution of the role-playing game genre, which has needed a shot in the arm for years now. But, historical significance or no, this is a game you need to play."
- "Role-playing fans in the hunt for cutting edge AI, a unique combat engine, or next-generation graphics definitely shouldn't look in Nocturne's direction. But if getting involved in a terrific storyline with nearly limitless character customization and some truly adult themes sounds like your cup of tea, then you can't do much better than this."
[edit] External links
- Offical Atlus Web Site for Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
- Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne at MobyGames
- http://www.digitaldevildb.com: General Megaten website with a SMT:N section
- Megaten Wiki A wiki devoted to Shin Megami Tensei games and spin offs.
