THANK YOU for laying out the press turn system! So many people do not get this. I listened to the Cane and Rinse podcast episode about Nocturne, and they managed to go an hour and a half without mentioning the words "press turn" even a single time. Their proposed solution to Matador was to either grind, or play on Merciful. I was so mad I howled at my podcast app.
Not sure who those people are, but no problem man! The press turn combat system is probably the best turn based combat system in gaming. The game is deliberately challenging pushing players to be better outside of some RNG of course lol. And Matador is always a hilarious boss when people first fight him. He can look pretty daunting though haha
Played all mailine smt games and only time i had to grind was to fight root shekinah None of the smt games make you grind the game if you are a good player Its funny because im playing persona 3 right now and the game requires you to grind like crazy because of how long it takes for your party menbers to get good skills (with seens to be fixed on the remake from what i saw)
Great video. Thanks so much for giving us some genuinely thoughtful perspectives on Nocturne beyond just summarizing the story. Loved your takes on the first dungeon and you did a great job presenting each of the Reasons. Its clear to see you take Nocturne, MegaTen and RPGs in general seriously as works of fiction, its really great to see.
Hey! Thanks for watching and I'm happy you enjoyed! Before writing the script and getting my thoughts together, I watched a few video essays and reviews, was surprised by how many things people left out. Everyone engages with media differently and this is my interpretation of why I believe this game is so special. I never thought much of the first dungeon until really thinking about how well the first dungeon level sets the dungeon quality throughout the game. I also found it really funny how I haven't seen anyone call out the clear hypocrisy with how Isamu gathers his Magtsuhi. Like, at least everyone gathers their own haha. And yeah man, I think these media deep dives are always fun to try and wrap our minds around complex bodies of work. I plan to make more analysis and discussion pieces on games and other media that have moved me with a few discussions to break up the monotony (and they're much easier to produce). I was also pretty nervous in this video because I haven't done a commentary in a long time, and everyone's nervous seeing their own work critiqued. That said, I hear everyone loud and clear with the commentary, which is why I slowed down in other projects! Anyways, feel free to subscribe if you haven't already because I'll have more Megaten related content in the pipeline. A lot of the comments are about DDS, SMTIV, and SMTV:V so I'll probably make videos on those projects in the future!
Great video! You covered a lot of things I haven’t seen in other SMT3 video essays/reviews. I really liked the discussion on the philosophical implication of the different ending paths. I’ll be wanting to watch whatever you do next, whether it’s Megaten-related or not. Although SMTIV and some of the other games could definitely use more content of this type!
Oh wow, thanks for the support and the kind words. This vid took a lot of time so I'm happy everyone's enjoying it even though I'm speaking too fast! You know what's funny? I thought about making this sort of analysis for SMT4, but eventually landed on Nocturne because I was blown away by it's visuals, characters, and well, you saw the vid lol. The SMT4 vid will be coming after a few other projects I have in the pipeline!
Yooooo hell yeah! I’m loving all of this Nocturne love recently! This game completely changed my standards for JRPGs, combat systems, and writing. The world was so brutal but fair and I loved it. Great job on the video, man! You summed it all up perfectly.
Just to be clear, we had sites like GameFAQs back when this came out. It's old but not _that_ old. Influenced by the pre-internet era, sure. But we didn't have to suffer through that. Teenage me would have never gotten through the Labyrinth of Amala without the net.
Fair! It's always fun whenever a GameFAQ link comes up because someone back in the day had the same problem! I forgot to point it out, but the labyrinth of Amala is tough to navigate and needs save points on each floor to prevent the constant backtracking
Great video! Best of luck to you in your endeavors. Video Essays such as this are a leviathan task! It is why I have decided to opt for podcasting for now which I am hoping to get going soon. I hope UA-cam really works out for you. This is great content!
Though to be clear, even though Hashino was the director of SMTIII, it was Cozy and Kaneko that were the real brains of the game with Kaneko remaining in an active creative role for a few more years after Cozy left the company until Strange Journey, after which even he stepped down.
@@DogmasDomain It cannot be understated just how much influence those two had over the creative process back in the day. They are a big reason to why games up until SMTIV and P3 had a certain feel or spirit to them and why the series seemed to change after they departed.
@@matteste Ahhhh that explains the shift in tone and overall atmosphere. So do you believe Hashino is the reason for mechanics and narrative elements getting more streamlined in modern entries?
@@DogmasDomain To my knowledge, Hashino was mostly involved with the game mechanics though I can't say for certain. As for him as a standalone director, judging from his wording in interviews, it seems he was indeed concerned with greater marketability and mass appeal which would include simplifying stuff and the like. Basically, he seems to like to play it more safe and make things more easily digestible. While he sometimes tries to deal with deeper and more complex topics, it is often in a very surface manner that doesn't get very down and dirty with the ideas to keep things easily presentable. And the success of his approach might have influenced those who are currently working on the mainline games and spinoffs, though that is just speculation as of now. As for the old guard, they seemed mostly concerned with creating stuff others weren't doing, always trying to innovate and going against the grain. Cozy departed after Nocturne while Kaneko carried on with his last creative role being in Strange Journey (He did create the original draft for SMTIV, but it was others that finalized the whole thing.)
Thank you for talking about the NPCs! They're some of my favorite NPCs in all video games. They look silly being mostly ghosts and monsters, but they're extremely insightful. I played Nocturne on release and if you talked to everyone you could figure out everything, even where to go. It was so comfy playing it on one TV, then watching shows or news on another TV. Nyx is one of my favorite NPCs too, I liked stopping by her to figure out where to go or just get useful tips. The manikins Sakahagi and Futomimi have an epilogue scene in Amala 5 as NPCs too that a lot of people miss out on! The Dante guest appearance was phenomenal. If you played DMC2 you'll know from the story he has a two-sided coin, so if you then played Nocturne, you know which coin side to choose to win, I liked that so much I was rewarded for playing that game! DMC2 is bad but I still liked Dante and Lucia. I really didn't like SMT V's NPCs. And the dungeons, they're simply amazing.
have you ever played SMT 4? IMO it's one of the best RPGs I've ever played and my intro to all of SMT! From your allies, the NPCs, all the contrasting environments and then a big ass sequel to build on that foundation even further? Such a cool game man you gotta give it a shot! Your comment made me smile tho what a great time in gaming
Glad you noticed that! I don't hear anyone ever being up the NPCs so I was sure to include them in my script! They make the world feel dynamic, give events weight, and really helps build the overall atmosphere. I've played every DMC except the second because oh lord that gameplay is rough. Thanks for the comment!
It's wild how as time passes, I appreciate this game more and more. The next 3 videos will be an SMTVV first impressions, smaller discussion project, and then an SMT4 analysis. That last video might be an hour because I have so much to say on 4
Nothing compares to my first blind playthrough of this on hard mode on an old small CRT TV. The game looked perfect, practically glowing & dripping with atmosphere. It's not even close outside of that context.
Hard mode for your first run? You're a brave man. I can't imagine how euphoric that experience was! It was probably cool which is why you remember it so fondly.
@DogmasDomain For sure, and sorry if it came across a little elitist. Looked up things near the end, and fighting the secret superboss is one of my top gaming memories. It was a stressful and intimidating playthrough, but I knew it was possible. I wish it was easier to convey how cool the art style looks on a CRT TV.
No worries man! I grew up on CRTs as well and I vividly remember a similar experience! Gaming in the early 2000s was special. You really had to be there!
Thanks for the kind words. I put a lot of work into the script, production, and well, everything. This is the quality of content I want to produce! I have some stuff to improve on, but I'm so glad everyone's enjoying it! I have another project in the pipeline. Feel free to sub for more content! And thanks again for watching and the nice words!
this is an incredible video thats very succinct and well-made. this game really hit hard to me when the hd remaster came out mid 2021 and had an absolute blast going through it's environements and exploring everything, especially the npc's that really added a lot of depth. hearing you speak in this video i was wondering if you've ever played xenogears? it sounds like it'd be up your alley and definitely would love to hear your thoughts on it
Hey! Thanks for the kind words on my first video and the comment! Nocturne is a very special game that probably came out at the best time to resonate with its themes. I haven't played xenogears, but I've been recommended it a few times from a few friends. It's definitely going on the list. I might even record some footage and make a video on it if it resonates with me! If you want more SMT, I just uploaded my analysis video on SMT4!
This game was hard, but it never felt unfair to me; very well-balanced! Most JRPG's now, like the Persona games, get far too easy late game, but Nocturne's difficulty curve was amazing.
The first run of Nocturne is a struggle if you're new to turn based RPGs. It's great once your used to it! Also, like, the difficulty is well thought out and nuanced imo! Much better than Persona's difficulty
Thanks for the kind words man! This video was lot of work, but I love discussing games in this depth! Here's hoping we get somewhere and thanks for watching!
Nice video! Nocturne was my introduction to Megaten and its still one of my favourite games today, I am glad to see a video that talks about it to this extent. Also glad you addressed the issues with the remaster, rather than play it with mods I really would say emulating the original is a far better option (ATLUS no longer has the engine they used to make the original, which was what made it so appealing). Looking forward to more from you (if you plan to make more) and looking forward to VV too
Thanks a lot! I've been pretty passionate about Nocturne and didn't have a ton of people to talk about it with which led to this video. This game, and the smt franchise, is something so special even after beating smt4 and SJ. I feel like I find something new to appreciate whenever I revisit it. I had no idea they lost the engine. I might emulate it eventually, but the quality of life features with the mods are alright I guess. I just wish it preserved the originals atmosphere! In terms of future projects, I have a smaller project slated to come out next week. I had no idea how this video would do. I was honestly looking for like 50 views or something. I'm just happy everyone seems to enjoy it! Anyways, thanks again for the comment man. You really made my day! What did you mean by VV?
@DogmasDomain I feel you, yeah. I do recommend some of the SRPGs from Atlus, like Majin Tensei II, Devil Survivor and the such too I think it was because they lost the rights to it over time - it might've been a different game though, just going off what I remember We will be there for the next video 🫡(I just mean V Vengeance, shortened to VV)
Gotcha, I'll definitely play more SMT in the future! Playing 3, 4, and SJ back to back to back definitely burned me out a little so I'm taking a break until 5. Shit I might stream it if anyone's interested. I appreciate the sub and support! I'll keep the content coming.... I just wish video essays didn't take as much time 😅
@@DogmasDomain When you do come back, SMT V is not as good as the ones you’ve played. Hopefully vengeance will fix its flaws, but I recommend DDS, very similar to nocturne!
@@Megidolaon999 my expectations are pretty high with how great vengeance has been looking! I'm pretty excited to play it! I'll probably play DDS because I hear sooooo many people recommend it. I also kinda wanna try the raido games as well and more of the 3DS library
I was pretty lukewarm until the ending and then was immediately hooked during the subsequent runs. This game is a genuine classic if you're willing to look past some right edges! You know what's funny about 4? I liked it more than 3 initially, but I'm not sure if I feel the same way anymore.
@@DogmasDomain I'm the exact opposite lol. I love Nocturne, have loved it since I first played the PS2 version some ten or so years ago. I'm even thinking of writing my master's thesis on its localization. In comparison, I first bounced off SMT4 real hard after a couple of hours. Then, when I made up my mind to play through it, a lot of its rough edges annoyed the shit out of me: the map being nearly unreadable on the tiny 3DS screen, the way its combat encounters feel way more random than Nocturne's because of the smirk system, the "side quests" actually being mandatory in the neutral route I ended up on and how goddamn difficult it was to find all of them etc... But now that time has passed since I beat it, I can overlook it all and just fondly remember the story and general gameplay. And how good the demon negotiation is in it.
SMT5 Vengeance is the game I would have loved to have in 2021! The changes to the story they did were AMAZING and the characters actually felt like characters this time around. They fixed a lot of stuff I had issues with in OG SMT5 but strangely enough left some things untouched that made me go...huh. Overall,rebuying and replaying this was SO worth it.
As a kid True Demon was my favourite Ending, Musubi is the Reason I resonated with most and its Ending I liked second but as an adult I now prefer the Neutral Ending, I like the hopefulness of it.
You did great with this video! I've always been curious about video essays as well so I can see how difficult it was to make. Hope you can keep this moment in the future. Would love to see more SMT stuff from you!
I definitely spoke too fast, but I'm glad that mostly everyone enjoyed it. I definitely slowed with future projects and plan to cover more SMT. Be sure to keep an eye on the community page as I might start streaming on another channel when SMTV drops. It's also kinda hard to get these videos out quickly because the games are long, I like taking a couple of days to process before putting my thoughts into words and crafting a video. With all that said, I'll definitely have another SMT vid out in the future
This was my first SMT game. It was not like any other jrpg I played before like Final Fantasy, Grandia,Legaia etc. I bought it because of Dante . In my first playthrough I didn't liked it really that much, and I was mad because I didn't knew how go get Dante ,but on my 2nd playthrogh couple months after I really got into the game and I fell in love with the game ever since. It's still my favorite SMT game.
Dante, huh? It sounds like the marketing worked! I definitely should've dedicated a part of the script to Dante everyone's always thrown off seeing him. I had pretty much the same relationship with Nocturne as you did. The first run is rough and the game has definitely aged in some areas (why aren't there more save points in the labyrinth of Amala?), but the game opens up on second or third runs. It's my first smt game excluding persona and has a special place in my heart for sure!
Oh BTW to answer the questions from the outro, Nocturne HD was my second Atlus RPG after V and I was hooked by the world, difficulty, and combat. And the parts I enjoy most about Atlus games are how modular gameplay is. V is a great example where you can build your character and demons to fit any role you want. And I’ve personally been inspired by creators like Deus, Robin and Zephyr, Ragnar Alvarr, and Nitsua Gamer to approach the games with unique playstyles through challenge runs.
My bad for the late response, I got pulled into life. Going from SMTV to Nocturne must have been a culture shock! Y'know, I tried playing SMTV and made it to the Ishtar fight, but I eventually dropped it because I got bored of exploring the open world and the side quests. The world was cool at first... it just gets a little "samey" as the game progresses. The side quests also felt like a bunch of fetch quests. Hopefully they get some new writing or additional context because SMT4s side quests were much better imo. That said, the combat in SMTV is immaculate! I absolutely loved it. Enemies did feel spongey, and the level scaling was kinda dumb as well haha. Hopefully they fix all of this in SMTVV. And I'm right there with you on the press turn system's modularity. I've had so many runs with different demons! The games are very well crafted!
Nocturne is great I came from playing pokemon, getting a persona recommendation (my friend literally said pokemon for grown ups and psychological elements lol) and then played persona 3-5 plus all the spin offs from that time and became a huge fan. I thought, i wanted to get into mainline. Downloaded smt4 from the eshop last minute, but i actually started with nocturne on ps3, ironically 1 week before the remaster was first announced. But i played through it and i loved it. Learning the battle system and being in this barren world with no clear instructions where to go half the time would frustrate many, but this is what made the game special for me. The atmosphere was insane. No handholding like in recent pokemon, and as much as i love persona, nocturne was more "show, dont tell" and it told just enough, unlike persona 5 where i thought "maaaan stop talking, i can figure this out myself" at times (i got the pancake hint first playthrough without getting spoilered and no one believed me lol) Nocturnes world has a very oppressive atmosphere at times, but it also feels calming at the same time. A very unique feeling
I remember picking up nocturne on a whim because I thought the cover looked cool i was 13 at the time and it blew my mind I thought wow it's like Pokémon but demonic lol I like to picked up the digital devil saga games and persona 3 Fes That whole era of atlas was insane :)
Amazing video, I just had one comment regarding demon lore being accessible in smt 3, you can't check the lore of demons in your party but they have a lore section if you look at your compendium :)
@@DogmasDomain Either way your video was great! Looking forward to your thoughts on SMT V Vengeance (if you do a video on it) because the original release had the best gameplay in the franchise but was a bit disappointing in other regards.
Yeah, it's funny looking back on this video a month later. I was definitely still figuring things out! And I will definitely make a video on SMT4 eventually. I was going to discuss it first, but Nocturne got me hooked the more and more I played it
The best part about Nocturne is most people haven't even played it but appreciate it, but damn after beating Nocturne my opinion on jrpgs was changed massively. I dont think any rpg really show just how bleak a end of the world scenario could be and how youre just teenager that isnt chosen and just fighting to survive.
Thanks for stopping by! I definitely slow down on future projects as that was the biggest criticism people had! The UA-cam subtitles are actually pretty good to my surprise, which may help. Would you prefer subtitles in another language? I'm sorry about the speed again. I was pretty nervous recording this.
Honestly, great video here, I can definitely agree with you on every point made. This game is great, despite its age, but I am curious at the idea of a remake.
Welp, i will throw my script into the trash since this is almost 100% the same video i was working on. Anyways, i like the video. Great job! Nocturne love is always welcome.
Very good video man keep it up. If you haven't already done so, I sugest playing megaten games on the hardest difficulty possible. They basically force you to really understand and engage with every game mechanic, like optimizing fusion and party compositions to counter each boss, it's really fun stuff. Edit: The dificulty thing really contrasts with the persona series in particular as persona 5 for example is extremelly easy to the point that it was very clear that the developers either didn't give a single though about the balance of the gameplay or were actively afraid of making the game have any semblance of challenge and potentially scaring off the casual audience. The main problem with playing megami tensei is that pretty much every other jrpg (specially turn based ones) seems really boring in comparison, even to this day. A very simple example is like the ff7 rmk games, while they are action rpgs, they're just boring there's no other way to put it, you just button mash, there is little to no though needed to progress the game at any point and this is a major problem with newer games. I'm a long time fan of the series, I got introduced to it with persona 3 and after finishing it I immediately started nocturne and the rest was history. I very much enjoy the philosofical discusions because of media like nocturne, ghost in the shell, lain and ergo proxy, which very defined how I think as an adult.
Happy to hear you enjoyed it, but I definitely need to slow down. I'm a bit apprehensive about playing SMT games on harder difficulties because they aren't properly designed around them. Like most games, they usually just increase damage or encounters instead of being designed to be difficult. Instead, I much prefer games that don't have the difficulty option as it forces developers to design the game around the increasing difficulty. Also, you have great taste in media with Nocturne and all those anime!
I literally experienced playing the game series in the order like you did, except my first Persona game was Persona 3 Reload. Although, I have never touch the Shin Megami Tensei series. I think it was because I was always unnerved by the look of the faces of characters, especially from III and V, which I cannot get the image of reanimated corpses or skinwalkers out of my mind. I want to give them a try...after I finish my backlog of games.
Oh wow, small world haha. And yeah, SMT is nowhere near as bright as Persona, but it does have it's own identity you might enjoy! I mean, you were also opened minded to click on a small youtubers channel about a game you're looking into, so I think you can do it! Not sure if it helps, but Nocturne will only take 50 - 60 hours to get through which is shorter than Reload. Are you enjoying reload by the way? I'm waiting for something new from Atlus and I'm not a huge fan of their business practices
Games, nay, experiences like _Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne_ are proof that cutting-edge graphics and streamlined progression are oftentimes at odds with making a game truly immersive. I could not put this game down, no matter how much malarkey it threw at me.
A few things I want to mention as a HUGE Nocturne fan. First off, stating that there isn't any way to view the context and origins of demons you face in Nocturne due to it being a 20 year old game is a gross misstep on your part. The Demonic Compendium, which is featured in all games beyond Nocturne (as you've mentioned) IS in Nocturne. In fact, SMT3: Nocturne was the first game to introduce The Demonic Compendium. Viewing any of the demons (including Girimehkala) in the compendium will allow you to read their profile, just like in later games. So, you didn't need to look it up online, lol. Secondly, I kind of disagree with how you interpret the "Freedom" Ending. Yes, to some degree, it's the other side of the coin, opposite of the "Demon" ending, when you reject all of the (flawed) reasons of recreation, but it's the few key differences that really set it apart. First, it's triggers are a bit more nuanced than just "oppose all reasons". You can, in fact, align with multiple reasons (at least two to trigger the flag), but it'd probably easier (and more fun) to just reject them all. Second, you HAVE to respond with courage/hope to Aradia's questions (responding with cowardice would trigger a flag for the Demon Ending). Finally, you must defy Hikawa at the Diet building (this last one is only available if you triggered the prior flags for the "Freedom" ending). On top of the different, and sometimes special, requirements, making it contextually the harder of the non-generic endings to get (the generic endings being the "Reason" endings), I believe it's perhaps one of the more fitting endings if you really sit down and think about it. Let's really look at what the True Demon ending actually is. You reach the bottom of Amala, get lore and reason as to why he's opposing God, go to the Tower, slaughter every boss, then defeat Lucifer in his test. He then brands you his general, and you march on through the infinite to fight God in the (implied and non-playable) final battle. Honestly, this just sounds to me Lucifer sweet talks you into doing his dirty work after you prove yourself as powerful, turning you into his big hitting stick so he could finally win against god. In the True Demon ending, you gain all the power in the universe, but become nothing more than a puppet when you boil right down to it. Now... what about the "Freedom" ending? Why do you think it's called that? Well, you beat up the reasons you don't ally with, you don't listen to Lucifer and his demand to be present at the bottom of Amala, you look to your future with courage, tell Hikawa to take a hike, and promptly punch God in the face. God gets mad, but grants your with to restore the world to how it was, but warns you that not only will you return to a world of strife and conflicting ideals, but when the Conception is brought about again, He's gunning for your ass, because you are now a threat. But, no time to worry about that, all of your friends are no longer drunk off their minds on power and influence (severed from the suggestions of Kagutsuchi, which whispers to your two friends early in their realization of "Reason"), the instigator of the conception is apprehended, your teacher remembers EVERYTHING, but is thankful that mankind can have a second chance, and you learn you get a little bonus from all of this, which is that despite the world being mostly reset, the power you gained as the Demi-Fiend was not totally taken away. You still have a fraction of your final power, which will leave you ready on the off chance the Conception happens again and God to fulfill his word. It also means, in the meantime, you have become a secret demi-god among mankind, able to do with your new power as you see fit. The choices from then on are boundless. You, and the rest of humanity, have total freedom, and maybe this time, you can get it right. As for the Demon ending?... Man, talk about a depressing ending. All alone in a husk of a world, one that every god has abandoned, severed from humanity, with demons that will likely slowly lose their own mind and reasons for existing with the absence of mankind and the stagnation of a perpetual wasteland. All because you reject everything outright, with no cause or reason to follow for your own, and look to the future with fear. There's a reason why no one really likes this ending... What I'm trying to say is, I think the "Freedom" ending is conceptually much more rad than the True Demon ending (which, to be fair, said ending is still metal as hell on the surface level, but much bleaker than you'd initially assume), and is the only good ending out of the lot, while also falling in line with the theming of the story, as well as being it's own act of rebellion, not just to God but to Lucifer too. Anyway, sorry for the bloody essay. Just had to get it off my chest.
You're 100% on the compendium. This was a mistake since I've literally read demon profiles in this game lol. On the freedom ending, I get what you're saying, but your explanation is contingent upon knowing you can do this. Many will side with Takao to give the world another chance and move on. Sure, the ability to trigger this ending can be done multiple ways, but I don't think that persuades me to perceive it any differently. Also, do we know if the demi fiend retains his power after the reset occurs, or is it implied? Him retaining his power transforms him into a savior against God, but that would be cool if it's implied. However, implications are simply speculation which is why I don't usually like discussing hypotheticals. The Demon ending is hilarious. You just standing there powerful and Lucifer being like "well, be easy and enjoy nothing," as he fades away is sad. After a while though, it's just kind of funny. Nothing of value comes from this and I'm happy this ending exists to prevent people not making a difficult decision. I get where you're coming from with the freedom ending, but a lot of what you're saying might be implied instead of concrete which is where my issue is. No worries on the long essay, I'm surprised people are still watching this video! Watching it is pretty rough since I think I've gotten so much better at this video essay thing!
@@DogmasDomain No one is ever great at something the first few tries, so no worries. Glad you've been getting better at video essays. As for the Demon ending... yeah, it is kind of a funny in retrospect. A depressing kind of funny, but funny none-the-less. As for the freedom ending... Actually, if I remember correctly, it's not just implied you retain some of your powers. It's more or less confirmed. In the ending cutscene, when you've arrived home (after perhaps the LONGEST day in existence), Lucifer speaks to you (via disembodied voice), and basically tells you that God is rather pissed off at what you did, and Lucifer himself is kinda disappointed you didn't take him up on his offer (going for then TDE), but informs you that everything that happened didn't just go away, and that, while not your full strength, you did retain your powers to some degree, and hopefully it'll be enough if someone pulls this again or if God says "Fuck it" and does it himself. As for implications as to what happens after the Freedom Ending, well... It's in the title. Literally anything can happen after that, and is based on your personal interpretation of the Demi-Fiend. Personally, I'd believe my version would just go back to the way life was, maybe once in a while testing the fraction of power to make life easier, but ultimately keeping it secret, and enjoy life to the fullest. So basically, a very boring Persona style ending, lol. But, yeah, I really love the Freedom Ending, and while the TDE is metal as fuck, the implications that you are essentially under Lucifer's thumb just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But, that's just me.
Great analysis, but just a heads up for future that your narration is absolutely breakneck. I get that it's likely an editing decision, but having a half second between paragraphs can help listeners, especially early in the video. Great stuff though, subscribed and looking forward to new releases
Appreciate you sitting through it! I definitely slow down in future projects as a lot of my friends, and people here, have told me to slow down. Hopefully the channel finds some more traction and everyone keeps enjoying what I put out. Thanks again for the comment, it means the world to small creators like me!
@@spongescience4411 Thanks man. One more question while you're here, do you think it'd be smart to cover a specific genre or should I stick with Variety content? I love playing a lot of different games, but this vid is doing crazy well. I was expecting like 10 views 😂😂
Sorry for the late reply Practically, I'd say to follow what's working with the algorithm. Try another megaten video. With SMTVV coming soon it's possible you'll get picked up again, though it's obviously a niche space with some well known youtubers already. Realistically though, just do what you enjoy. If you're lucky and have good content then your content will rise and an audience will follow. If you can try to time that with events that are related that'd definitely help. Fallout 76 content has had a massive boost lately, for example
I really enjoy your spedy narration tempo As a person with some attention issues I usually have to watch stuff at 1.5 speed or disassociate at some point but not this time, so thank you!
I'm happy you enjoyed! A lot of my friends told me to slow down a little to help my sentences breathe a bit in future projects, so this comment is a treat to see! Hopefully you enjoy my future projects!
Nocturne is by far my least favorite mainline SMT, but it's still a pretty good game in it's own right. The fact it was able to express its themes so effectively for a game that really doesn't have a lot of dialogue at all (especially in comparison to other RPG's of the time) shows just how fine-tuned and well thought out it was. Gameplay-wise though... all I can say is that everything it tried to do, Digital Devil Saga did better
My path through SMT has made little to no sense. I started with P5, then SMT 1 on IOS, then P4G, then Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha 1, then SMT V, then SMT3, then P1, then P3, then P3R, then P2, and I’m about to start SMT 4. I kind of threw darts against the series and went from there
Theres a piece of constructive criticism id like to offer - i feel like youve really nailed the formula for successful video game content creation - _except_ for the delivery of your script. Youre really close though, probably the easiest way i can express the issue is that you sound (and it feels) like youre rushing through your script. Im fairly certain its the combination of the speed of your cadence + the lack of *any* pause at the end of sentences and especially at the end of questions. The way it made me feel listening to it was like i had no room to breathe. Still a good video dont get me wrong, but i went and checked out your most recent upload to see if it was something youve noted, and that doesn't seem to be the case. I hope what I've written can be helpful for you and i wish you success with your channel! If you check out some stuff from other people who have succeeded in the space i think youll be able to see what im saying - and if you wanted some names to compare to id be willing to give you some. Again i wish you luck in succeeding and will be keeping my eyes open for your next upload!
Appreciate the constructive criticism. I have a new project coming out over the next few days where I've slowed down a bit more, but it might still be too fast. I think the problem is that I'm not comfortable just speaking into a mic. Delivery, cadence, and taking pauses will be my main focus going forward! Thanks for the feedback, and welcome to the channel!
@@DogmasDomain hell yeah! I'll be looking for it. And i appreciate you being receptive to what i wrote! Also i totally get feeling not fully comfortable just talking into a mic - it can be kinda nerveracking just being aware of the "performance" so to say. At least for myself in the past ive found just taking a deep breath before continuing helpful with both clarity and speed (in a live format anyway). Again good luck and thanks for the welcome!
I started played through the first, but I'm trying to detox before smtv. If vengeance is as good as it looks, that may be the best turn based game ever made imo
@@DragonKingX78 Digital devil saga makes sense. I doubt they'd do raido, but you never know. I'll be there day one for DDS duology remakes. I need an SMT4 remake on modern platforms. Their 3DS games were crazy.
Hey! Thanks for leaving a comment! I've dabbled in Persona 1 and haven't touched either of the 2s. Should I check them out? I hear nothing but good about 2!
@@DragonKingX78 oh yeah, you're taking about those midori leaks, right? The first game absolutely needs another remake imo. I might go through the two duology as they're so highly praised. Apparently they're more like smt games before Hashino took control with 3 forward. My biggest fear is that Atlus will use Persona 5 as a template for those remakes like they did with Persona 3 reload.
It is a real shame Atlus botched the PC port. I will never understand how or why developers or publishers cannot or simply refuse to make good ports when modders can and literally do fix them months later, for free, by themselves. Insane.
It all comes down to budgets and such. There are occasional bugs developers find and don't have the means to fix them. I'm right there with you though, just delay things and try to figure it out. I don't think the PC port is terrible though. I'm just happy we have it to mod, but the audio is crazy
Good video, but you talk too fast and with almost no breaks. I'd recommend at least pausing between sentences (where it makes sense ofc) to let your audience process your words before moving on.
I keep trying to play Nocturne but every time I try to play a new game it just I just stopped playing within 3 hours because pretty much smt4 and the sequel are way better in terms of Law and gameplay mechanics in voice acting in general as well as for smt 5 I did play it once in terms of finishing it all the way and then if I try to play the game again I'll play it until a certain point but then I might lose interest but I kind of want to play it again because the first time and the only time I've ever played all the way through and finished it I kind of rushed it is games like that it's better to take your time really so you can enjoy the the game
@@DogmasDomain you enunciate well and cover things really well. Definitely a channel that deserves more than 1k subs and I tend to agree with all your takes here. Keep it up and dont let my shitposting dissuade you! 😁
@@upsetman1887 Thanks for the kind words! And we've definitely improved over the past couple of videos! I remember when this video had 20 views and I had 10 subs. I plan to keep at it and cover more in the future! Thanks for stopping by!
Y'know, I felt the same way after beating 4. This video was actually going to be on 4 first, but Nocturne's reasons, tone, theme, presentation, and dungeon design ever so slightly beat imo. All that said... I recommend 4 to more people than 3.
@@DogmasDomain yea this is exactly how I felt about 3 and 4. 4 is just a much better game in general. The story, music, and gameplay are superb. But 3 still holds a special place in my heart solely because of the atmosphere. If you look at it objectively, 3 is a weird one with an unfair difficulty, and an esoteric story that doesn't make a lot of sense without breaking it down and analyzing it (especially if you played without Maniax). But with the unique art direction (my friends just straight up call it dog shit), music and difficulty, it's an experience that it's hard to find in most modern games. I would say this game felt like going thru dark souls for the first time, at least imo. I always recc 4 to people who wants to dip their toes into the franchise, 3 if they want their life to be changed and if... If they hate themselves.
While nocturne is a classic, classic can still be a bad game, which nocturne sadly is. There's very little story and char development, and too many random encounters, and the horrible dungeon design. I've only finished the game like a week ago, and felt that I was constantly punished while playing it. Can't wait for Vengeance, it's only 10 days away.
You know what's funny? I didn't appreciate Nocturne until reaching the end, and have loved it the more and more I've beaten it. I wouldn't say classics are necessarily bad, but they may have had their formulas refined so the original feels ancient (like Nocturne). I agree with the character development sentiment. It would've been nice to know more about the characters instead of assumed history that isn't in the game. Random encounters can be fixed with Estoma's sword and the dungeons are passable for a 2003 game. The Labyrinth of Amala needs more save points. The story is entirely the world developing reasons for the characters, but the pacing is a bit all over the place on your first run. SMT4 was a HUGE upgrade, and I can't wait to see what they do with Vengeance. I played the original SMTV and wasn't feeling it.
Al of the endings are crap. The fact it has to lean on human philosophy or just humanism dictates the outcome before it begins. It works for SMT as it's nihilistic with very grey solutions or a total summation from demon end, but offers nothing from the other end of spectrum. I don't think it deals in ethics at all, it's just very Japanese in their perspective, which SMT is. I think the game does it's job resonating with people that share these outlooks on the world.
I will be streaming SMTV on this channel and Twitch the day it comes out if anyone's interested!
THANK YOU for laying out the press turn system! So many people do not get this. I listened to the Cane and Rinse podcast episode about Nocturne, and they managed to go an hour and a half without mentioning the words "press turn" even a single time. Their proposed solution to Matador was to either grind, or play on Merciful. I was so mad I howled at my podcast app.
Not sure who those people are, but no problem man! The press turn combat system is probably the best turn based combat system in gaming. The game is deliberately challenging pushing players to be better outside of some RNG of course lol.
And Matador is always a hilarious boss when people first fight him. He can look pretty daunting though haha
Smfh but did they actually beat matador legit? Or did they turn down the difficulty 😂
Played all mailine smt games and only time i had to grind was to fight root shekinah
None of the smt games make you grind the game if you are a good player
Its funny because im playing persona 3 right now and the game requires you to grind like crazy because of how long it takes for your party menbers to get good skills (with seens to be fixed on the remake from what i saw)
Nocturne is a classic, can't wait to play SMT5V.
I'm stupid excited for smtv
SMTVV
Great video. Thanks so much for giving us some genuinely thoughtful perspectives on Nocturne beyond just summarizing the story. Loved your takes on the first dungeon and you did a great job presenting each of the Reasons.
Its clear to see you take Nocturne, MegaTen and RPGs in general seriously as works of fiction, its really great to see.
Hey! Thanks for watching and I'm happy you enjoyed! Before writing the script and getting my thoughts together, I watched a few video essays and reviews, was surprised by how many things people left out. Everyone engages with media differently and this is my interpretation of why I believe this game is so special.
I never thought much of the first dungeon until really thinking about how well the first dungeon level sets the dungeon quality throughout the game. I also found it really funny how I haven't seen anyone call out the clear hypocrisy with how Isamu gathers his Magtsuhi. Like, at least everyone gathers their own haha.
And yeah man, I think these media deep dives are always fun to try and wrap our minds around complex bodies of work. I plan to make more analysis and discussion pieces on games and other media that have moved me with a few discussions to break up the monotony (and they're much easier to produce). I was also pretty nervous in this video because I haven't done a commentary in a long time, and everyone's nervous seeing their own work critiqued. That said, I hear everyone loud and clear with the commentary, which is why I slowed down in other projects!
Anyways, feel free to subscribe if you haven't already because I'll have more Megaten related content in the pipeline. A lot of the comments are about DDS, SMTIV, and SMTV:V so I'll probably make videos on those projects in the future!
Great video! You covered a lot of things I haven’t seen in other SMT3 video essays/reviews. I really liked the discussion on the philosophical implication of the different ending paths. I’ll be wanting to watch whatever you do next, whether it’s Megaten-related or not. Although SMTIV and some of the other games could definitely use more content of this type!
Oh wow, thanks for the support and the kind words. This vid took a lot of time so I'm happy everyone's enjoying it even though I'm speaking too fast!
You know what's funny? I thought about making this sort of analysis for SMT4, but eventually landed on Nocturne because I was blown away by it's visuals, characters, and well, you saw the vid lol. The SMT4 vid will be coming after a few other projects I have in the pipeline!
Yooooo hell yeah! I’m loving all of this Nocturne love recently! This game completely changed my standards for JRPGs, combat systems, and writing. The world was so brutal but fair and I loved it.
Great job on the video, man! You summed it all up perfectly.
Happy you enjoyed! It was a ton of work
Just to be clear, we had sites like GameFAQs back when this came out. It's old but not _that_ old. Influenced by the pre-internet era, sure. But we didn't have to suffer through that. Teenage me would have never gotten through the Labyrinth of Amala without the net.
Fair! It's always fun whenever a GameFAQ link comes up because someone back in the day had the same problem! I forgot to point it out, but the labyrinth of Amala is tough to navigate and needs save points on each floor to prevent the constant backtracking
Great video! Best of luck to you in your endeavors. Video Essays such as this are a leviathan task! It is why I have decided to opt for podcasting for now which I am hoping to get going soon. I hope UA-cam really works out for you. This is great content!
Though to be clear, even though Hashino was the director of SMTIII, it was Cozy and Kaneko that were the real brains of the game with Kaneko remaining in an active creative role for a few more years after Cozy left the company until Strange Journey, after which even he stepped down.
Pinning this for clarity. Thanks for pointing this out!
@@DogmasDomain It cannot be understated just how much influence those two had over the creative process back in the day. They are a big reason to why games up until SMTIV and P3 had a certain feel or spirit to them and why the series seemed to change after they departed.
@@matteste Ahhhh that explains the shift in tone and overall atmosphere. So do you believe Hashino is the reason for mechanics and narrative elements getting more streamlined in modern entries?
@@DogmasDomain To my knowledge, Hashino was mostly involved with the game mechanics though I can't say for certain.
As for him as a standalone director, judging from his wording in interviews, it seems he was indeed concerned with greater marketability and mass appeal which would include simplifying stuff and the like. Basically, he seems to like to play it more safe and make things more easily digestible. While he sometimes tries to deal with deeper and more complex topics, it is often in a very surface manner that doesn't get very down and dirty with the ideas to keep things easily presentable.
And the success of his approach might have influenced those who are currently working on the mainline games and spinoffs, though that is just speculation as of now.
As for the old guard, they seemed mostly concerned with creating stuff others weren't doing, always trying to innovate and going against the grain. Cozy departed after Nocturne while Kaneko carried on with his last creative role being in Strange Journey (He did create the original draft for SMTIV, but it was others that finalized the whole thing.)
Pixie and Demi-Fiend are platonic life partners, such as the like of Jay and Silent Bob
Thank you for talking about the NPCs! They're some of my favorite NPCs in all video games. They look silly being mostly ghosts and monsters, but they're extremely insightful. I played Nocturne on release and if you talked to everyone you could figure out everything, even where to go. It was so comfy playing it on one TV, then watching shows or news on another TV. Nyx is one of my favorite NPCs too, I liked stopping by her to figure out where to go or just get useful tips. The manikins Sakahagi and Futomimi have an epilogue scene in Amala 5 as NPCs too that a lot of people miss out on! The Dante guest appearance was phenomenal. If you played DMC2 you'll know from the story he has a two-sided coin, so if you then played Nocturne, you know which coin side to choose to win, I liked that so much I was rewarded for playing that game! DMC2 is bad but I still liked Dante and Lucia. I really didn't like SMT V's NPCs. And the dungeons, they're simply amazing.
have you ever played SMT 4? IMO it's one of the best RPGs I've ever played and my intro to all of SMT! From your allies, the NPCs, all the contrasting environments and then a big ass sequel to build on that foundation even further? Such a cool game man you gotta give it a shot! Your comment made me smile tho what a great time in gaming
Glad you noticed that! I don't hear anyone ever being up the NPCs so I was sure to include them in my script! They make the world feel dynamic, give events weight, and really helps build the overall atmosphere.
I've played every DMC except the second because oh lord that gameplay is rough. Thanks for the comment!
I'm definitely going to revisit smt4 for an analysis at some point. Smt4s story execution and side quests are HUGE jumps over Nocturne.
Awesome insight! I really enjoyed your video and reliving SMT3. It’s a game that’s very close to my heart. Can’t wait for your next video!!
It's wild how as time passes, I appreciate this game more and more. The next 3 videos will be an SMTVV first impressions, smaller discussion project, and then an SMT4 analysis. That last video might be an hour because I have so much to say on 4
@@DogmasDomain I will turn on notifications for your videos!
I can still hear the start up loop from Nocturne .
I like the fact that I'm getting recommanded smaller channels like you
Hopefully you enjoy your time here!
Nothing compares to my first blind playthrough of this on hard mode on an old small CRT TV. The game looked perfect, practically glowing & dripping with atmosphere. It's not even close outside of that context.
Hard mode for your first run? You're a brave man. I can't imagine how euphoric that experience was! It was probably cool which is why you remember it so fondly.
@DogmasDomain For sure, and sorry if it came across a little elitist. Looked up things near the end, and fighting the secret superboss is one of my top gaming memories. It was a stressful and intimidating playthrough, but I knew it was possible. I wish it was easier to convey how cool the art style looks on a CRT TV.
No worries man! I grew up on CRTs as well and I vividly remember a similar experience! Gaming in the early 2000s was special. You really had to be there!
29:13 If the quality of this video is a benchmark for future projects, you have a bright future ahead on YT!
Thanks for the kind words. I put a lot of work into the script, production, and well, everything. This is the quality of content I want to produce! I have some stuff to improve on, but I'm so glad everyone's enjoying it! I have another project in the pipeline. Feel free to sub for more content! And thanks again for watching and the nice words!
this is an incredible video thats very succinct and well-made. this game really hit hard to me when the hd remaster came out mid 2021 and had an absolute blast going through it's environements and exploring everything, especially the npc's that really added a lot of depth.
hearing you speak in this video i was wondering if you've ever played xenogears? it sounds like it'd be up your alley and definitely would love to hear your thoughts on it
Hey! Thanks for the kind words on my first video and the comment! Nocturne is a very special game that probably came out at the best time to resonate with its themes. I haven't played xenogears, but I've been recommended it a few times from a few friends. It's definitely going on the list. I might even record some footage and make a video on it if it resonates with me! If you want more SMT, I just uploaded my analysis video on SMT4!
@@DogmasDomain that sounds great! i really hope you do get around to it, it's truly one of a kind
This game was hard, but it never felt unfair to me; very well-balanced! Most JRPG's now, like the Persona games, get far too easy late game, but Nocturne's difficulty curve was amazing.
The first run of Nocturne is a struggle if you're new to turn based RPGs. It's great once your used to it! Also, like, the difficulty is well thought out and nuanced imo! Much better than Persona's difficulty
@@DogmasDomain Agreed! Hopefully SMT V is gonna be good.
This channel looks pretty promising in the future!
Thanks for the kind words man! This video was lot of work, but I love discussing games in this depth! Here's hoping we get somewhere and thanks for watching!
Nice video! Nocturne was my introduction to Megaten and its still one of my favourite games today, I am glad to see a video that talks about it to this extent. Also glad you addressed the issues with the remaster, rather than play it with mods I really would say emulating the original is a far better option (ATLUS no longer has the engine they used to make the original, which was what made it so appealing).
Looking forward to more from you (if you plan to make more) and looking forward to VV too
Thanks a lot! I've been pretty passionate about Nocturne and didn't have a ton of people to talk about it with which led to this video. This game, and the smt franchise, is something so special even after beating smt4 and SJ. I feel like I find something new to appreciate whenever I revisit it.
I had no idea they lost the engine. I might emulate it eventually, but the quality of life features with the mods are alright I guess. I just wish it preserved the originals atmosphere!
In terms of future projects, I have a smaller project slated to come out next week. I had no idea how this video would do. I was honestly looking for like 50 views or something. I'm just happy everyone seems to enjoy it! Anyways, thanks again for the comment man. You really made my day! What did you mean by VV?
@DogmasDomain I feel you, yeah. I do recommend some of the SRPGs from Atlus, like Majin Tensei II, Devil Survivor and the such too
I think it was because they lost the rights to it over time - it might've been a different game though, just going off what I remember
We will be there for the next video 🫡(I just mean V Vengeance, shortened to VV)
Gotcha, I'll definitely play more SMT in the future! Playing 3, 4, and SJ back to back to back definitely burned me out a little so I'm taking a break until 5. Shit I might stream it if anyone's interested.
I appreciate the sub and support! I'll keep the content coming.... I just wish video essays didn't take as much time 😅
@@DogmasDomain When you do come back, SMT V is not as good as the ones you’ve played. Hopefully vengeance will fix its flaws, but I recommend DDS, very similar to nocturne!
@@Megidolaon999 my expectations are pretty high with how great vengeance has been looking! I'm pretty excited to play it! I'll probably play DDS because I hear sooooo many people recommend it. I also kinda wanna try the raido games as well and more of the 3DS library
Still blown away by nocturne. Such a great ass game, even all these years later. As of now my favorite SMT, still need to finish 4 tho
I was pretty lukewarm until the ending and then was immediately hooked during the subsequent runs. This game is a genuine classic if you're willing to look past some right edges! You know what's funny about 4? I liked it more than 3 initially, but I'm not sure if I feel the same way anymore.
@@DogmasDomain I'm the exact opposite lol. I love Nocturne, have loved it since I first played the PS2 version some ten or so years ago. I'm even thinking of writing my master's thesis on its localization. In comparison, I first bounced off SMT4 real hard after a couple of hours. Then, when I made up my mind to play through it, a lot of its rough edges annoyed the shit out of me: the map being nearly unreadable on the tiny 3DS screen, the way its combat encounters feel way more random than Nocturne's because of the smirk system, the "side quests" actually being mandatory in the neutral route I ended up on and how goddamn difficult it was to find all of them etc... But now that time has passed since I beat it, I can overlook it all and just fondly remember the story and general gameplay. And how good the demon negotiation is in it.
Good video man, kept me glued
Bro came to youtube and casually made a fuckin banger. Can't wait to watch more from you bro
SMT5 Vengeance is the game I would have loved to have in 2021!
The changes to the story they did were AMAZING and the characters actually felt like characters this time around.
They fixed a lot of stuff I had issues with in OG SMT5 but strangely enough left some things untouched that made me go...huh.
Overall,rebuying and replaying this was SO worth it.
SMTV video is coming out 9/3
As a kid True Demon was my favourite Ending, Musubi is the Reason I resonated with most and its Ending I liked second but as an adult I now prefer the Neutral Ending, I like the hopefulness of it.
You did great with this video! I've always been curious about video essays as well so I can see how difficult it was to make. Hope you can keep this moment in the future. Would love to see more SMT stuff from you!
I definitely spoke too fast, but I'm glad that mostly everyone enjoyed it. I definitely slowed with future projects and plan to cover more SMT. Be sure to keep an eye on the community page as I might start streaming on another channel when SMTV drops.
It's also kinda hard to get these videos out quickly because the games are long, I like taking a couple of days to process before putting my thoughts into words and crafting a video. With all that said, I'll definitely have another SMT vid out in the future
This was my first SMT game.
It was not like any other jrpg I played before like Final Fantasy, Grandia,Legaia etc.
I bought it because of Dante .
In my first playthrough I didn't liked it really that much, and I was mad because I didn't knew how go get Dante ,but on my 2nd playthrogh couple months after I really got into the game and I fell in love with the game ever since.
It's still my favorite SMT game.
Dante, huh? It sounds like the marketing worked! I definitely should've dedicated a part of the script to Dante everyone's always thrown off seeing him. I had pretty much the same relationship with Nocturne as you did. The first run is rough and the game has definitely aged in some areas (why aren't there more save points in the labyrinth of Amala?), but the game opens up on second or third runs. It's my first smt game excluding persona and has a special place in my heart for sure!
Oh BTW to answer the questions from the outro, Nocturne HD was my second Atlus RPG after V and I was hooked by the world, difficulty, and combat.
And the parts I enjoy most about Atlus games are how modular gameplay is. V is a great example where you can build your character and demons to fit any role you want. And I’ve personally been inspired by creators like Deus, Robin and Zephyr, Ragnar Alvarr, and Nitsua Gamer to approach the games with unique playstyles through challenge runs.
My bad for the late response, I got pulled into life. Going from SMTV to Nocturne must have been a culture shock! Y'know, I tried playing SMTV and made it to the Ishtar fight, but I eventually dropped it because I got bored of exploring the open world and the side quests. The world was cool at first... it just gets a little "samey" as the game progresses. The side quests also felt like a bunch of fetch quests. Hopefully they get some new writing or additional context because SMT4s side quests were much better imo. That said, the combat in SMTV is immaculate! I absolutely loved it. Enemies did feel spongey, and the level scaling was kinda dumb as well haha. Hopefully they fix all of this in SMTVV.
And I'm right there with you on the press turn system's modularity. I've had so many runs with different demons! The games are very well crafted!
Persona used to be SMT. They had the SMT logo until P5 actually.
I think Atlus recently said they were different now that Persona has eclipsed SMT
Featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry series
I definitely should've called this out haha
Nocturne is great
I came from playing pokemon, getting a persona recommendation (my friend literally said pokemon for grown ups and psychological elements lol) and then played persona 3-5 plus all the spin offs from that time and became a huge fan. I thought, i wanted to get into mainline.
Downloaded smt4 from the eshop last minute, but i actually started with nocturne on ps3, ironically 1 week before the remaster was first announced. But i played through it and i loved it.
Learning the battle system and being in this barren world with no clear instructions where to go half the time would frustrate many, but this is what made the game special for me. The atmosphere was insane. No handholding like in recent pokemon, and as much as i love persona, nocturne was more "show, dont tell" and it told just enough, unlike persona 5 where i thought "maaaan stop talking, i can figure this out myself" at times (i got the pancake hint first playthrough without getting spoilered and no one believed me lol)
Nocturnes world has a very oppressive atmosphere at times, but it also feels calming at the same time. A very unique feeling
I remember picking up nocturne on a whim because I thought the cover looked cool i was 13 at the time and it blew my mind I thought wow it's like Pokémon but demonic lol I like to picked up the digital devil saga games and persona 3 Fes That whole era of atlas was insane :)
Man, I wish we could go back to that Atlus
Awesome video!
Thank you! It was a lot of work, but I'm mostly happy with how it turned out. Ready for smtv?
@@DogmasDomain So excited 🙏
I just want to comment to give some force to a new channel because so far its qualitative
Appreciate it!
The mods you use in the background footage look incredible. If I ever decide to replay Nocturne, I’m definitely gonna have to install them for myself
I'll add the 60fps mod to the video's description! It's a small thing, but it really makes a world of difference
@@DogmasDomain were that and the hq music the only ones you used? Cause the lighting also looks way different and I think it looks really good
@@orangejuice8279 My fault, I didn't see this response. Yup, 60fps, high quality music, and I tinkered around with the lighting in the settings a bit.
Amazing video, I just had one comment regarding demon lore being accessible in smt 3, you can't check the lore of demons in your party but they have a lore section if you look at your compendium :)
I'm blind and stupid, thanks for clarifying
@@DogmasDomain Either way your video was great! Looking forward to your thoughts on SMT V Vengeance (if you do a video on it) because the original release had the best gameplay in the franchise but was a bit disappointing in other regards.
How about an SMT4 video first while I play through SMTVV?
@@DogmasDomain I'm always happy to see more SMT IV coverage! Not that many fans have played it since it's 3DS only
@@voidheart7425the next video is the SMT4 analysis!
Really good video, I am surprised this is your first. Please do a video on SMT 4 (extremely overlooked in the JRPG world imo)
Yeah, it's funny looking back on this video a month later. I was definitely still figuring things out! And I will definitely make a video on SMT4 eventually. I was going to discuss it first, but Nocturne got me hooked the more and more I played it
The best part about Nocturne is most people haven't even played it but appreciate it, but damn after beating Nocturne my opinion on jrpgs was changed massively. I dont think any rpg really show just how bleak a end of the world scenario could be and how youre just teenager that isnt chosen and just fighting to survive.
True. Most of the SMT fan base is so numb to these endings that the weight of them is often lost.
I like the video. It's really engaging. However, considering how fast you're talking, would you consider adding subtitles?
Thanks for stopping by! I definitely slow down on future projects as that was the biggest criticism people had! The UA-cam subtitles are actually pretty good to my surprise, which may help. Would you prefer subtitles in another language?
I'm sorry about the speed again. I was pretty nervous recording this.
Honestly, great video here, I can definitely agree with you on every point made. This game is great, despite its age, but I am curious at the idea of a remake.
We need an SMT1, 2, or 4 remake first imo. I'm just happy Nocturne is more accessible nowadays
@@DogmasDomain very true, I’ve been playing SMT IV on my 3DS, and its been great
Welp, i will throw my script into the trash since this is almost 100% the same video i was working on. Anyways, i like the video. Great job! Nocturne love is always welcome.
@@dutchielander2478I hope you didn't scrap your script. I'd love to listen to your thoughts.
Good view, thanks for this ^^
Very good video man keep it up. If you haven't already done so, I sugest playing megaten games on the hardest difficulty possible. They basically force you to really understand and engage with every game mechanic, like optimizing fusion and party compositions to counter each boss, it's really fun stuff.
Edit: The dificulty thing really contrasts with the persona series in particular as persona 5 for example is extremelly easy to the point that it was very clear that the developers either didn't give a single though about the balance of the gameplay or were actively afraid of making the game have any semblance of challenge and potentially scaring off the casual audience.
The main problem with playing megami tensei is that pretty much every other jrpg (specially turn based ones) seems really boring in comparison, even to this day. A very simple example is like the ff7 rmk games, while they are action rpgs, they're just boring there's no other way to put it, you just button mash, there is little to no though needed to progress the game at any point and this is a major problem with newer games.
I'm a long time fan of the series, I got introduced to it with persona 3 and after finishing it I immediately started nocturne and the rest was history. I very much enjoy the philosofical discusions because of media like nocturne, ghost in the shell, lain and ergo proxy, which very defined how I think as an adult.
Happy to hear you enjoyed it, but I definitely need to slow down.
I'm a bit apprehensive about playing SMT games on harder difficulties because they aren't properly designed around them. Like most games, they usually just increase damage or encounters instead of being designed to be difficult. Instead, I much prefer games that don't have the difficulty option as it forces developers to design the game around the increasing difficulty.
Also, you have great taste in media with Nocturne and all those anime!
I literally experienced playing the game series in the order like you did, except my first Persona game was Persona 3 Reload. Although, I have never touch the Shin Megami Tensei series. I think it was because I was always unnerved by the look of the faces of characters, especially from III and V, which I cannot get the image of reanimated corpses or skinwalkers out of my mind. I want to give them a try...after I finish my backlog of games.
Oh wow, small world haha. And yeah, SMT is nowhere near as bright as Persona, but it does have it's own identity you might enjoy! I mean, you were also opened minded to click on a small youtubers channel about a game you're looking into, so I think you can do it!
Not sure if it helps, but Nocturne will only take 50 - 60 hours to get through which is shorter than Reload. Are you enjoying reload by the way? I'm waiting for something new from Atlus and I'm not a huge fan of their business practices
@@DogmasDomain I actually completed it recently and absolutely loved it. I definitely plan to play SMT III.
It's interesting to hear such a "negative" view on the neutral ending.
The freedom ending?
Games, nay, experiences like _Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne_ are proof that cutting-edge graphics and streamlined progression are oftentimes at odds with making a game truly immersive. I could not put this game down, no matter how much malarkey it threw at me.
Graphics are part of the immersive piece. Sometimes atmosphere, art direction, and engaging gameplay is all you need
A few things I want to mention as a HUGE Nocturne fan. First off, stating that there isn't any way to view the context and origins of demons you face in Nocturne due to it being a 20 year old game is a gross misstep on your part. The Demonic Compendium, which is featured in all games beyond Nocturne (as you've mentioned) IS in Nocturne. In fact, SMT3: Nocturne was the first game to introduce The Demonic Compendium. Viewing any of the demons (including Girimehkala) in the compendium will allow you to read their profile, just like in later games. So, you didn't need to look it up online, lol.
Secondly, I kind of disagree with how you interpret the "Freedom" Ending. Yes, to some degree, it's the other side of the coin, opposite of the "Demon" ending, when you reject all of the (flawed) reasons of recreation, but it's the few key differences that really set it apart. First, it's triggers are a bit more nuanced than just "oppose all reasons". You can, in fact, align with multiple reasons (at least two to trigger the flag), but it'd probably easier (and more fun) to just reject them all. Second, you HAVE to respond with courage/hope to Aradia's questions (responding with cowardice would trigger a flag for the Demon Ending). Finally, you must defy Hikawa at the Diet building (this last one is only available if you triggered the prior flags for the "Freedom" ending). On top of the different, and sometimes special, requirements, making it contextually the harder of the non-generic endings to get (the generic endings being the "Reason" endings), I believe it's perhaps one of the more fitting endings if you really sit down and think about it.
Let's really look at what the True Demon ending actually is. You reach the bottom of Amala, get lore and reason as to why he's opposing God, go to the Tower, slaughter every boss, then defeat Lucifer in his test. He then brands you his general, and you march on through the infinite to fight God in the (implied and non-playable) final battle. Honestly, this just sounds to me Lucifer sweet talks you into doing his dirty work after you prove yourself as powerful, turning you into his big hitting stick so he could finally win against god. In the True Demon ending, you gain all the power in the universe, but become nothing more than a puppet when you boil right down to it.
Now... what about the "Freedom" ending? Why do you think it's called that? Well, you beat up the reasons you don't ally with, you don't listen to Lucifer and his demand to be present at the bottom of Amala, you look to your future with courage, tell Hikawa to take a hike, and promptly punch God in the face. God gets mad, but grants your with to restore the world to how it was, but warns you that not only will you return to a world of strife and conflicting ideals, but when the Conception is brought about again, He's gunning for your ass, because you are now a threat. But, no time to worry about that, all of your friends are no longer drunk off their minds on power and influence (severed from the suggestions of Kagutsuchi, which whispers to your two friends early in their realization of "Reason"), the instigator of the conception is apprehended, your teacher remembers EVERYTHING, but is thankful that mankind can have a second chance, and you learn you get a little bonus from all of this, which is that despite the world being mostly reset, the power you gained as the Demi-Fiend was not totally taken away. You still have a fraction of your final power, which will leave you ready on the off chance the Conception happens again and God to fulfill his word. It also means, in the meantime, you have become a secret demi-god among mankind, able to do with your new power as you see fit. The choices from then on are boundless. You, and the rest of humanity, have total freedom, and maybe this time, you can get it right.
As for the Demon ending?... Man, talk about a depressing ending. All alone in a husk of a world, one that every god has abandoned, severed from humanity, with demons that will likely slowly lose their own mind and reasons for existing with the absence of mankind and the stagnation of a perpetual wasteland. All because you reject everything outright, with no cause or reason to follow for your own, and look to the future with fear. There's a reason why no one really likes this ending...
What I'm trying to say is, I think the "Freedom" ending is conceptually much more rad than the True Demon ending (which, to be fair, said ending is still metal as hell on the surface level, but much bleaker than you'd initially assume), and is the only good ending out of the lot, while also falling in line with the theming of the story, as well as being it's own act of rebellion, not just to God but to Lucifer too.
Anyway, sorry for the bloody essay. Just had to get it off my chest.
You're 100% on the compendium. This was a mistake since I've literally read demon profiles in this game lol.
On the freedom ending, I get what you're saying, but your explanation is contingent upon knowing you can do this. Many will side with Takao to give the world another chance and move on. Sure, the ability to trigger this ending can be done multiple ways, but I don't think that persuades me to perceive it any differently. Also, do we know if the demi fiend retains his power after the reset occurs, or is it implied? Him retaining his power transforms him into a savior against God, but that would be cool if it's implied. However, implications are simply speculation which is why I don't usually like discussing hypotheticals.
The Demon ending is hilarious. You just standing there powerful and Lucifer being like "well, be easy and enjoy nothing," as he fades away is sad. After a while though, it's just kind of funny. Nothing of value comes from this and I'm happy this ending exists to prevent people not making a difficult decision.
I get where you're coming from with the freedom ending, but a lot of what you're saying might be implied instead of concrete which is where my issue is.
No worries on the long essay, I'm surprised people are still watching this video! Watching it is pretty rough since I think I've gotten so much better at this video essay thing!
@@DogmasDomain No one is ever great at something the first few tries, so no worries. Glad you've been getting better at video essays.
As for the Demon ending... yeah, it is kind of a funny in retrospect. A depressing kind of funny, but funny none-the-less.
As for the freedom ending... Actually, if I remember correctly, it's not just implied you retain some of your powers. It's more or less confirmed. In the ending cutscene, when you've arrived home (after perhaps the LONGEST day in existence), Lucifer speaks to you (via disembodied voice), and basically tells you that God is rather pissed off at what you did, and Lucifer himself is kinda disappointed you didn't take him up on his offer (going for then TDE), but informs you that everything that happened didn't just go away, and that, while not your full strength, you did retain your powers to some degree, and hopefully it'll be enough if someone pulls this again or if God says "Fuck it" and does it himself.
As for implications as to what happens after the Freedom Ending, well... It's in the title. Literally anything can happen after that, and is based on your personal interpretation of the Demi-Fiend. Personally, I'd believe my version would just go back to the way life was, maybe once in a while testing the fraction of power to make life easier, but ultimately keeping it secret, and enjoy life to the fullest. So basically, a very boring Persona style ending, lol.
But, yeah, I really love the Freedom Ending, and while the TDE is metal as fuck, the implications that you are essentially under Lucifer's thumb just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But, that's just me.
Great analysis, but just a heads up for future that your narration is absolutely breakneck. I get that it's likely an editing decision, but having a half second between paragraphs can help listeners, especially early in the video.
Great stuff though, subscribed and looking forward to new releases
Appreciate you sitting through it! I definitely slow down in future projects as a lot of my friends, and people here, have told me to slow down.
Hopefully the channel finds some more traction and everyone keeps enjoying what I put out. Thanks again for the comment, it means the world to small creators like me!
@@DogmasDomain no worries at all, hope you get the attention you deserve!
@@spongescience4411 Thanks man. One more question while you're here, do you think it'd be smart to cover a specific genre or should I stick with Variety content? I love playing a lot of different games, but this vid is doing crazy well. I was expecting like 10 views 😂😂
Sorry for the late reply
Practically, I'd say to follow what's working with the algorithm. Try another megaten video. With SMTVV coming soon it's possible you'll get picked up again, though it's obviously a niche space with some well known youtubers already.
Realistically though, just do what you enjoy. If you're lucky and have good content then your content will rise and an audience will follow. If you can try to time that with events that are related that'd definitely help. Fallout 76 content has had a massive boost lately, for example
I really enjoy your spedy narration tempo As a person with some attention issues I usually have to watch stuff at 1.5 speed or disassociate at some point but not this time, so thank you!
I'm happy you enjoyed! A lot of my friends told me to slow down a little to help my sentences breathe a bit in future projects, so this comment is a treat to see! Hopefully you enjoy my future projects!
Subscribed!
Thanks for the sub! Any games you're interested in a video on?
Nocturne is by far my least favorite mainline SMT, but it's still a pretty good game in it's own right. The fact it was able to express its themes so effectively for a game that really doesn't have a lot of dialogue at all (especially in comparison to other RPG's of the time) shows just how fine-tuned and well thought out it was. Gameplay-wise though... all I can say is that everything it tried to do, Digital Devil Saga did better
I respect that. Can't wait to try Digital Devil Saga! A lot of people brought it up in the comments
60 FPS mod... yes!
Night and day difference
My path through SMT has made little to no sense. I started with P5, then SMT 1 on IOS, then P4G, then Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha 1, then SMT V, then SMT3, then P1, then P3, then P3R, then P2, and I’m about to start SMT 4. I kind of threw darts against the series and went from there
This is such a wild story lol
The games good and I want to continue playing it but I’m stuck and don’t know where I am at all
When in doubt head to Nyx's and ask around if you're lost!
How are you playing Nocturne above it's native refresh rate??
60 fps mod
Finished shadow hearts I’ll give the SMT games a go
How was Shadow Hearts? Starting with Nocturne? It's somewhere between an acquired taste and stockholm syndrome
Theres a piece of constructive criticism id like to offer - i feel like youve really nailed the formula for successful video game content creation - _except_ for the delivery of your script. Youre really close though, probably the easiest way i can express the issue is that you sound (and it feels) like youre rushing through your script. Im fairly certain its the combination of the speed of your cadence + the lack of *any* pause at the end of sentences and especially at the end of questions. The way it made me feel listening to it was like i had no room to breathe.
Still a good video dont get me wrong, but i went and checked out your most recent upload to see if it was something youve noted, and that doesn't seem to be the case. I hope what I've written can be helpful for you and i wish you success with your channel! If you check out some stuff from other people who have succeeded in the space i think youll be able to see what im saying - and if you wanted some names to compare to id be willing to give you some.
Again i wish you luck in succeeding and will be keeping my eyes open for your next upload!
Appreciate the constructive criticism. I have a new project coming out over the next few days where I've slowed down a bit more, but it might still be too fast.
I think the problem is that I'm not comfortable just speaking into a mic. Delivery, cadence, and taking pauses will be my main focus going forward!
Thanks for the feedback, and welcome to the channel!
@@DogmasDomain hell yeah! I'll be looking for it. And i appreciate you being receptive to what i wrote! Also i totally get feeling not fully comfortable just talking into a mic - it can be kinda nerveracking just being aware of the "performance" so to say. At least for myself in the past ive found just taking a deep breath before continuing helpful with both clarity and speed (in a live format anyway). Again good luck and thanks for the welcome!
Have you played the Digital Devil Saga games?
I started played through the first, but I'm trying to detox before smtv. If vengeance is as good as it looks, that may be the best turn based game ever made imo
@@DogmasDomain there is a rumor of Atlus doing a remaster of a mystery PS2 game.....hopefully it is DDS.
@@DragonKingX78 Digital devil saga makes sense. I doubt they'd do raido, but you never know. I'll be there day one for DDS duology remakes. I need an SMT4 remake on modern platforms. Their 3DS games were crazy.
Have you played Persona 1 and/or 2IS/EP?
Hey! Thanks for leaving a comment! I've dabbled in Persona 1 and haven't touched either of the 2s. Should I check them out? I hear nothing but good about 2!
@@DogmasDomain there are rumors of Atlus doing remakes/remasters of 1 and both 2s so it is up to you to wait or not.
@@DragonKingX78 oh yeah, you're taking about those midori leaks, right? The first game absolutely needs another remake imo. I might go through the two duology as they're so highly praised. Apparently they're more like smt games before Hashino took control with 3 forward. My biggest fear is that Atlus will use Persona 5 as a template for those remakes like they did with Persona 3 reload.
It is a real shame Atlus botched the PC port. I will never understand how or why developers or publishers cannot or simply refuse to make good ports when modders can and literally do fix them months later, for free, by themselves. Insane.
It all comes down to budgets and such. There are occasional bugs developers find and don't have the means to fix them. I'm right there with you though, just delay things and try to figure it out. I don't think the PC port is terrible though. I'm just happy we have it to mod, but the audio is crazy
i love smt
bro great vid but please slow down when you're speaking.
100% I've slowed down a lot in future projects. I'm happy you enjoyed though!
@@DogmasDomain Defo no hate man, seriously good vid. Your poitns wer explained well!
BGs
Good video, but you talk too fast and with almost no breaks. I'd recommend at least pausing between sentences (where it makes sense ofc) to let your audience process your words before moving on.
Thanks for the feedback. I've slowed down a bit in future videos, and am still working on it!
There's a control for playback speed. I usually have to leave it at 1.5x
I heard it's a game for masochists
Oh yes, we all 100% have stockholm syndrome!
Ah yes the game where somehow speed and debuffing matter the most over dps lol
This is some of the realest shit I've ever seen
@@DogmasDomain The remaster of nocturne was a shame, all they did was upscale the resolution.
I keep trying to play Nocturne but every time I try to play a new game it just I just stopped playing within 3 hours because pretty much smt4 and the sequel are way better in terms of Law and gameplay mechanics in voice acting in general as well as for smt 5 I did play it once in terms of finishing it all the way and then if I try to play the game again I'll play it until a certain point but then I might lose interest but I kind of want to play it again because the first time and the only time I've ever played all the way through and finished it I kind of rushed it is games like that it's better to take your time really so you can enjoy the the game
After you got done with persona 5 you went and played modern warfare 2? Something doesnt add up here king
Na, you're the king. This video is rough!
@@DogmasDomain you enunciate well and cover things really well. Definitely a channel that deserves more than 1k subs and I tend to agree with all your takes here. Keep it up and dont let my shitposting dissuade you! 😁
Btw the algo fed me this today when searching nocturne content, so you’re doing something right
@@upsetman1887 Thanks for the kind words! And we've definitely improved over the past couple of videos! I remember when this video had 20 views and I had 10 subs. I plan to keep at it and cover more in the future! Thanks for stopping by!
Dude you talk so fast, give your audience a chance to breathe
Yeah, this was the biggest criticism with this video. I've slowed down on future projects!
@@DogmasDomain Thanks, sorry if I sounded rude.
I read it as "GENDER" defining classic
lol should I make the text bigger?
I think smt 3 is a bit overrated Smt 4 is much better
Y'know, I felt the same way after beating 4. This video was actually going to be on 4 first, but Nocturne's reasons, tone, theme, presentation, and dungeon design ever so slightly beat imo.
All that said... I recommend 4 to more people than 3.
@@DogmasDomain yea this is exactly how I felt about 3 and 4. 4 is just a much better game in general. The story, music, and gameplay are superb. But 3 still holds a special place in my heart solely because of the atmosphere.
If you look at it objectively, 3 is a weird one with an unfair difficulty, and an esoteric story that doesn't make a lot of sense without breaking it down and analyzing it (especially if you played without Maniax). But with the unique art direction (my friends just straight up call it dog shit), music and difficulty, it's an experience that it's hard to find in most modern games. I would say this game felt like going thru dark souls for the first time, at least imo.
I always recc 4 to people who wants to dip their toes into the franchise, 3 if they want their life to be changed and if... If they hate themselves.
While nocturne is a classic, classic can still be a bad game, which nocturne sadly is. There's very little story and char development, and too many random encounters, and the horrible dungeon design. I've only finished the game like a week ago, and felt that I was constantly punished while playing it. Can't wait for Vengeance, it's only 10 days away.
You know what's funny? I didn't appreciate Nocturne until reaching the end, and have loved it the more and more I've beaten it. I wouldn't say classics are necessarily bad, but they may have had their formulas refined so the original feels ancient (like Nocturne). I agree with the character development sentiment. It would've been nice to know more about the characters instead of assumed history that isn't in the game. Random encounters can be fixed with Estoma's sword and the dungeons are passable for a 2003 game. The Labyrinth of Amala needs more save points. The story is entirely the world developing reasons for the characters, but the pacing is a bit all over the place on your first run. SMT4 was a HUGE upgrade, and I can't wait to see what they do with Vengeance. I played the original SMTV and wasn't feeling it.
Al of the endings are crap. The fact it has to lean on human philosophy or just humanism dictates the outcome before it begins. It works for SMT as it's nihilistic with very grey solutions or a total summation from demon end, but offers nothing from the other end of spectrum. I don't think it deals in ethics at all, it's just very Japanese in their perspective, which SMT is. I think the game does it's job resonating with people that share these outlooks on the world.
On god brother