Easy: Dynamic. Dark setting. Philosophical and political. Esoterically accurate. Monster taming. Sci-fi. Cyberpunk. Morale decisions depending paths. Dungeon crawling. Own style. Rock and metal. Vapor and darkwave. Challenging. Bold. Mythical and symbolical. Immersive. Jack Frost. Nemissa. Ok. It's not that easy. SMT are just... the excellence. They have been my deepest adventures in gaming.
"two weaker monster made into one bigger why don't more JRPGs copy that?" Dragon Quest Monsters DID cop that but that subseries died out when they couldn't match up to the pokemon monolith.
SMT 4A should be treated as a Spinoff like Devil Survivor. See it like that and its a good game. It wasn't ever meant to be a Mainline entry. Its got some shit that Outshines og SMT 4. (Final boss. Fuck that last dungeon tho)
NenJutsu Yeah I had my hang ups with SMT IV Apocalypse, but it's pretty removed as a what if story based of the neutral path the hunter characters outlook make sense in some aspects.
I know this was commented somewhere else, but I'm just gonna share it here: "Megami Tensei is exactly what all the religious fanatics thought Pokemon was when it came out" (Also, I'm waiting for you to talk for an hour about the Devil Summoner games, dad)
JRPGs are a weird genre. You can find some genuinely great, charming, creative games, but you can also find some of the most cliché things you'll ever see. I guess I simply like this genre
JRPGs afford the writers the liberty to include as much random bullshit in the story as they can, sadly some of them don't take that opportunity and just release some generic fantasy story about heroes and demon kings. But then you have masterpieces like .Hack that go for a completely different theme and approach and even poke fun at RPG clichés. It's a rich genre to explore for sure
@@gregboitut3074 FF7 is a bit overrated and not that good, even at the time it was released games like suikoden 2 and Xenogears were far better in comparison.
@@ElShogoso its rich but with a lot of fat sadly, there are some good jrpgs dont get me wrong but sadly its a genre that has been struggling since the PS 2 era and for a good reason, but still there are some masterpieces in the genre that i did enjoy.
that happens with me, I started with the first SMT from SNES then strange jorney and IV, after that Isaid mayself: what about Persona games? I mean they have to be good too right? I played Persona 3 and oh god, what the hell was that, how I hate the social link (dating simulator) and the animes cliches, that is the reason why I hate Xenobalde 2.
This me as well but with The Legend of heroes: Trails series. I still love Shin Megami tensei/Persona series but not more than my love for the Trails series.
I agree soon as he mention he loved the tedious command system on persona 3 fes he instantly lost credibility to me I know now he just hates the persona fandom more then the games.
@Aria Khalaji your missing the point. If he didnt like the game thats fine. But the part I mention felt like a stretch just to play devil's advocate. Music is subjective that's fine. Complains about the character growth and his excuse to it was that persona 2 did it first. That was a bad critique of he felt that he didn't like the character development. In his persona 4 video. It felt like he was actually being open minded to the game and its flaws. But persona 3 vid felt like he just went in to bash on the game.
I kinda squinted at the Trails of Cold Steel thing, because it is one of the few jrpgs I actually like. Just that series in general. Same to Tales of games, which rely on more technical things for harder difficulties. But if I have to say why I love SMT, me, the viewer? - Great Combat. - Game never waste my time. - Stat builds that make you commit to a certain play style for the Main Character. - Usually great Music. - Great Atmosphere. - Every enemy has some type of unique design and personality. - Overall, just challenging. - It has a great magic system, that I have way less criticism of than say something like FF as a series. Where in some games, magic at a point becomes useless. Never the case in SMT, everything has an application at all points in the game. - Boss fights are usually great. Even the horde ones when there is more than one enemy. - Battle Rules apply to everyone, and there are even unique strategies and synergies for some fights, and if we are technical, infinite stat build options also can help determine what you'd do build wise, or what you can situationally flex into. Just, good stuff. Great stuff even.
@@trickortriq I need to go back to play that one. But from what I seen, outside of graphics and the Arcus/Pair up mechanic, it isn't too different from what I can see. Battle wise, the Quartz/Arcus system is. "What if we took the Materia System from FF7, and made it a bit more fleshed out and interesting, or Unique?" And no disrespect to FF7, I love that game. But the Materia system is sorta bare in places. "Here is skills." But if you upgrade some quartz, you make some have additional effects and stats that can expand on the character by adding passives. Granted, I'm that weirdo who did TOCS1 on Nightmare first. Some bosses can be a fucking headache without the right set up. So anything that required exclusively magic, were sorta unfun. There is some anime bs I didn't care for, but I otherwise saw the characters as decently grounded and relatable. So TOCS has a lot of good things going for it if you can get passed the exposition heavy nature. Exposition in any setting or game isn't inherently bad, it is just how you handle or pace it that can make it feel like meandering. And I mean Golden Sun levels of it. The only thing that was WEIRD to me was. "Craft" are a character's unique moves. But "Arts", are magic. You'd think it is the other way around due to an "Art" feeling like a technique you learned or honed. And a "Craft", being the designated spell or magic effect from the Quartz. Either way, I think you'll love the series. And that is coming from someone who traditionally cannot get into anime.
For real though, putting Trails of Cold Steel there only has one justifiable response: "bruh." For real, I'd honestly argue that the Trails of Cold Steel games are better than most Final Fantasy games, and that's not an attack on FF as most FF games are pretty solid.
i wouldnt really have a problem with him disliking persona. but then he makes fun of people for liking it, nitpicking everything then is like "lmao stop being so butthurt". i personally really enjoy his smt vids but hes just an ass sometimes
Bruh I can't take this vid seriously. 1:02 diminishes the vast majority of JRPGs you haven't played, calling them boring, uninteresting, copy-paste & generic, while ignoring their differents worlds and stories, the baller-ass shit, the passion and heart, and the genuine care of everyone involved. 12:35 reveals the whole point of the video is that you want people to not do to SMT what YOU JUST DID FOR A WHOLE GENRE OF GAMES Like damn son. I agree with you that SMT is great, but I somehow still leave this video dumbfounded at how someone can be so feeble-minded and hypocritical. "What I played = good, what I didn't play = bad"
@@SimplyDad Yeah buddy, it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out you didn't play the games you showed, when multiple of the games you showed are massively well received, like Trails of Cold Steel, Tales of Vesperia and Stella Glow. I would understand not liking one or two, but all three of these, which have nearly nothing in common? Lol. To add insult to injury, you literally say you didn't grow up on JRPGs, but despite this you want me to believe you'd go out of your way to play a dozen of these games? You can stop pretending. Maybe start practicing what you preach and stop getting hung up on your preconceived notions about JRPGs.
@LAW Those games ain't good just because they are well received. They are just good cause they either have good game play, a good story, great music etc. Out of those games he mentioned Trails of cold steel is definitely the best one tho.
@@jorgekuzan2025 idk what to tell you bruh sorry i didnt like your highly rated anime rpgs, forgot that a review score means a game is objectively good and everybody who plays it has to like it.
Kazuma Kaneko: ok I made this demon in based his original source, but I give him a special touch of my, so the players can recognize that I made this art. others jrpg artist: made that deamon a sexy boy, or what about if we become this demon a sexy woman.
I hear you out... but you have to admit "Nyaruko: Crawling with Love" is such a power move regarding the Lovecraft Mythos that is pretty much is impossible to not consider that depiction of Nyarlathotep as being the most cannot depiction
It's funny how I watched this video, listening to Dad's ever-enthusiastic take on why he loves MegaTen, and right when he says: "Don't fuck up this game (Referring to SMTV)" the next suggested video to pop up is his most recent, in which he explains why he sees that same game, now that is has been released, as absolutely goddamn horrendous. The YT algorithm is playing with me here-
I think I finally understand why the later persona game vibed with you and not the recent ones. After watching your p3 and 4 videos,. I went back to p2 IS and soul hackers and I do feel that many things are lacking with the recent persona games. Granted there are somethings I don't entirely agree with your reviews but that's people being people, we are not going to agree on everything.
Coming back to this video is already Nostalgic. I shared this video to so many friends to show how great this series is and let them Blbarrow my games lol. I just wanna say thank you for leaving an impact on me and I play many SMT Games ever since :)
Dope video. Your appreciation for Soul Hackers and the older Persona games is so righteous. You really can't go wrong with SMT. Even the games I don't love quite as much as others like Persona 3 and SMT4:A are still really fun and dope in their own right
I love pretty much every JRPG I've ever played. Even the "garbage" ones. Because sometimes its fun to play trash and rip it to pieces. I love FF, DQ, Tales, MegaTen, Valkyrie Profile, list goes on and on.
The fact that Hidehito Aoki didn't score a single game between Persona 1 in 1996 and his tragic death in 2002 is an absolute tragedy. Why did he shift to only doing "sound design" and "production"? Did he lack confidence in his abilities? I guess we'll never know, but the music he left us will live on, I know that for a fact. Actually, it's something of a trend in the games industry that great composers like Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu end up relegated (or relegate themselves) to the roles of "sound supervisor" or whatever, and the people who come after them struggle to recapture the same magic. VGM seriously needs to get more recognition as a "serious" art form.
It’s possible that he wanted other composers to have their time in the spotlight. The reason Kazuma Kaneko didn’t do the artwork for Persona 3 was because he wanted Soejima to gain experience. It’s incredibly disheartening though he didn’t work on anything after his work on Persona 1. I know he would’ve killed it. RIP Legend
I really hope it isnt like apocalypse at all, that games story is so cringy (my opinion ofc) that i had trouble getting through it but the gameplay is amazing
It was because of this channel and one of my friends that got me to try main SMT after I first played Persona. Now I can't stop jamming to SMT bangers and I've been really enjoying games like SMT IV, Strange Journey and Innocent Sin. So thanks
You know what,in the past I wasn't really a fan of your stuff and i thought that it came off as really mean and stupid. I even remember leaving a comment in your P3 video. And while I still feel like you have a lot of space to improve on the way you express yourself and your opinions it was always pretty clear that it all came from a deep appreciation for Megami Tensei. I watched this video and then went back and watched your SMTIV video and I actually really like what you have to say. I love this series and having someone that makes good video essays like these is really good for the series and the community. So keep it up man.
Hhhhmm, dunno if I'd put Falcom's Trails series on the same level as the others shown with it. At the very least trying to keep a story going over, like, nine games (I think? Maybe more?) ended up making it amazing at world building and a character you'd expect to be saved by "the power of friendship" or some shit straight-up dies.
I respect you opinion on the franchise. But it is very evident that you don't like jrpgs that aren't megaten for the most part. The fact you generalized jrpgs as cliché anime games is very telling. Calling games such as the trails series "anime trash" when you haven't even played them is just appalling.
I only played the first two Cold Steel games, but from what I recall they were mediocre at best and a painful slog at worst. The stories were fine but nothing particularly distinct or memorable compared to other similar JRPGs, the characters were interchangeable anime tropes with among the most repetitive writing I've ever seen (every other conversation has an emotional "oh, Rean..." for example), the gameplay tended to be completely broken especially in the second game, and the list goes on. I try to keep an open mind, but I never really understood why people held those games in such high regards.
He doesn't like P3's overall OST because of the unfitting hip-hop style, but he appreciated those songs as good songs but the overall P3 soundtrack sucks (Check out Larrue's MegaTen music tier list video for more information). Plus he said on the video that even on the shitty games/soundtracks they got some bangers in them.
Damn man, I gotta say people on twitter paint you like a fuckin evil war criminal. Cool to see your passion about the series and that you don't seem like a bad dude, you just.. don't really like a video game I like lmao.
These videos are so reminiscent of early egoraptor's review videos for some reason. You definitely are more laid back, but both of you guys exhibit the same passion for the games you talk about. It's infectious even if it's disagreeable.
I agree with you on this vid, though I do like some of the JRPGs mentioned earlier on as well (Tales and Trails specifically). Even if I find Soul Hackers overrated, I still love each game.
@BitterOrange yes its a bit unfair of me to say he hasn't but its not hard to see he has a hard bias against anything anime (which is ironic since smt is anime)
To me the way how the series shows differently than other Jrpg games is compare SMT 1 intro to others at it's time. You might get a upbeat intro or something along the lines but then comes smt 1 ominous intro... Plus you punch god in the face multiple times in the series... Actually scratch that your punching every demon of any mythology!
Nocturne is one of the gnarliest games I've ever played. The music, the art style, just the general vibe and aesthetic, all come together into an absolutely brilliant game. I play it often on PCSX2. Can't wait to get the PS4 remaster.
I gave a like mostly because of the music showcase. PSX Persona 1's music especially has a sense of atmosphere to each location and moment in the game and they're just really great to listen to on their own (RIP Hidehito Aoki). Some other soundtracks that I feel similarly about are Soul Hackers, Devil Summoner 1, the P2 Duology, the DDS duology, SMT3, and SMT 4. Also, thank you for showing how great Majin Tensei's music is! I might have to listen to it afterwards. Other than that, great video.
Yoo deadass, Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door is one of the greatest games of all time no cap! All of the stuff you said about it made me realize how legendary that game was. It was one of the only games that once you beat (for me atleast) you immediately want to replay it. Like the only other game to do that for me was prob Kingdom Hearts 2 or something lol. Pmtyd so goddamn wholesome
Ugh I'm so back and forth with these videos. When you like something, I think you have a great way of putting your feelings into words, but when you don't like something its so annoying i almost can't listen to it. Before anyone says im accusing you of being an elitist, SMT is my favorite series of all time. I know how good these games are. I also love other RPGs, its my favorite overall genre. Lumping them all together just cause they have an anime art style is just ridiculous. And im totally fine with people not liking the things i like, but the way you word things just makes it sound so pretentious and snobby that for me it taints an otherwise great video. And it doesn't have to be like that. Like, its fine to just say this works for me and this doesn't without being so abrasive. It really adds nothing to the video in my opinion. That is just my opinion though, if it makes you happy and its working out for you, then totally go for it.
Great video man 👍 I adore the megami series. I'm SO GLAD YOU COVERED THE SOUNDTRACKS! I always keep the ost for SMT IF, soul hackers & persona 2 on my phone for when I'm just craving some bangers. Love this vid man 🙋🏻♀️
I'd love to pick your brain. My first memorable jrpg experience was persona 1 for the ps1, the super poorly translated one that I had no idea about because to thus day I just fell a sense of magic every time I pick it up
Megaten is such a special fuckin' series to me, man. This video just reminds me how damn much I adore it. Cheers, Dad. Repping SMT 4 till the day I die
Whenever I watch one of your videos I feel the amount of passion you put in them and how much you love the series, and that makes me genuinely happy. Happy Megaten Day ❤
Xenoblade is still the king for me. I’m someone who doesn’t like JRPGs almost ever, cause almost all the stories are either far more shallow than most people make them out to be, they’re the opposite of enjoyable to play, or both. Xenoblade is one of those few exceptions where you get fun combat, masterclass ost, and a top tier story that breaks and subverts the usual anime or jrpg cliches. These games are good and all, but Xenoblade is one of those few jrpgs that manages to tell a philosophical story well. Can’t wait for the 3rd one to come out in a few months
Been meaning to try out the "Trails of" series for the longest time. No one ever shuts up about how good they are, and if Simply Dad hates it, it's probably lit. Any recommendations on where I should start?
Trails is absolutely amazing! The best starting points are either Trails in the Sky first Chapter or Trails of Cold Steel. Trails in the Sky First Chapter is considered the best starting point however it may be a bit hard to get into as it is a bit old and some people don't like the slow start, however it is still a great RPG. Trails of Cold Steel(The one shown in the video) is also a great starting point. It's a lot more modern and it's similar to persona if you happen to be a persona fan. Honestly I started with Cold Steel and had a blast. Feel free to ask me if you have more questions!
@@k.s854 Well, I'm just about done with SMT if.. and I love it despite it being pretty dated. Old or archaic mechanics definitely won't bother or stop me. So Trails in the Sky it is! One more question, is there a definitive version? Like should I play the PSP or Steam version, or does it really matter at all?
@@cornmuffin7686 The steam version is the best place to get Trails in the Sky. It has turbo mode( allows you to speed up the the animations which is amazing considering that the battle animations are slow) and is considered as the definitive edition. Also Trails in the sky isn't too archaic in terms of game play I'd say it still holds up pretty well. The story starts off kind of slow but if you give it some time if turns into a epic tale with incredible world building and well developed characters. In case you didn't know Trails in the Sky is a Trilogy but for now I'd suggest trying the first game and see if the series is for you. Have fun!
@@k.s854 Great..it sounds right up my alley. I'm definitely going to give it a go within the next day or two. Thanks for the taking the time out to help. Take care.
@Corn Muffin No problem. It makes me happy to see people give this series a chance. What I really love about this series is that since every game is connected, the series really has a chance to flesh out it's world. Events that happen in one country/arc affect the countries/arcs you visit in the next set of games. and It's really awesome to see characters from past arcs appear even in the newest games. You take care as well! (I'll also write the proper play order in case you decide to continue playing the series) 1.Trails in the Sky First Chapter 2.Trails in the Sky Second Chapter 3.Trails in the Sky The Third 4. Trails From Zero 5. Trails To Azure (Trails From Zero and Azure weren't localized however a great Fan translation by the Geofront exists. More info on how to get the games are on their website. Zero has been translated by the Geofront but Azure is still being worked on. There still is another translation for Azure it’s perfectly playable but when The Geofronts patch come out it’s expected to be better than the current translation.) 6. Trails of Cold Steel 7.Trails of Cold Steel 2 8.Trails of Cold Steel 3 9.Trails of Cold Steel 4 10. Hajimari no Kiseki ( will probably be localized soon)
shoutouts to all yall for ignoring the typo in the video
join the discord: discord.com/invite/qY2gcWb
No I dont want
@@darkyagami3503 *Glocks gun*
It says I was banned from the discord and I have no idea what I even did
man you're such an inspiration I hope that one day reach 50k subs
Simply Dad Thank you but i did.
Easy: Dynamic. Dark setting. Philosophical and political. Esoterically accurate. Monster taming. Sci-fi. Cyberpunk. Morale decisions depending paths. Dungeon crawling. Own style. Rock and metal. Vapor and darkwave. Challenging. Bold. Mythical and symbolical. Immersive. Jack Frost. Nemissa.
Ok. It's not that easy. SMT are just... the excellence. They have been my deepest adventures in gaming.
"two weaker monster made into one bigger why don't more JRPGs copy that?" Dragon Quest Monsters DID cop that but that subseries died out when they couldn't match up to the pokemon monolith.
Bruh one of my all time favorite games *Monster Rancher* is based on this exact concept. To bad it died out
I still remember that epic line in the Dragon Quest monster trailer "losers catch 'em all - winners catch the best!" lol
@@thelastunicorn6663 I am so waiting for its upcoming remaster
Okay you've mentioned it twice now, pal. You GOTTA tell us your full thoughts on SMT4 Apocalypse, lol
More than likely cause of how Shonen anime it gets
SMT 4A should be treated as a Spinoff like Devil Survivor. See it like that and its a good game. It wasn't ever meant to be a Mainline entry. Its got some shit that Outshines og SMT 4. (Final boss. Fuck that last dungeon tho)
PLEASE
NenJutsu Yeah I had my hang ups with SMT IV Apocalypse, but it's pretty removed as a what if story based of the neutral path the hunter characters outlook make sense in some aspects.
@@Clout_Strife the power of friendship garbage?
I know this was commented somewhere else, but I'm just gonna share it here:
"Megami Tensei is exactly what all the religious fanatics thought Pokemon was when it came out"
(Also, I'm waiting for you to talk for an hour about the Devil Summoner games, dad)
That's such a scarily good comparison though
Nyarly already did it and even credited SimplyDad at the end
@@ImPyroChad Wasn't that Devil Survivor
@@PedroMatos482 shit my bad, im part blind without my glasses XD
DS is my fav spin off from the megami tensei series, such a treat all of the games
JRPGs are a weird genre. You can find some genuinely great, charming, creative games, but you can also find some of the most cliché things you'll ever see. I guess I simply like this genre
Sturgeon's Law is clear as day with this genre.
Ff7 is the best on till this day
JRPGs afford the writers the liberty to include as much random bullshit in the story as they can, sadly some of them don't take that opportunity and just release some generic fantasy story about heroes and demon kings.
But then you have masterpieces like .Hack that go for a completely different theme and approach and even poke fun at RPG clichés.
It's a rich genre to explore for sure
@@gregboitut3074 FF7 is a bit overrated and not that good, even at the time it was released games like suikoden 2 and Xenogears were far better in comparison.
@@ElShogoso its rich but with a lot of fat sadly, there are some good jrpgs dont get me wrong but sadly its a genre that has been struggling since the PS 2 era and for a good reason, but still there are some masterpieces in the genre that i did enjoy.
This vid is an encoded message that the reason you love megateb is because larrue
Quick curiosity question: How did you first get into SMT? I'm just now getting into your channel because of Simply Dad.
I mean, how else?
Shut the fuck up
@@giantclaw138 Someone gave me a copy of nocturne in high school
@@Larrue Then they’re a amazing person
It's not a simply dad video if it doesn't start out with him slandering every other big name rpg in favor of smt. Never change lol
You hate to see it. Glad he's back to making more positive videos
When he stereotyped all JRPG’s and put it The legend of heroes: Trails series into that category it was a yikes from me. I felt that.
@@Wallie33. yup but his defense force will say, "you guys are just mad he has a different opinion"
Kai Solomon Yeah man this defensive people over this guy are just sad.
@@Wallie33. True, I just always find it funny that he chooses to demean other rpgs as opposed to saying why he personally doesn't enjoy them lol
Man out here not talking about the best soundtrack in the franchise. Jack bros
Okay but unironically Jack Bros has some good songs
You misplaced soundtrack with game.
Jack Bros. remake for switch
Idk fam, 101 Explosive Megamix on the Nintendo Wii has undoubtedly the best ost
The actual best SMT game
I found SMT Lucifers call due to being a devil may cry fan and then picked it up and fell in love
Good thing it fractured dante from dmc
Finally, someone that appreciates how baller Majin Tensei's OST is.
Something even more important than Megami Tensei happened on September 11th...
LEGO STAR WARS II BABY
Absolute Facts My Guy
Lego Star Wars > Megami Tensei and that's a fact
DARTH 3PO?!
DarkLordLiam Fat Nuts
@@ImPyroChad lego star wars will beat any games
Shin Megami Tensei spoiled me tbh. I can't enjoy any other JRPG cause it doesn't have the same magic SMT has
that happens with me, I started with the first SMT from SNES then strange jorney and IV, after that Isaid mayself: what about Persona games? I mean they have to be good too right? I played Persona 3 and oh god, what the hell was that, how I hate the social link (dating simulator) and the animes cliches, that is the reason why I hate Xenobalde 2.
I thought I felt this way until I replayed Xenoblade 1 and FFIX. Then I realized I wasn't the smt elitist I thought I was
@@dc7981 Exact same examples I would’ve given. Those two games have great and deep stories.
This me as well but with The Legend of heroes: Trails series. I still love Shin Megami tensei/Persona series but not more than my love for the Trails series.
@@Wallie33. Which is fine, I personally favor SMT over Trails
You sound a lot less condescending and rude in this video btw
@@SimplyDad
Skskekejskse
I see you still have a ways to go, hopefully you learn to be more humble!
💯💯💯💯
maybe a lot less condescending, but equally as intellectually dishonest tbqh
I agree, in a previous video, I think he said "persona 3 is good for people who haven't played anything else"
@@KuroeDetectiveAgency lmao
Just putting it out there, I think this guy might like shin megami tensei
Megami Tensei's composers remain unparalleled in gaming. Good video once again.
People in the comment section be like “simply dad can be positive🙀”
It suprised me as well
Obviously, if you watched SMT 4 and Nocturne review you would now it.
Man, Simply Dad may be an ass with some garbage takes but, when he’s talking about this series with so much love I’m mesmerized.
i think you need to see a therapist
all his takes are good you're just mad he shit on p3
I agree soon as he mention he loved the tedious command system on persona 3 fes he instantly lost credibility to me I know now he just hates the persona fandom more then the games.
@@RyoshuLimbus Nah
@Aria Khalaji your missing the point. If he didnt like the game thats fine. But the part I mention felt like a stretch just to play devil's advocate. Music is subjective that's fine. Complains about the character growth and his excuse to it was that persona 2 did it first. That was a bad critique of he felt that he didn't like the character development. In his persona 4 video. It felt like he was actually being open minded to the game and its flaws. But persona 3 vid felt like he just went in to bash on the game.
I kinda squinted at the Trails of Cold Steel thing, because it is one of the few jrpgs I actually like. Just that series in general. Same to Tales of games, which rely on more technical things for harder difficulties.
But if I have to say why I love SMT, me, the viewer?
- Great Combat.
- Game never waste my time.
- Stat builds that make you commit to a certain play style for the Main Character.
- Usually great Music.
- Great Atmosphere.
- Every enemy has some type of unique design and personality.
- Overall, just challenging.
- It has a great magic system, that I have way less criticism of than say something like FF as a series. Where in some games, magic at a point becomes useless. Never the case in SMT, everything has an application at all points in the game.
- Boss fights are usually great. Even the horde ones when there is more than one enemy.
- Battle Rules apply to everyone, and there are even unique strategies and synergies for some fights, and if we are technical, infinite stat build options also can help determine what you'd do build wise, or what you can situationally flex into.
Just, good stuff. Great stuff even.
I've started Trails in the Sky recently, can't wait to go deeper in the series, I heard great things about it.
@@trickortriq I need to go back to play that one. But from what I seen, outside of graphics and the Arcus/Pair up mechanic, it isn't too different from what I can see.
Battle wise, the Quartz/Arcus system is. "What if we took the Materia System from FF7, and made it a bit more fleshed out and interesting, or Unique?"
And no disrespect to FF7, I love that game. But the Materia system is sorta bare in places. "Here is skills." But if you upgrade some quartz, you make some have additional effects and stats that can expand on the character by adding passives.
Granted, I'm that weirdo who did TOCS1 on Nightmare first. Some bosses can be a fucking headache without the right set up. So anything that required exclusively magic, were sorta unfun.
There is some anime bs I didn't care for, but I otherwise saw the characters as decently grounded and relatable. So TOCS has a lot of good things going for it if you can get passed the exposition heavy nature. Exposition in any setting or game isn't inherently bad, it is just how you handle or pace it that can make it feel like meandering. And I mean Golden Sun levels of it.
The only thing that was WEIRD to me was. "Craft" are a character's unique moves.
But "Arts", are magic. You'd think it is the other way around due to an "Art" feeling like a technique you learned or honed. And a "Craft", being the designated spell or magic effect from the Quartz.
Either way, I think you'll love the series. And that is coming from someone who traditionally cannot get into anime.
@@trickortriq Trails in the Sky SC is possibly my favorite game of all time. Definitely worth playing through the whole series.
For real though, putting Trails of Cold Steel there only has one justifiable response: "bruh." For real, I'd honestly argue that the Trails of Cold Steel games are better than most Final Fantasy games, and that's not an attack on FF as most FF games are pretty solid.
@@chloemarlowe3817 at least he didn’t dog on Xenoblade, that would’ve gone even further lmao
Dad, why did you say "most boring shit ever" over Vesperia gameplay?
Do you want me to hurt you???
"These games are more than just 'kill your friends and punch God in the face'"
I MEEEEEEEEEAN
Wait that wasn't what happened in SMT4: Apocalypse?
lmao
Simply Dad is gate-keeping and elitist. I win. Bye Bye!
*yes he is the most coolest chadest elite smt fan we should end him*
Love the throwback comment
Hey... peepeepoopoo check? Pee pee poo poo pee pee pooooooooooo
@@papasquat3882 penis.
i wouldnt really have a problem with him disliking persona. but then he makes fun of people for liking it, nitpicking everything then is like "lmao stop being so butthurt". i personally really enjoy his smt vids but hes just an ass sometimes
Dang, all those bland JRPG covers DID look the exact same
That may be true but trails of cold steel is actually pretty great
@@cortfun7775 Okay, I'll look into it.
@@cortfun7775 actual hot garbage the series before were great but thay one tanked
Just because they all have similar art styles, doesn’t mean they’re all bad.
@@cortfun7775 And Fire Emblem isnt?
Bruh I can't take this vid seriously.
1:02 diminishes the vast majority of JRPGs you haven't played, calling them boring, uninteresting, copy-paste & generic, while ignoring their differents worlds and stories, the baller-ass shit, the passion and heart, and the genuine care of everyone involved.
12:35 reveals the whole point of the video is that you want people to not do to SMT what YOU JUST DID FOR A WHOLE GENRE OF GAMES
Like damn son. I agree with you that SMT is great, but I somehow still leave this video dumbfounded at how someone can be so feeble-minded and hypocritical. "What I played = good, what I didn't play = bad"
“He didn’t like the same games as me, so he must’ve never played them”
@@SimplyDad Yeah buddy, it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out you didn't play the games you showed, when multiple of the games you showed are massively well received, like Trails of Cold Steel, Tales of Vesperia and Stella Glow. I would understand not liking one or two, but all three of these, which have nearly nothing in common? Lol. To add insult to injury, you literally say you didn't grow up on JRPGs, but despite this you want me to believe you'd go out of your way to play a dozen of these games?
You can stop pretending. Maybe start practicing what you preach and stop getting hung up on your preconceived notions about JRPGs.
@LAW Those games ain't good just because they are well received. They are just good cause they either have good game play, a good story, great music etc. Out of those games he mentioned Trails of cold steel is definitely the best one tho.
@LAW massively well received = bad is more nonsense
@@jorgekuzan2025 idk what to tell you bruh sorry i didnt like your highly rated anime rpgs, forgot that a review score means a game is objectively good and everybody who plays it has to like it.
FF6 DQ9 and Mother 3, This dude has good taste. My favorite persona 1 track its child abuse.
based
This series helped ground me to something in turbulent times of life so I really appreciate it. Them amazing spectacular games are just a blessing tbh
ok but you didnt talk about p5 enough tho.
Bruh
@@g4m3boy42
Not really, but to each their own.
Persona 4,3,2is > persona 5
@@maskedproducer8852
To each their own.
Persona 5 is so overrated that hating Persona 5 is overrated
Kazuma Kaneko: ok I made this demon in based his original source, but I give him a special touch of my, so the players can recognize that I made this art.
others jrpg artist: made that deamon a sexy boy, or what about if we become this demon a sexy woman.
I hear you out... but you have to admit "Nyaruko: Crawling with Love" is such a power move regarding the Lovecraft Mythos that is pretty much is impossible to not consider that depiction of Nyarlathotep as being the most cannot depiction
Everyone's favorite gate keeping elitist
Cringe
I mean gatekeeping is fine in my opinion
@@rambact5769 why? It just keeps a series from getting bigger and eventually kills it
@@rambact5769 do you want SMT's sales to stagnate? Because this is how you get SMT's sales to stagnate.
Phil Lemon ye I’m fine with that, already enough games in the series for me
"Don't fuck this game up"
...Well.
And Soul Hackers 2 as a bonus ...
It's funny how I watched this video, listening to Dad's ever-enthusiastic take on why he loves MegaTen, and right when he says: "Don't fuck up this game (Referring to SMTV)" the next suggested video to pop up is his most recent, in which he explains why he sees that same game, now that is has been released, as absolutely goddamn horrendous.
The YT algorithm is playing with me here-
I do not think much stories are like SMT. I like the dark atmosphere and religious themes.
I think I finally understand why the later persona game vibed with you and not the recent ones. After watching your p3 and 4 videos,. I went back to p2 IS and soul hackers and I do feel that many things are lacking with the recent persona games. Granted there are somethings I don't entirely agree with your reviews but that's people being people, we are not going to agree on everything.
I will crucify you for DARING to call Trails of Cold Steel generic.
Cold steel has a shit ton of generic cringy Anime cliches but the trails series as a whole is amazing so it's not too much of an issue
@@jojonta2119 I prefer older games like Trails in the Sky though. Got older and can't really catch up with newer games
@@DeadP47 Oh for sure
It is so sad that sky 3rd doesn't have a psp translation
Coming back to this video is already Nostalgic. I shared this video to so many friends to show how great this series is and let them Blbarrow my games lol. I just wanna say thank you for leaving an impact on me and I play many SMT Games ever since :)
Same, I got my friend an Emulator for Devil Survivor (My favorite MegaTen next to SMT IV) and I hope he is going to play it.
I completely agree with the points you've made
What are you talking about?
all I know is banger music
Raidou no idea
I also agree that Persona 3 Dancing is trash.
I too agree that P3 music doesnt harmonize jack
you’re like if Dunkey was a megaten youtuber
Complete with hating almost all JRPGs
He's way less annoying then dunkey lol dunkeys unbearable imo
@@shroudedinmyth8229 finny thing is - dunkey likes p5
Dope video. Your appreciation for Soul Hackers and the older Persona games is so righteous. You really can't go wrong with SMT. Even the games I don't love quite as much as others like Persona 3 and SMT4:A are still really fun and dope in their own right
I love pretty much every JRPG I've ever played. Even the "garbage" ones. Because sometimes its fun to play trash and rip it to pieces.
I love FF, DQ, Tales, MegaTen, Valkyrie Profile, list goes on and on.
Valkyrie Profile my man
Great taste my man, absolutely love valkyrie profile
Was NOT expecting that Thousand Year Door shoutout here! Fuuuuck, that’s in my Top 10 of all time. RIP Paper Mario.
The fact that Hidehito Aoki didn't score a single game between Persona 1 in 1996 and his tragic death in 2002 is an absolute tragedy. Why did he shift to only doing "sound design" and "production"? Did he lack confidence in his abilities? I guess we'll never know, but the music he left us will live on, I know that for a fact.
Actually, it's something of a trend in the games industry that great composers like Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu end up relegated (or relegate themselves) to the roles of "sound supervisor" or whatever, and the people who come after them struggle to recapture the same magic. VGM seriously needs to get more recognition as a "serious" art form.
It’s possible that he wanted other composers to have their time in the spotlight. The reason Kazuma Kaneko didn’t do the artwork for Persona 3 was because he wanted Soejima to gain experience. It’s incredibly disheartening though he didn’t work on anything after his work on Persona 1. I know he would’ve killed it. RIP Legend
I just hope that SMT V doesn't have the power of friendship garbage like P3-P5 and SMT IV Apocalypse
We all know it will
@Holy Emperor Souther pretty much
@@Clampp14 why do we know it will lol, it makes no sense for them to do that again
I really hope it isnt like apocalypse at all, that games story is so cringy (my opinion ofc) that i had trouble getting through it but the gameplay is amazing
Don't give them any ideas!!
you should've made a video about Lego Star Wars 2 for this special day
No
It was because of this channel and one of my friends that got me to try main SMT after I first played Persona. Now I can't stop jamming to SMT bangers and I've been really enjoying games like SMT IV, Strange Journey and Innocent Sin. So thanks
You know what,in the past I wasn't really a fan of your stuff and i thought that it came off as really mean and stupid. I even remember leaving a comment in your P3 video.
And while I still feel like you have a lot of space to improve on the way you express yourself and your opinions it was always pretty clear that it all came from a deep appreciation for Megami Tensei.
I watched this video and then went back and watched your SMTIV video and I actually really like what you have to say. I love this series and having someone that makes good video essays like these is really good for the series and the community.
So keep it up man.
Yeah, I really love Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3.
3:42 - "I have no idea why modern RPGs don't try to copy this."
well digimon cybersleuth has this idea lol
not to the same degree but it's there somewhat
This guy edited a 6 hour vid about every Simpson episode
I wonder how you are still alive
That's probably why he hasn't uploaded in 4 months
Hhhhmm, dunno if I'd put Falcom's Trails series on the same level as the others shown with it. At the very least trying to keep a story going over, like, nine games (I think? Maybe more?) ended up making it amazing at world building and a character you'd expect to be saved by "the power of friendship" or some shit straight-up dies.
I respect you opinion on the franchise. But it is very evident that you don't like jrpgs that aren't megaten for the most part. The fact you generalized jrpgs as cliché anime games is very telling. Calling games such as the trails series "anime trash" when you haven't even played them is just appalling.
I mean but a lot of JRPGs nowadays are anime trash so like
@@obi-wankenobi4337 It's just Simply dads style dude.
@@RoanoraZoro123 but he's not necessarily wrong though
Trails is loaded with anime cliches. He's right.
I only played the first two Cold Steel games, but from what I recall they were mediocre at best and a painful slog at worst. The stories were fine but nothing particularly distinct or memorable compared to other similar JRPGs, the characters were interchangeable anime tropes with among the most repetitive writing I've ever seen (every other conversation has an emotional "oh, Rean..." for example), the gameplay tended to be completely broken especially in the second game, and the list goes on. I try to keep an open mind, but I never really understood why people held those games in such high regards.
5:09
YOU DID NOT JUST DISRESPECT MASS DESTRUCTION, BATTLE FOR EVERYONE’S SOULS, AND MASTER OF SHADOWS.
AND BURN MY BREAD!
He has a hate boner for P3, at this point we've just learnt to live with it lol
Probably cause people have different tastes in music. I could be wrong though
You mean the songs everyone sucks off?
He doesn't like P3's overall OST because of the unfitting hip-hop style, but he appreciated those songs as good songs but the overall P3 soundtrack sucks (Check out Larrue's MegaTen music tier list video for more information). Plus he said on the video that even on the shitty games/soundtracks they got some bangers in them.
This is my favorite vid of yours since the smt 4 one, AND larrue said on twitter he's releasing a vid today too. I'm eating good today
man it fuckin sucks that this video didnt get the attention it deserves. hopefully itll blow up one day
Man when he said "This games are more than punching god in the face" he got me, i laugh so loud.
When you just wanna beat the shit out of YHVH but everyone just wants a dating visual sim instead.
Damn man, I gotta say people on twitter paint you like a fuckin evil war criminal. Cool to see your passion about the series and that you don't seem like a bad dude, you just.. don't really like a video game I like lmao.
You’re channel is straight up UA-cam gold. I am so glad I discovered it!
Local dad spends 50% of a video praising obscure Japanese composers. Jk great video and I agree, MT has the best RPG soundtracks out there.
These videos are so reminiscent of early egoraptor's review videos for some reason. You definitely are more laid back, but both of you guys exhibit the same passion for the games you talk about. It's infectious even if it's disagreeable.
Both are great!
🥺
😳👌
I agree with you on this vid, though I do like some of the JRPGs mentioned earlier on as well (Tales and Trails specifically). Even if I find Soul Hackers overrated, I still love each game.
I have just come to accept it as Simply Dad's style. Let me tell you, there is nothing like trails and even Megaten cant replace it.
I sat up in my seat when I saw cold steel lol. The story of the trails games is absolutely phenomenal. I doubt he's played any
JoJonta Oh yeah it was the "anime" for sure that probably placed it in his crosshairs lol
@@jojonta2119 of course he hasn't
@BitterOrange yes its a bit unfair of me to say he hasn't but its not hard to see he has a hard bias against anything anime (which is ironic since smt is anime)
Respect for liking mother 3 even tho you don't fw RPGs like that
And then they did fuck that game up...
To me the way how the series shows differently than other Jrpg games is compare SMT 1 intro to others at it's time.
You might get a upbeat intro or something along the lines but then comes smt 1 ominous intro...
Plus you punch god in the face multiple times in the series...
Actually scratch that your punching every demon of any mythology!
Lol at " SMT is a whole lot more than killing your friends and punching God in the face " . Sooooo so very true, bruh!
Nocturne is one of the gnarliest games I've ever played. The music, the art style, just the general vibe and aesthetic, all come together into an absolutely brilliant game. I play it often on PCSX2. Can't wait to get the PS4 remaster.
Great video. Totally agree. I hope more people get to experience this beautiful series.
Next year Megaten will be 35 years old.....
broke: 911 never forget
woke: *BRO MEGAMI TENSEI ANNIVERSaRY*
The P5 fanbase was an inside job
P5 fans getting ready to send
send calling cards to the people who did 9/11
i just love smt y’feel me? i just really love fusing those crazy monsters y’feel me? love the cookie wacky alliances y’feel me?
Facts I love shin megoomy tensai bro y’feel me?
I randomly watched your channel today. Now I get this treat. Powerful
“Soul Havkers is low key the greatest game ever made” OMG YES I freaking LOVE soul hackers
I was so happy to hear soul hackers getting appreciated like that :) its my favorite megaten but it gets so little attention.
@@diegoreyes5019 it’s such an amazing game
Simply loving Megami Tensei
I love you.
I like this review. I never played this series, but now I want to get into it
I gave a like mostly because of the music showcase. PSX Persona 1's music especially has a sense of atmosphere to each location and moment in the game and they're just really great to listen to on their own (RIP Hidehito Aoki). Some other soundtracks that I feel similarly about are Soul Hackers, Devil Summoner 1, the P2 Duology, the DDS duology, SMT3, and SMT 4. Also, thank you for showing how great Majin Tensei's music is! I might have to listen to it afterwards. Other than that, great video.
Yoo deadass, Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door is one of the greatest games of all time no cap! All of the stuff you said about it made me realize how legendary that game was. It was one of the only games that once you beat (for me atleast) you immediately want to replay it. Like the only other game to do that for me was prob Kingdom Hearts 2 or something lol. Pmtyd so goddamn wholesome
This video should be renamed to "Why I love Megami Tensei".
Ugh I'm so back and forth with these videos. When you like something, I think you have a great way of putting your feelings into words, but when you don't like something its so annoying i almost can't listen to it.
Before anyone says im accusing you of being an elitist, SMT is my favorite series of all time. I know how good these games are. I also love other RPGs, its my favorite overall genre. Lumping them all together just cause they have an anime art style is just ridiculous.
And im totally fine with people not liking the things i like, but the way you word things just makes it sound so pretentious and snobby that for me it taints an otherwise great video. And it doesn't have to be like that. Like, its fine to just say this works for me and this doesn't without being so abrasive. It really adds nothing to the video in my opinion.
That is just my opinion though, if it makes you happy and its working out for you, then totally go for it.
Great video man 👍 I adore the megami series. I'm SO GLAD YOU COVERED THE SOUNDTRACKS! I always keep the ost for SMT IF, soul hackers & persona 2 on my phone for when I'm just craving some bangers. Love this vid man 🙋🏻♀️
based dad drops a vid
I'd love to pick your brain. My first memorable jrpg experience was persona 1 for the ps1, the super poorly translated one that I had no idea about because to thus day I just fell a sense of magic every time I pick it up
Positive dad = best daddy
Aye yo
Megaten is such a special fuckin' series to me, man. This video just reminds me how damn much I adore it. Cheers, Dad.
Repping SMT 4 till the day I die
Your hatred for P3 will NEVER be greater than my hatred for P4
Damn
@@ericlandan5729 what? I'm being realistic
Whenever I watch one of your videos I feel the amount of passion you put in them and how much you love the series, and that makes me genuinely happy. Happy Megaten Day ❤
Im a simple man i see demi fiend raidou and joker in the same picture i click
Devil Survivor and Persona 3 are the best ones
Dad's gonna kill you with his SMT elitist-Gatekeeper pawah
devil survivor and persona 3 arent even smt, lol
@@user-zu3wq3lf3h this video had more than just mainline in it though
@@user-zu3wq3lf3h Well, this video is about all Mega-ten franchise
@Holy Emperor Souther Understandable. Have a nice day
"Paper mario the thousand year door is a good game"
Every 60 seconds in africa a minute passes
Xenoblade is still the king for me. I’m someone who doesn’t like JRPGs almost ever, cause almost all the stories are either far more shallow than most people make them out to be, they’re the opposite of enjoyable to play, or both. Xenoblade is one of those few exceptions where you get fun combat, masterclass ost, and a top tier story that breaks and subverts the usual anime or jrpg cliches. These games are good and all, but Xenoblade is one of those few jrpgs that manages to tell a philosophical story well. Can’t wait for the 3rd one to come out in a few months
Hope you’ll make a video on Strange Journey at some point my guy
great video bro. really appreciate how much you focused on the music and that you included 2d field
Oh shit you added nemesis tower too. fuck yeah
What? Never heard of Shan Megumin Tinsai.
Sounds like chinese mmorpg
I’m genuinely surprised this only has 30k views...
Been meaning to try out the "Trails of" series for the longest time. No one ever shuts up about how good they are, and if Simply Dad hates it, it's probably lit. Any recommendations on where I should start?
Trails is absolutely amazing! The best starting points are either Trails in the Sky first Chapter or Trails of Cold Steel. Trails in the Sky First Chapter is considered the best starting point however it may be a bit hard to get into as it is a bit old and some people don't like the slow start, however it is still a great RPG. Trails of Cold Steel(The one shown in the video) is also a great starting point. It's a lot more modern and it's similar to persona if you happen to be a persona fan. Honestly I started with Cold Steel and had a blast. Feel free to ask me if you have more questions!
@@k.s854 Well, I'm just about done with SMT if.. and I love it despite it being pretty dated. Old or archaic mechanics definitely won't bother or stop me. So Trails in the Sky it is! One more question, is there a definitive version? Like should I play the PSP or Steam version, or does it really matter at all?
@@cornmuffin7686 The steam version is the best place to get Trails in the Sky. It has turbo mode( allows you to speed up the the animations which is amazing considering that the battle animations are slow) and is considered as the definitive edition. Also Trails in the sky isn't too archaic in terms of game play I'd say it still holds up pretty well. The story starts off kind of slow but if you give it some time if turns into a epic tale with incredible world building and well developed characters. In case you didn't know Trails in the Sky is a Trilogy but for now I'd suggest trying the first game and see if the series is for you. Have fun!
@@k.s854 Great..it sounds right up my alley. I'm definitely going to give it a go within the next day or two. Thanks for the taking the time out to help. Take care.
@Corn Muffin No problem. It makes me happy to see people give this series a chance. What I really love about this series is that since every game is connected, the series really has a chance to flesh out it's world. Events that happen in one country/arc affect the countries/arcs you visit in the next set of games. and It's really awesome to see characters from past arcs appear even in the newest games. You take care as well! (I'll also write the proper play order in case you decide to continue playing the series)
1.Trails in the Sky First Chapter
2.Trails in the Sky Second Chapter
3.Trails in the Sky The Third
4. Trails From Zero
5. Trails To Azure
(Trails From Zero and Azure weren't localized however a great Fan translation by the Geofront exists. More info on how to get the games are on their website. Zero has been translated by the Geofront but Azure is still being worked on. There still is another translation for Azure it’s perfectly playable but when The Geofronts patch come out it’s expected to be better than the current translation.)
6. Trails of Cold Steel
7.Trails of Cold Steel 2
8.Trails of Cold Steel 3
9.Trails of Cold Steel 4
10. Hajimari no Kiseki ( will probably be localized soon)
It scares me that some guy out there literally bought smt nocturne for the sole reason of the game having dante from the devil may cry series
i enjoy role playing game featuring collectible demons taking place in tokyo
"Don't fuck this game up"
i hope they listen to you on that one i have been waiting for SMTV for so long.
So, the music. okay. got it.
You know something else happened on this day a while back but I can’t seem to remember it.
i cant believe SMT created Tokyo