Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

 3DS
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Sep 20, 2016
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 341 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 187 out of 341
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 341
  3. Negative: 139 out of 341
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  1. midipon
    Jan 20, 2017
    4
    The writing is absolutely terrible, the gameplay is an improvement, but the narrative is just flat out stupid. Apocalypse basically goes out of its way to push along with a Firnedship is Magic narrative while also pretending to give players choices that mean anything. Any time you take the 'mean guy' choice because a character is just being annoying or whatever, the dialogue flow stuttersThe writing is absolutely terrible, the gameplay is an improvement, but the narrative is just flat out stupid. Apocalypse basically goes out of its way to push along with a Firnedship is Magic narrative while also pretending to give players choices that mean anything. Any time you take the 'mean guy' choice because a character is just being annoying or whatever, the dialogue flow stutters for only a second before it goes to acting like what just happened did not in fact happen. You can be completely mean the entire game and everybody will be surprised in the end when you pick Dagda's ending. The dungeons are okay, lots of boring rehashes of locations in SMTIV, and the last dungeon will make you curse the game for not having a way of knowing where warps will take you.

    All in all I don't think it's that great of an experience. The gameplay is only a bit better than SMTIV, and the story is a *lot* worse. Worse, I think, is if you played the two games in succession then SMTIVA would confuse you with retcons and changes while also boring you with the same dungeons and locations.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best 3DS Game of 2016
15
#15 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2016
11
#11 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. GameGrin
    Jul 5, 2017
    85
    For fans of the series and newcomers alike, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is a quintessential JRPG experience, and one that only has some very minor issues.
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  2. Vooks
    Apr 8, 2017
    80
    Apocalypse is very much a more-of-the-same sort of sequel, but when the first instalment was already pretty solid, all you can really do is a few touch ups and a new story. Definitely check it out if you played and enjoyed Shin Megami Tensei IV- I’d have a hard time recommending it to anybody else without the context provided by the first game. Having said that, if you haven’t played the first one, go do that! It’s usually cheap on the eShop, and you already know there’s a fairly expansive universe around just the SMT IV story now.
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  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Mar 1, 2017
    84
    Shin Megami Tensei is like Pokemon for a more mature audience. You’ll still be capturing monsters, breeding them and using them in fights – but characters will talk about life and death, freedom and obedience. Another important thing is that you’ll be able to draw your own conclusions and make your own choices with consequences, which are sometimes so severe that you’ll want to replay the entire chapter. [Issue#217, p.72]
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