Shin Megami Tensei IV

 3DS
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Jul 16, 2013
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 626 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 434 out of 626
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 626
  3. Negative: 158 out of 626
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  1. midipon
    Nov 19, 2014
    9
    This is no doubt one of the very best 3DS games. The music, the visuals, the battles, and everything else are all incredibly well done. This is a game that really shows off what it's system can do and what can make or break a JRPG. My only complaint is that the story could be put together better. You won't be able to put it all together in one playthrough, you have to play through it toThis is no doubt one of the very best 3DS games. The music, the visuals, the battles, and everything else are all incredibly well done. This is a game that really shows off what it's system can do and what can make or break a JRPG. My only complaint is that the story could be put together better. You won't be able to put it all together in one playthrough, you have to play through it to get the different endings to see what all was going on during the overall plot.… Expand
  2. Carlitoxic
    May 15, 2015
    10
    Shin Megami Tensei IV is a greatifull surprise like one of the best RPG of the year. Very interesting and darkness story and characters, great combat system and beautiful graphics and designs. I see this game like the most favourite of the Nintendo 3DS. First Persona 4, now SMT IV, I can say that I discover one treasure in Atlus games.
  3. GoombaJMR
    Jul 4, 2015
    9
    Multiple endings, a load of quests to do, and a very.... very lengthy campaign through a variety of locations marks this one of the biggest games to hit the 3DS... ever. I've played through the game twice, putting 75 hours or so and finishing the Chaos and Law endings. The battle system is simple yet complex, easy but hard to get good at, and the demons are just awesome. There are so manyMultiple endings, a load of quests to do, and a very.... very lengthy campaign through a variety of locations marks this one of the biggest games to hit the 3DS... ever. I've played through the game twice, putting 75 hours or so and finishing the Chaos and Law endings. The battle system is simple yet complex, easy but hard to get good at, and the demons are just awesome. There are so many demons in this game that it makes your own group very custom and unique feeling. The replay value is pretty high in this game, assuming you don't take the neutral route and finish all quests on that route. The music is superb, and the art is nice to look at - although 3D models found in Etrian Odyssey IV would have been nice. I found the characters to be wonderful (compared to what the critics say) and felt like an emotional anchor to me as the events folded later on. Buy this game.

    Gameplay: 9.5/10
    Story: 8.5/10
    Music: 9.5/10
    Presentation: 9.5/10
    Length: 9/10
    Overall: 9/10    … Expand
  4. TheDavyStar
    Dec 31, 2015
    10
    For the first few hours, Shin Megami Tensei IV is a slog, a total disservice to the fans it has gained since Nocturne. It's been stripped of Nocturne's 3D cutscenes and battles, and you can only help but feel as though corners have been cut elsewhere. Its modest budget is painfully obvious.

    Ten hours in, you find yourself exploring a whole new world residing underground and marvel at    For the first few hours, Shin Megami Tensei IV is a slog, a total disservice to the fans it has gained since Nocturne. It's been stripped of Nocturne's 3D cutscenes and battles, and you can only help but feel as though corners have been cut elsewhere. Its modest budget is painfully obvious.

    Ten hours in, you find yourself exploring a whole new world residing underground and marvel at its style, substance and populace.

    Twenty hours in, you're searching for a masked killer while acting the mediator in a gang war over a land forsaken by God.

    Thirty hours in, it's the best mainline MegaTen game yet, with its integration of an interface that's totally at home on 3DS, and how it crosses out everything you hated about RPGs before - the infuriatingly rigid save points for one, as SMT IV lets you save anywhere you like.

    Forty hours in, it's the best handheld JRPG of all time.    … Expand
  5. Tallflipkick
    Jul 21, 2020
    10
    The game so far is amazing and really has a great story and characters. The fusions are easier and the apps system is also good
  6. ShefardAlex
    Jul 9, 2020
    8
    SMT IV does not claim to be the best game on the platform, in a series or genre, but at the same time attracts precisely with its dissimilarity. "Megaten" did not get rid of all atavisms, but was able to radically change, giving a good reason to get acquainted with this amazing universe.
  7. cukertarlson
    Jan 24, 2021
    10
    walter is very thicc naice ass 10/10 best game ever ligma balls pee pee doodie im tucker calrason.
  8. warofexodus
    Jul 17, 2013
    9
    A pretty good game. Surprisingly good graphics. Was a bit worried of the fps styled battle system, but I actually find the battles rather good and wasn't as bad as I thought. The spell effects is nice and challenging enough to keep you at your toes, with these 2 strong points, the fps battles are negligible (was never a fan of fps RPG battles...I wished it was fully modeled but it's not asA pretty good game. Surprisingly good graphics. Was a bit worried of the fps styled battle system, but I actually find the battles rather good and wasn't as bad as I thought. The spell effects is nice and challenging enough to keep you at your toes, with these 2 strong points, the fps battles are negligible (was never a fan of fps RPG battles...I wished it was fully modeled but it's not as boring in this game). Interesting and dark story line. For those who pre-ordered the collector edition, you will be given a walkthrough as well. This walk through helps out immensely as it also points out enemy weaknesses. Hard to imagine how many times I will be getting wiped if not for the walkthrough.… Expand
  9. demonicbrew
    Jul 16, 2013
    9
    This is one of the best 3ds games out right now. If you are looking for a great rpg then look no further than this game. I got the special edition which came with a guide and a cd which was well worth the extra Ten dollars. If you are new to the series no worries this is a new story for the series. do your self a favor and buy this one.
  10. dark001001
    Jul 17, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm a big fan of Shin Megami Tensei series and I think SMT 4 is awesome .Though the dungeon map looks a little simple and crude .The demons are good as always and the control are comfortable .So I give 10 for it … Expand
  11. TIGER-COOL
    Jul 19, 2013
    10
    I've had this game for a couple of days when I saved I was absolutely amazed to see my playtime has already clocked in at about 11 hours. I can't remember the last time I was this absorbed in a game. The fighting system is one of the most enjoyable, in depth, and intricate I've come across in some time. It's getting knocked big time by some reviewers for the somewhat weak story. It isn'tI've had this game for a couple of days when I saved I was absolutely amazed to see my playtime has already clocked in at about 11 hours. I can't remember the last time I was this absorbed in a game. The fighting system is one of the most enjoyable, in depth, and intricate I've come across in some time. It's getting knocked big time by some reviewers for the somewhat weak story. It isn't terrible, just fairly minimalist. It's a portable game, so keep that in perspective. In any case, if I'm having this much fun playing a game, it's doing its job. Trust me, if you have a 3DS and you're up for a challenge, you want this.… Expand
  12. MarcosDead
    May 26, 2015
    10
    I honestly don't see why this game isn't rated higher, it is one of the best games I have played from Atlus. The story is interesting, and it pushes people to think about what they're doing and how they would handle such a situation and the questions they're answering. I adore this game, It brings back fond memories of Nocturne and the Digital Devil games. I adore the battle concepts (TheI honestly don't see why this game isn't rated higher, it is one of the best games I have played from Atlus. The story is interesting, and it pushes people to think about what they're doing and how they would handle such a situation and the questions they're answering. I adore this game, It brings back fond memories of Nocturne and the Digital Devil games. I adore the battle concepts (The free ability to move around, unlike in previous titles offered by Atlus for the 3DS, which ultimately hinder the overall gameplay experience). I hope that the next time they make a game for the 3DS they look at what they did for this one, I honestly regretted many of the decisions I had to make, and loved all the opportunities to talk to different people throughout the game. It also wasn't completely linear, which I came to enjoy, one got to decide on different things to do, instead of just one ultimate goal. I absolutely adored this game.… Expand
  13. bansheespartan
    Jul 21, 2013
    10
    Amazing 4th installment of the SMT series. Kinda upset to see such strange comparisons and laughable ones as well such as; "This game is the Dark Souls of Persona" or "this isn't a waifu simulator I'm disapointed." What makes this game shine is it's dark vibe, intense difficulty, old school dungeon crawling, fantastic graphics and beautiful sprites, a fantastic soundtrack, as well as anAmazing 4th installment of the SMT series. Kinda upset to see such strange comparisons and laughable ones as well such as; "This game is the Dark Souls of Persona" or "this isn't a waifu simulator I'm disapointed." What makes this game shine is it's dark vibe, intense difficulty, old school dungeon crawling, fantastic graphics and beautiful sprites, a fantastic soundtrack, as well as an engrossing surreal apocalyptic story.

    I highly recommend this game to anyone who is a fan of old school JRPG's or anyone who is up for a challenge in general.

    Graphics: 8/10 great spritework and excellent third person exploring. More sprite animation would be nice though.

    gameplay: 10/10 old school JRPG goodness

    audio: 9/10 fantastic soundtrack, and great voice acting.

    lasting appeal: 10/10 seriously I see myself losing at least over a hundred hours to this game just trying to unlock everything.

    Do yourself a favor and buy this game.    … Expand
  14. VincentStoker
    Feb 9, 2015
    10
    This is without doubt one of the shining moments for the 3DS. This game is very well presented and crafted by a team who really do know what they are doing. Anyone familiar with the Persona games will be right at home here as a number of the spells and Demons are found here. SMT4 has a wonderful level of detail and presentation. I have seen a number of professional reviews state that theThis is without doubt one of the shining moments for the 3DS. This game is very well presented and crafted by a team who really do know what they are doing. Anyone familiar with the Persona games will be right at home here as a number of the spells and Demons are found here. SMT4 has a wonderful level of detail and presentation. I have seen a number of professional reviews state that the game suffers from shoddy characters and writing but I am just over 20 hours in at the time of writing this and I am loving the story and diverse mix if characters, yes some of them are the stereotypical characters you expect in this kind of RPG but that really is not a bad thing. The difficulty curve in this game is consistently steady and providing you save frequently you should have no problems, just allow a little extra "grinding" from time to time rather than heading from quest to quest. Overall, I can't fault this game. It's worth owning a 3DS for this and a couple of other titles as you will get a large amount of play time from this title.… Expand
  15. BFP
    Jul 26, 2013
    9
    Oh... my... gawd... where can I get more of this?!
    Granted, I haven't been a fan of the SMT meta-series for very long (just really discovered it in the last couple of years), but I can say that I absolutely LOVE this game. Even while it smashes me over the head with its old-school difficulty. It hates because it loves, as far as I'm concerned.
    Visuals are top-notch, both in the 2D and    Oh... my... gawd... where can I get more of this?!
    Granted, I haven't been a fan of the SMT meta-series for very long (just really discovered it in the last couple of years), but I can say that I absolutely LOVE this game. Even while it smashes me over the head with its old-school difficulty. It hates because it loves, as far as I'm concerned.

    Visuals are top-notch, both in the 2D and the 3D departments; each demon has its own unique look, and the characters are distinct and vibrant. For the first time in the series there is voice acting (and quite a bit of it too!), and all of it is top-notch, as expected of Atlus if only the script weren't so bland in spots, but its mostly overcome by the emotion presented through the VA's. Finally, battles are fast-paced and frantic as hell; as mentioned, the Press Turn combat system is unforgiving, and even a small mistake or misstep can really screw you over, making this game feel -REALLY- apocalyptic.

    The only complaints I can fling at SMT4 is that it doesn't get off the ground fast enough it took me about 10 hours before I finally got into the main area of the game, but I did a lot of messing around as well. Newcomers will find themselves being pummeled from the very beginning with the game's unwavering difficulty most of which seems to be a case of "Nefarious RNG Gods". Everything about the Press Turn combat system comes down to finding the opponent's weaknesses and exploiting the living out of them; the game rewards those that find the weak spots, and punishes those that lag behind. Given that there's absolutely NO defense stat in this game, you can easily get party-wiped by a bad run, or worse yet, rotten luck.

    Still... the first couple of actual main story bosses are battles of attrition; if you don't know what you need to bring to each fight, you'll likely be sent home crying. Many, many times. Most likely you'll have to redo these battles multiple times before you squeak through. However, when you do break through you'll feel triumphant for a bit... right up until you realize the game is only just starting.

    SMT games have never been for the faint of heart, but the fourth entry in the flagship namesake series is all but a meatgrinder if you go in expecting a cakewalk and free drinks at the beginning. Simply put, there is no hand-holding; its an adventure for those that crave a real challenge. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.    … Expand
  16. tech101
    Jul 18, 2013
    10
    this is by no means an easy game. you will die often in the beginning till you can recruit a team of at least 3 demons. those that can get pass that part are in for a treat as this game had production value written all over it. demons look great and the story thus far is interesting to say the least. if you are new to jrpgs you might want to stay clear of this one as the learning curvethis is by no means an easy game. you will die often in the beginning till you can recruit a team of at least 3 demons. those that can get pass that part are in for a treat as this game had production value written all over it. demons look great and the story thus far is interesting to say the least. if you are new to jrpgs you might want to stay clear of this one as the learning curve is pretty high however the game does do a great jop of explaining everything.… Expand
  17. Misreckon
    Aug 31, 2013
    9
    The best RPG on the 3DS to date. When I beat the game, I clocked in at about 70 hours. That whole time I was impressed by the smooth battle system and pretty consistent challenge that the game offered.
    Yes, the characters were rather flat throughout, but the world built around them was deep and layered and I caught myself feeling real emotion in the story. Most games I play nowadays can't    The best RPG on the 3DS to date. When I beat the game, I clocked in at about 70 hours. That whole time I was impressed by the smooth battle system and pretty consistent challenge that the game offered.
    Yes, the characters were rather flat throughout, but the world built around them was deep and layered and I caught myself feeling real emotion in the story. Most games I play nowadays can't even make me laugh.
    Great game, definite buy. If you want a heavily-packed experience then you've come to the right place.    … Expand
  18. ironzombi
    Aug 15, 2017
    9
    Shin Megami Tensei 4 was my first introduction to the Megami Tensei world and boy what a ride it was. this is a JRPG through and through and is at its core a dungeon crawler although its presentation has a much grander location than just a bunch of dungeons, I was really able to get a feeling of traveling on a pretty monumental adventure although my biggest complaint for the game is theShin Megami Tensei 4 was my first introduction to the Megami Tensei world and boy what a ride it was. this is a JRPG through and through and is at its core a dungeon crawler although its presentation has a much grander location than just a bunch of dungeons, I was really able to get a feeling of traveling on a pretty monumental adventure although my biggest complaint for the game is the over-world map and navigating did get a bit confusing.
    I would have been tempted to give this a perfect 10/10, the soundtrack is outstanding, the turn-based combat very satisfying and the demon fusion has depth and I easily got hooked on fusing and leveling. SMT4 was one of the only games that when I finished it(Chaos) I started another playthrough straight away and once I had done the Law path I started another playthrough to get Neutral, the way the story unfolds was really well done and while some people criticize the supporting cast as being nothing more than placeholders for their relevant alignments, I felt the voice acting was great and the characters all come together to create a deep story that had me thinking about it well after I had finished playing. I hope to finish my neutral run soon but Im sure I will then have to do the Whites ending. I cant recommend this game enough it is easily one of the best games on the 3ds and one of the best RPG's period!    … Expand
  19. Lyxnn
    Nov 16, 2018
    10
    El mejor juego de 3ds de lejos, de verdad, tanto la historia, como la ambientación, como los personajes y sobre todo el gameplay, todo el mundo debería de jugar a SMT
  20. Royspaceghost
    Jul 21, 2013
    10
    At first, looking at videos and coverage from various websites, I was a little put off by the demon animations being that they look almost like gifs, but oh boy how wrong was I when I started playing it and in 3D. The backgrounds are totally tri dimensional, the world is perfectly designed, and it has this grim, dark vibe attached to it. The music is incredible, it gives this almost horrorAt first, looking at videos and coverage from various websites, I was a little put off by the demon animations being that they look almost like gifs, but oh boy how wrong was I when I started playing it and in 3D. The backgrounds are totally tri dimensional, the world is perfectly designed, and it has this grim, dark vibe attached to it. The music is incredible, it gives this almost horror like feeling with a retro touch to it (if you played previous old school SMT, you'll know what I mean). It also houses more than 400 demons, 400!! Which upscales the replayability of the title by a lot, not to mention the 4 endings, cheap priced DLC and almost 40-50 hours of gameplay already included. It is a must have for RPG fans, especially Megaten fans. I really can't stop playing it, go buy it NOW.… Expand
  21. Vault1o1
    Nov 9, 2013
    9
    As usual, MegaTen delivers on its promise of unrelenting demon collection and RPG action. This game isn't for everyone. Whiny people who can't handle a challenge will almost certainly shrivel away and go back to their Grand Theft Auto and CoD almost immediately, but then again, this game wasn't made for them (This comment is directed towards ragingmerifes, whose gaming profiles areAs usual, MegaTen delivers on its promise of unrelenting demon collection and RPG action. This game isn't for everyone. Whiny people who can't handle a challenge will almost certainly shrivel away and go back to their Grand Theft Auto and CoD almost immediately, but then again, this game wasn't made for them (This comment is directed towards ragingmerifes, whose gaming profiles are pathetic and opinions should not be taken seriously. A zero? What a moron). The 3DS has a lot of great role-playing games, and this one easily stands among the best of them. However, a certain degree of patience is required to progress. Rush into a new area and you could find yourself getting hosed in seconds flat. So, the learning curve is steep, but don't be scared. The graphics are great by handheld standards, the story is interesting, if a bit convoluted, and fusing demons is satisfying. Play this game.… Expand
  22. PaulSchmidt
    Apr 12, 2015
    9
    This was my first SMT, and i loved it. The plot is just amazing, with a deep philosophical background. This game made me see the world on another angle, it made me notice how we live in a dark world.
    Pros:
    *Incredibly deep plot, most amazing game i ever played *Good atmosphere *Boss battles are amazing *Good gameplay Cons: *After the first 10 hours it gets a bit boring *you'll find    This was my first SMT, and i loved it. The plot is just amazing, with a deep philosophical background. This game made me see the world on another angle, it made me notice how we live in a dark world.
    Pros:
    *Incredibly deep plot, most amazing game i ever played
    *Good atmosphere
    *Boss battles are amazing
    *Good gameplay
    Cons:
    *After the first 10 hours it gets a bit boring
    *you'll find yourself lost SO MANY **** TIMES
    *sometimes you need to explore large areas, and you'll need to suffer with thousands of demons chasing you    … Expand
  23. violentvito
    Jul 18, 2013
    7
    I am 7 hours into the game and I am still not sure what the point is. Are the demons making a come back? The characters on the other hand are very fun and lead the story along very nicely. The battle system is a bit complicated and feels over done, but once you get used to it you begin to enjoy it a lot. Capturing demons is horrible and the worst feature of the game, "stop stealing myI am 7 hours into the game and I am still not sure what the point is. Are the demons making a come back? The characters on the other hand are very fun and lead the story along very nicely. The battle system is a bit complicated and feels over done, but once you get used to it you begin to enjoy it a lot. Capturing demons is horrible and the worst feature of the game, "stop stealing my stuff demons!!" I am enjoying this game so far and it will hopefully continue to improve as I grow used to the SMT mechanics. I recommend giving this game a go if you can get it on sale as I did. $20 after the $30 rebate, already had Fire Emblem. I would not pay $50 for it though.… Expand
  24. birdman3
    Nov 6, 2013
    6
    There are comparisons out there between Pokemon and SMT. I can understand the comparisons to a certain degree, and as someone who had not played a SMT game before this one, I consider their similarities to be limited. In Pokemon, you recruit a team that you develop and strengthen, choosing your strengths and weaknesses explicitly. In SMT, you recruit demons, which you subsequently fuseThere are comparisons out there between Pokemon and SMT. I can understand the comparisons to a certain degree, and as someone who had not played a SMT game before this one, I consider their similarities to be limited. In Pokemon, you recruit a team that you develop and strengthen, choosing your strengths and weaknesses explicitly. In SMT, you recruit demons, which you subsequently fuse into other demons. There is no demon that you can keep with you from beginning to end- this game is not meant for that. As for strengths and weaknesses, you can take steps in this game to eliminate almost all weaknesses. What I mean is this: by the end of the game, all my demons were almost clone copies of each other. The most effective strategy involves trying to give as many of your demons as many different elemental attacks as possible so you can abuse the system to get as many attacks as you can. So I had multiple demons all with Cold, Fire, Lightning, etc.-based attacks so that they could be effective against any enemy. When I fused a cool demon, it was sad knowing that he would be useless in 3 levels and I would just fuse him into another demon, who may or may not resemble anything from a children’s toy to a geographic landmark. The evolutions that are available in the game are somewhat exciting, but they’re rare to find, and the evolutions don’t always make sense. The story in the game is fairly lackluster, and I really disliked having to navigate myself through Tokyo on my own. You have to remember where all the locations are, and even then- the quests have a way of not letting you know exactly where you need to be. I spent a good deal of time lost and having to look up guides online to see where I needed to go next. Overall, my experience with this game was fairly negative- the unique combat system was interesting, but it was also repetitive. Fusing demons was cool when you got cool demons, but most of the time the best demons were ridiculous-looking. I’d have been better off replaying Fire Emblem.… Expand
  25. MistyFalls
    Dec 13, 2013
    10
    This is one of the most engaging game I ever played. The game's plot is also greatly developed. I find myself confused on who to align with as I loved all the characters. But the area where this game shines the most is the demon collecting and fusion. Great game and for someone who hasn't played any Shin Megami Tensei game before, this game is totally a great game for the newbies as anThis is one of the most engaging game I ever played. The game's plot is also greatly developed. I find myself confused on who to align with as I loved all the characters. But the area where this game shines the most is the demon collecting and fusion. Great game and for someone who hasn't played any Shin Megami Tensei game before, this game is totally a great game for the newbies as an introductory game. The difficulty may overwhelm you but that's just a classic trademark of SMT games.… Expand
  26. Shinsou
    Aug 26, 2019
    10
    What path will you choose? A world of freedom but chaos ruled by the strong and demons? A peaceful but oppresive world of law ruled by God commands? A neutral but uncertain path trusting in humankind? None of them?

    This game is absolutely not for everyone but it should be played by everyone. It's a little hard to write a review with so much things to say because Shin Megami Tensei IV    What path will you choose? A world of freedom but chaos ruled by the strong and demons? A peaceful but oppresive world of law ruled by God commands? A neutral but uncertain path trusting in humankind? None of them?

    This game is absolutely not for everyone but it should be played by everyone. It's a little hard to write a review with so much things to say because Shin Megami Tensei IV not only turned into my favorite game in life but it was my initiation to one of the best videogame series I've ever played.

    Being as objective as a human can be. While some aspects are improvable, they're relatively insignificant compared to the good points. Everything touches the excellence.

    The plot is not only interesting and entertaining, but it's meaningful and deep, because Shin Megami Tensei games are more than only rpgs with a story to follow, they're more an introspective experience to live. Characters are there to teach you different points of view. Every decision you take it has to be thought following your own ideas, because all of them will take you to one route or another, and at the end you'll know yourself a little better. While this is a gimmick you can see in other games, the dark atmosphere and mystery of the SMT setting is unique.

    Gameplay-wise SMT4 is addictive, exploring dungeons and buildings in a complete 3d world trying to get advantage of the enemies by pressing the A button is just the beginning. Turn-based battle system has its own challenging but fair rules that forces you to pay attention to every move. More than once the game will defeat you, but with a good strategy and perseverance everything will go onward. The demon fusion functionality is easy to use but it'll take a lot of your time, nonetheless it'll be absolutely worthy. Finally, all you need to do is read, think carefully your answers when they ask you for them, be smart and always gain more power. Everything is about power, and the wisdom to use it.

    Graphics tops the 3DS capacities, and the music... the music rocks everytime. Because it's perfect for almost every situation and place.

    If you're interested on esotericism, occultism, sci-fi, demons,post-apocalyptic settings, human nature, or simply the experience of a very unique JRPG, Shin Megami Tensei IV is for you.    … Expand
  27. poker909
    Dec 5, 2013
    4
    Being a huge Shin Megami fan, I originally rated this title a 7 due to it's clunky PS1 style dungeon controls and shallower story than SMTIII. After some more time with this title I am dropping my score to a 4. The level design is horrible, you should not need to use a guide or walkthrough to get through a game, but there is never a clear path to the next goal, and random encounters areBeing a huge Shin Megami fan, I originally rated this title a 7 due to it's clunky PS1 style dungeon controls and shallower story than SMTIII. After some more time with this title I am dropping my score to a 4. The level design is horrible, you should not need to use a guide or walkthrough to get through a game, but there is never a clear path to the next goal, and random encounters are pretty much unavoidable. You can only have 1 active mission at a time, so a simple marker on the map would have made this a much easier experience. In the dungeons, you move with the analog stick, but if you want to go up or down a simple ramp or ladder, you have to use the D-pad, and then go through a confirmation screen, just to get a visible item on top of a box. Aside from the 3DS visuals, there is nothing about this game that feels like it came out in 2013. It's nice to see a new roster of demons, but many seem uninspired. The music is not even as good as previous SMT titles. The story is also pretty bland for the SMT universe. If you are a hardcore jrpg fan or smt fan, you will do what you need to get through this title, but it feels like a step backwards for the series, which is a shame.… Expand
  28. Ganondork
    Jul 24, 2013
    9
    SMT IV being my first entry into the MegaTen series (spinoffs included), I only expected a few superficial concepts: demon collecting, dark atmosphere, and teenage/young adult main characters. I hope this review can make others who are newcomers to the series think carefully about playing this game.I am about 20 hours into the game, and I feel like I have seen enough of it to write thisSMT IV being my first entry into the MegaTen series (spinoffs included), I only expected a few superficial concepts: demon collecting, dark atmosphere, and teenage/young adult main characters. I hope this review can make others who are newcomers to the series think carefully about playing this game.I am about 20 hours into the game, and I feel like I have seen enough of it to write this review. For those who are accustomed to this series, please be gentle as I am not an expert and am ignorant of many features.

    Gameplay:
    The gameplay is turn-based, but has a lot of depth which lends itself to the variety of strategies which one can utilize in any given battle. Each demon has its own elemental affinities and ailment affinities, as well as the ability to learn nearly any type of skill through demon fusion. Such skills can be "whispered" (more on that later) to your main character, giving him a great assortment to complement your demons. It also allows you to mix things up on the fly if you're having trouble against a boss. Smirks add a lot to the combat and can occur via critical hits (via the luck stat or using a skill which is super effective). As far as I know, these increase the damage next turn for that character and defend him/her from damage if the enemy attacks. You have four characters which comprise your "Party": the main character (you), and three demons of your choosing. You also have a "Stock" with which you can swap out members of your party. You can upgrade your Stock to increase the number of demons you can carry, but I am unsure of the limits. I have currently upgraded to 13 slots in my stock. The demons in your stock earn EXP, but at a slower rate than your party members. This is just one reason why demon fusion (discussed in features) is so critical. The main character can use items, varying from basic healing items to items which mimic full-blown attacks, which helps characters lacking in elemental attacks. Your demons are not capable of such a feat unless they learn a skill which allows them to use items. You can "pass" your turn to the next character in your party. This is useful for many reasons, the most basic being to avoid using an ineffective attack.

    When all is said and done, the most critical point of gameplay is perhaps conversing with demons. This allows you to bring them onto your team as allies. Sometimes they will steal your life, items, or MP, and won't even join your side. Other times, they will immediately join you after you have slayed their companions. You can even ask them for Macca (in-game currency) and earn additional XP for successful conversations.

    Finally, this is a game of exploration. Exploration occurs in third-person and you will often encounter demons who will immediately charge upon your approach. You can avoid these encounters with swift maneuvers, but often times the XP is more than worth the trouble avoiding them. You loot treasure chests and unlock new areas through exploration.

    Features (Menu-Based):
    1) Skill Whispering:
    This feature has been one of the most useful I've seen from any RPG: the ability to copy attacks from your demons. As previously mentioned, this gives the main character a wide array of skills to choose from and suits your needs for any situation. Each demon has a specific level at which they can whisper skills to you. Once you have learned the skill, other demons can whisper the same skill again to increase its potency and decrease its cost to use.
    2) Cathedral of Shadows
    One of my favorite features of the game. With it, you can do one of two things: demon fusion, or use the compendium. Demon fusion consists of choosing two or more demons and combining them to create another. Simple, right? Well, it's made simpler with the recommended fusions, but it is very in depth. Upon fusion, the parents provide skills to pass down to the product. This allows a huge amount of variety in the skillsets of the demon you're producing. Because you can keep fusing demons over and over again, you can get the exact skills you want on any given demon. The demon compendium allows you to acquire the demons you've aligned yourself with, something which I have used a few times after fusion to get back the parent demons.
    3) Character Customization
    Like other RPGs, you can outfit your main character with gear possessing elemental affinities and special properties. You can also specify which stats you want to specialize in after leveling up.
    4) Apps
    Apps are paid for by leveling up your character to earn App Points. You can spend these on passive buffs. Some of these include increasing your stock capacity, the ability to ask for Macca from demons, and increasing the stat points a demon earns upon leveling up. There are a TON of apps.

    I have never been so enthralled by a RPG. I've played my fair share, but this is the first where the gameplay truly grabs me. It is a deep and rewarding game, with beautiful presentation and a wealth of variety in strategy.    … Expand
  29. ericiidx
    Oct 14, 2013
    9
    If you can see past the inherent hardcore RPG tendencies, generally linear story, and glaring plot holes that start building only an hour or two in, this is a great game and one of the best on the 3DS.

    Pros: great graphical presentation in character and environmental art. Memorable soundtrack (very reminiscent of 90's sci-fi PC games). Voice acting (for the most part most minor    If you can see past the inherent hardcore RPG tendencies, generally linear story, and glaring plot holes that start building only an hour or two in, this is a great game and one of the best on the 3DS.

    Pros: great graphical presentation in character and environmental art. Memorable soundtrack (very reminiscent of 90's sci-fi PC games). Voice acting (for the most part most minor characters are laughable, such as the guy who charges you Macca to cross a bridge, and a young woman who is clearly voiced by a man). Hardcore gameplay, and the familiar SMT battle formula exploit the enemy's weakness, and don't get exploited yourself.

    Cons: navigation becomes a nightmare if you aren't intimately familiar with Tokyo. Most quests are breadcrumb-type quests that lack the breadcrumbs you're told to go somewhere, and rarely given any indication on how to get there. Some may find the old school battle presentation lacking, while others will find it charming (very similar to Devil Survivor; your party of demons is not visually represented on-screen, while enemies and attacks are lightly-animated sprites.) Finally (without giving too much away,) your party is thrust hundreds of years into the future, from a medieval kingdom into a post-apocalyptic Tokyo. Your party is hardly amazed, let alone confused at their surroundings and all of this new technology. It's something that bugged me for my entire time spent with this game; for example, they'll be intrigued by "strange food" served at Tokyo's various taverns, but have no problem operating elevators and watching surveillance videos on an HDTV monitor.    … Expand
  30. caffeine305
    Jul 25, 2013
    9
    The story is sufficiently enthrilling to keep you engaged and the mix of both monster recruiting and quest system makes the game to feel like an evil, more mature "Pocket Monster Hunter" game.

    The gameplay also winks on these two great franchises (Pokémon and MonHun), like scavenging for delivery items and finding which type of attack is super effective (and which is weak) against    The story is sufficiently enthrilling to keep you engaged and the mix of both monster recruiting and quest system makes the game to feel like an evil, more mature "Pocket Monster Hunter" game.

    The gameplay also winks on these two great franchises (Pokémon and MonHun), like scavenging for delivery items and finding which type of attack is super effective (and which is weak) against which demon, still the push turn system is (as long as I know) an inheritance from previous "New Goddess Reborn" games.

    The difficult level is rather high. Kinda reminded me of Dragon Quest 1 (Dragon Warrior in America) even demons 10 levels down from you can get you in some trouble if you're not careful.

    Overall, a great RPG and a must for fans of the genre.    … Expand
  31. DSouls_guy
    Oct 21, 2013
    10
    Once again another great Jrpg on Nintendo's AWESOME handheld. I just got done giving a great review to Pokemon X, but I decided to give Shin Megami Tensei IV also a my review. in a few short words all I can say is this game is also another winner in my book. I've been a huge SMT fan for awhile now, but so far I haven't seen many great jrpg's until this and just a few other titles. AtlusOnce again another great Jrpg on Nintendo's AWESOME handheld. I just got done giving a great review to Pokemon X, but I decided to give Shin Megami Tensei IV also a my review. in a few short words all I can say is this game is also another winner in my book. I've been a huge SMT fan for awhile now, but so far I haven't seen many great jrpg's until this and just a few other titles. Atlus Rocks it out again with a Stellar title.… Expand
  32. GoGoActionTeam
    Sep 4, 2013
    9
    Shin Megami Tensei games don't know how to be bad games to the people who are loyal to the franchise and genre. They are gods among games. This one was no exception. The game has that unique japanese manga fiction storyline and story telling that fans of JRPG's flock to and the pokemon meets final fantasy gameplay that everyone else devour. The graphics were great and the 3D really bringsShin Megami Tensei games don't know how to be bad games to the people who are loyal to the franchise and genre. They are gods among games. This one was no exception. The game has that unique japanese manga fiction storyline and story telling that fans of JRPG's flock to and the pokemon meets final fantasy gameplay that everyone else devour. The graphics were great and the 3D really brings it to life. One of the best things I found was how accessible this title is to gamers new to shin megami games. It not only comes with a paraphrased guide book, it manages to walk you through the game and its mechanics while not holding your hand the whole time and giving you the toddler treatment. They even added a lower difficulty option which is normally damned. I think its a great option for those who see the genre and want to get into it nice and easy.… Expand
  33. GTAFANBOY
    May 27, 2014
    6
    Being a European, I have not been able to play this game yet, and knowing Atlus, I never will, however, to avoid missing out I watched many YouTube clips of the game, and in my opinion it is one of the best Pokemon games yet, the game begins with you playing as an anime who has became a pokemon man, and the female protagonist of another Pokemon Strange Journey has started to turn everyoneBeing a European, I have not been able to play this game yet, and knowing Atlus, I never will, however, to avoid missing out I watched many YouTube clips of the game, and in my opinion it is one of the best Pokemon games yet, the game begins with you playing as an anime who has became a pokemon man, and the female protagonist of another Pokemon Strange Journey has started to turn everyone into Europeans, meaning you must stop female protagonist of Strange Journey from making more Europeans, because if you don't, Atlus will have to eventually release the game for PAL territories.

    The game has the good old Law and Chaos paths instead of the whiny Emo Reasons that the antagonists in the game had, apart from Hikawa, he was cool.
    The Chaos path has you side with the evil Europe fanbase as you set out to destroy the the NA region.
    The Law path however has you side with the NA and wipe Europe out, then everyone is happy and plays Persona 4 area.
    I decided to watch the Chaos ending myself.

    Not as good as Persona 2, that one had Hitler in it, other than that Chie is best girl and you're waifu sucks and Europe does not exist.
    I give it a six.    … Expand
  34. Xellos14
    Feb 16, 2014
    4
    This is a title in the series that doesn't feel like it made the jump to hand held well, considering SMT 3 (Nocturne) was on the ps2. It doesn't so much borrow game mechanics from other titles under the SMT banner as it does cobble them together into something vaguely similar. In a cruel ironic way, SMT Strange Journey feels more like SMT 4 than SMT 4 does. The controls are in desperateThis is a title in the series that doesn't feel like it made the jump to hand held well, considering SMT 3 (Nocturne) was on the ps2. It doesn't so much borrow game mechanics from other titles under the SMT banner as it does cobble them together into something vaguely similar. In a cruel ironic way, SMT Strange Journey feels more like SMT 4 than SMT 4 does. The controls are in desperate need of another analogue stick to direct the camera in the dungeons, and the high demon roster count that they tout so much is unapologetically padded from assets in prior games, with very little originality to call it's own. The in game currency feels pointlessly subversive, till I realized "buy the macca grinding DLC" was the primary help many FAQ sites offered. The game's atmosphere is said to be more "desolate" than prior games, but I don't buy that either when compared to SMT3. The long and short of it is SMT4 doesn't do SMT gameplay well. It feels like the game is a modified engine of other SMT spin-off titles like Devil Survivor, rather than the gameplay mechanics SMT core has to offer. I could only recommend the game to fans already invested in SMT titles. SMT 4 is not a game I would offer up to a newcomer to the genre, which is sad since the series deserves more coverage than it gets.… Expand
  35. Mogipoki
    Apr 18, 2017
    2
    Being a fan of Atlus games, and the Persona series I thought this could be pretty good. What interested me was the graphics and gameplay, and it was on sale for 20$ I didn't feel like I was making progress, I tried this horse sh*t for 10hours at level 10 I just gave up. I felt limited, and the story and characters didn't make this adventure any more enjoyable. The characters felt hollowBeing a fan of Atlus games, and the Persona series I thought this could be pretty good. What interested me was the graphics and gameplay, and it was on sale for 20$ I didn't feel like I was making progress, I tried this horse sh*t for 10hours at level 10 I just gave up. I felt limited, and the story and characters didn't make this adventure any more enjoyable. The characters felt hollow and the voice acting didn't make social interactions any better. This game isn't meant for everyone, and I found out the hard way. I found myself constantly reloading save games and shutting off my 3DS, because if I didn't I'd have to sit through a Massive gameover cutscene and have some of my money taken away...which is hard enough to get as it is. My final comment about this horrible waste of time, is if you're a masochist or just have so much freetime on your hands to grind to level 20 just to defeat a level 2 monster...be my guest and knock yourself out.… Expand
  36. Trey82
    Apr 14, 2020
    0
    This game is garbage.
    The graphics look nice. Until you get into a battle. The monster sprites are DS tier.
    The gameplay is terrible. And gets worse. Slow, ponderous, fmv-laden. The story is pure atlus. The story is terrible. Stop LYING good lord people are trying to find something GOOD to play and you atlus apologists are just lapping up everything they throw out there and the rest    This game is garbage.
    The graphics look nice. Until you get into a battle. The monster sprites are DS tier.
    The gameplay is terrible. And gets worse. Slow, ponderous, fmv-laden.
    The story is pure atlus. The story is terrible.

    Stop LYING good lord people are trying to find something GOOD to play and you atlus apologists are just lapping up everything they throw out there and the rest of us are scratching our heads and wondering why you think a game that is literally unplayable (play the game without savescumming or turning the difficulty down. No? THEN ITS UNPLAYABLE)
    I can hear the reddit subs collectively whine about it: "I played it on mega brutal difficulty and it was easy. Just buff and debuff and exploit weaknesses, duh. You should know FULL WELL that this demon that looks like a puddle is weak to electric and piercing. DUH!)
    If you are new to the series and like dying in the first 5 minutes, this is the game for you. If you grind until you dont die every battle, the bosses will tell you how much a waste of time this game is.
    Grinding 2 hours in normal, sane games: You get equal to, or OP to the normal mobs.
    Grinding 4 hours in SMT4: You still have to babysit your group. EVERY single battle. Normal attacks are a lie. You have to exploit weaknesses EVERY time.
    The AI is just awful. They pair you up with an AI basically set to 'whack on the enemy no matter what'
    The missions are terrible. The confirmation after everything is terrible. I cant fully tell you how much you need to avoid this game.
    I'm sure the audio portion is good, like most SMT/Persona types. But I dont play the 3ds loud enough to enjoy that part, or play longer than it takes to hit a game over. I refuse to save scum broken games.    … Expand
  37. Zerilos
    Jul 27, 2013
    10
    I can't even being to explain how much I love this game! I bought the 3DS XL just for this game (also got Fire Emblem which I haven't even started yet). Even though I consider the 3DS a pile of dung (OMG the battery life is stupid bad); regardless, it was worth every dime just to play this game! If you like Nocturne or any of the SMT games...then this is a must have. Can't stop playing.I can't even being to explain how much I love this game! I bought the 3DS XL just for this game (also got Fire Emblem which I haven't even started yet). Even though I consider the 3DS a pile of dung (OMG the battery life is stupid bad); regardless, it was worth every dime just to play this game! If you like Nocturne or any of the SMT games...then this is a must have. Can't stop playing.

    Warning: it is very difficult at first, but gets way easier when you get going...don't give up.    … Expand
  38. Gilgamesh
    Aug 16, 2013
    10
    The value in this game is impressive. If you like RPG games, your 3ds, and thought Fire Emblem was good (compared to this it's boring) you should go buy this.
  39. erosfortones
    Jul 30, 2013
    8
    Shin Megami Tesnei IV is a deep game held back by its flat characters and a story that isn't all that great. Where SMT really stands out is in it gameplay and setting; The demon fusing is as deep as ever. It's a very addicting game where it does have its tedious moments and isn't nearly as hard as some people make it out to be. While the story isn't all that great I found myself enjoyingShin Megami Tesnei IV is a deep game held back by its flat characters and a story that isn't all that great. Where SMT really stands out is in it gameplay and setting; The demon fusing is as deep as ever. It's a very addicting game where it does have its tedious moments and isn't nearly as hard as some people make it out to be. While the story isn't all that great I found myself enjoying it nevertheless, there's a couple plot twists that really make up for the lack of narrative. It's a deep game, that I found myself asking "Is this really on a handheld?" on a consistent basis. It's a must for any JRPG fan.… Expand
  40. konsole
    Jul 30, 2013
    10
    I have played this game for nearly 50 hours. The game is somewhat repetitive and there are some annoying parts of the game, like the way enemies rush at you while you are trying to read a map that is not available in a paused state. This is my favorite game available on the 3DS platform at this time. This is a huge upgrade over Strange Journey, and (from what I have been told) there areI have played this game for nearly 50 hours. The game is somewhat repetitive and there are some annoying parts of the game, like the way enemies rush at you while you are trying to read a map that is not available in a paused state. This is my favorite game available on the 3DS platform at this time. This is a huge upgrade over Strange Journey, and (from what I have been told) there are significant refinements since Nocturne that have stream-lined gameplay for the better. All I know is that this game is super-addictive. I did not finish Strange Journey (or any other SMT game), but I am looking forward to completing this and probably more than once for the multiple endings. Behold, my demons!… Expand
  41. ZackKarpel
    Aug 6, 2013
    10
    cant say anything bad about a game this good! I absolutely loved it! loved it! it was fun and engrossing. i still cant put my stylus down without thinking- hm i hope Charon isn't going to overcharge me again! haha.
  42. buleaaah
    Aug 7, 2013
    10
    Worth every money I spent in this game, its very addictive, long time game play, and whats important its replayable. I got the limited edition and the book very good. This a must have game for every RPG lover.
  43. Dynel
    Jul 25, 2014
    6
    Only for fans. That's the sad truth of this game. And even then, only Hardcore Fans will find this game suitable to their tastes. As it is quite difficult to do anything. Earn money, "macca" is so difficult that you need the DLC to grind money, and even then, it's not a mission that can be done early in the game, you have to advance quite a bit to be able to beat the enemies that drop theOnly for fans. That's the sad truth of this game. And even then, only Hardcore Fans will find this game suitable to their tastes. As it is quite difficult to do anything. Earn money, "macca" is so difficult that you need the DLC to grind money, and even then, it's not a mission that can be done early in the game, you have to advance quite a bit to be able to beat the enemies that drop the items to sell.

    leveling up is also difficult, and there's DLC for it as well. And for app points as well. Seems like you can circumvent the difficulty of the game after you play for well over 10 hours. Leveling to 10 or 20 isn't easy. As even level 1 demons can kill your level 14 special fusion demon. Kind of ... weird, considering it is an RPG where being high level should yield more damage against low level enemies and the low level enemies doing less damage to you, which isn't true in this game.

    defeating an enemy 1 level ahead of you isn't going to give a lot of experience, as it should, it all depends on where in the cave you are. And you are told to grind for levels everywhere you can, which is kind of boring, after doing so more than 3 times in two floors apart from where you started.

    The above points will no doubt make new players of the series stop playing completely, as a single demon with multi strike can kill off the entire party, even at full health, if you are caught by surprise. Those points prove that only die hard fans or hardcore fans will stick with the game and finish it.    … Expand
  44. GSD
    Nov 10, 2021
    10
    why the hell does this have a 6.8. this is the best smt game though I haven't played V yet so idk but yeah this game is the awesome
  45. vodkaffee
    Dec 12, 2019
    8
    I love this game, and i know, i know megaten fans hate it because the story is not amazing, i know nocturne has a better story; but this is not nocturne, this is its own thing, and people don't give it credit for a lot of things they do so right, like the amount of secondary missions, and most of them are really good or entertaining or at least interesting, i can remember some sidequestsI love this game, and i know, i know megaten fans hate it because the story is not amazing, i know nocturne has a better story; but this is not nocturne, this is its own thing, and people don't give it credit for a lot of things they do so right, like the amount of secondary missions, and most of them are really good or entertaining or at least interesting, i can remember some sidequests more than the base story, which, is not bad, is not amazing, is good.
    I would give it a 9 if it didnt had important story parts on like 10 dlcs.
    The music is great, the battle mechanics are the bests of the series and the death functionality using game coins is brilliant, just brilliant.    … Expand
  46. Inphlamed
    Oct 18, 2018
    8
    This is from my review on /r/JRPG on reddit >> Well, i've finally finished this game after it being in my backlog of "to-complete" and I must say i'm extremely pleased with this game and i'm glad I reached the end, it was the Law ending and I may plan to go for the other endings and do New Game+ in the future as I heard it has some extra quests and story. Let me divulge in the detailsThis is from my review on /r/JRPG on reddit >> Well, i've finally finished this game after it being in my backlog of "to-complete" and I must say i'm extremely pleased with this game and i'm glad I reached the end, it was the Law ending and I may plan to go for the other endings and do New Game+ in the future as I heard it has some extra quests and story. Let me divulge in the details about this wonderful game.

    First things first learning curve, this game has a steep-ish learning curve just like with all the SMT games so be prepared for a lot of unnecessary deaths, raging and the most random of random RNG that make these games the ones we know and love. I have no shame in admitting I died a lot in this game, after a while I would save every 20-25 minutes when I realised you could save anywhere. I would say the game gets progressively easier when you have buffed up Demons and skills.

    Which brings me on to Gameplay. If you're familiar with SMT games then this game should feel familiar however it does have its fair few differences. You essentially have the main protagonist - Flynn, who has his own set of skills and equipments he can use physical attacks/gun attacks or the skills/magic that have been learned from demons can be transferred to him. You also have demons in your party which you must recruit from random battles. I'm not the biggest fan of the "Negotiation" system where you have to bargain with items, Macca (money), HP/MP and sometimes other demons lives in order for them to become your ally. Demons will ask you a bunch of questions usually nonsense, and if you give the favoured answers they will join you, if not, be prepared for hell. Especially in the beginning of the game where you're weak, i've been party wiped several times after failing negotiations as my demon had a weakness to the enemy's attacks. Battles are usually simple, find weakness > kill. The problem lies in finding that weakness before getting stomped. You can fuse demons together to make a more powerful demon.

    Music, I personally loved the music in this game and i'm not very easy to please in this regard. I loved the boss theme and certain other tracks like buying items and the Hunter's Association theme. Ryota Kozuka did an excellent job, the music had a kind of darkness attached to it. Which obviously suits the game very well. I do however wish they added different tracks for other parts of the overworld, considering how big it is.

    Story, in the beginning you are tasked with being a Samurai in the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado who must do certain tasks for the Abbey (kind of a religious/cult feeling) then you branch off in to Naraku for a while. The Abbey then requires you to go out and explore the world of Tokyo which is a vast and more interesting land than Mikado. The story is the type in which it gets progressively better and more interesting as time goes on, in the beginning everything felt slow and going through the motions until you reach Tokyo. This game has many twists and plot choices, again if you're familiar with SMT games this should be of no surprise to you. You can take a Lawful, Neutral or Chaotic path all of which will take you to different places and fight different bosses, I choose Lawful because i'm boring like that ;P

    Overall the game gets a 8.5/10 from me, this was my first SMT game in a long time (since P4 actually) and I really enjoyed it and I liked how the series has evolved. Now I realise this game is bloody old and that SMT IV: Apocalypse is available which I will definitely be checking it in the near future, but I really enjoyed this game in its entirety and wished to speak about it. The things that bugged me the most were the Tokyo world map which was kind of strange, you go in to a 2D world I wish it was more expansive imo. Some bosses were just too irrelevant to the story, as if they were just placed in to the story as a filler, kind of annoying, though I HIGHLY recommend this game to anyone.    … Expand
  47. Cflo
    Feb 8, 2019
    9
    A game with a great dividing story line, dark atmosphere, and great character development with positive and negative character arcs for some of the important characters in the game. If you are someone who loves a good story but have also been looking for something original and dark you should definitely throw some money to buying this game. Along with the points I made the game also has aA game with a great dividing story line, dark atmosphere, and great character development with positive and negative character arcs for some of the important characters in the game. If you are someone who loves a good story but have also been looking for something original and dark you should definitely throw some money to buying this game. Along with the points I made the game also has a great soundtrack, voice acting, multiple dialogue scenes, and character customization in the way of armor and weapons.… Expand
  48. frankzhang2046
    May 9, 2020
    8
    Make no mistake, this game can be VERY tedious and grindy at times. To make matters worse, the confusing world map, lack of indicators for objectives regarding quests make challenge quests a frustrating chore to go through. Not only that, the true ending is so convoluted it is impossible to obtain without referring to a guide.

    With that said, once you've set your mind to conquer the    Make no mistake, this game can be VERY tedious and grindy at times. To make matters worse, the confusing world map, lack of indicators for objectives regarding quests make challenge quests a frustrating chore to go through. Not only that, the true ending is so convoluted it is impossible to obtain without referring to a guide.

    With that said, once you've set your mind to conquer the said obstacles, it rewards you with deep and addictive gameplay mechanics, fascinating story and world view, and an immensely satisfying ending.

    I've sunk 80 hours into IV, now moving on to IV: apocalypse.    … Expand
  49. Detestedsea687
    Feb 13, 2020
    10
    Really fun game that is unforgiving in almost every way, no hand holding which makes the games experience even better and accomplishing. Great story and characters that keep you wanting more.
  50. TruthfulGamer67
    May 21, 2021
    9
    One of the best games on the 3ds a must-play/Own for any 3ds owner

    It's really hard it's really fun the OST is really good just play it for god's sake
  51. SMT_Enthusiast
    Nov 4, 2021
    10
    Shin Megami Tensei: IV is a masterpiece, from beginning to end.
    Best RPG on the 3DS system, maybe even best game period.
    -Interesting themes
    -Great setting and atmosphere
    -Excellent soundtrack
    -Great combat system

    SMT at its best, up there with Digital Devil Saga.
  52. Caseron
    Nov 25, 2021
    10
    One of the Best RPG on 3DS
    Music is fantastic 12/10
    Gameplay is addicting 10/10
    Really hope Eastern Kingdom of Mikado is fully 3D tough but Tokyo is Amazing
    But the overworld map need some improvements
  53. BasilZero
    Dec 30, 2020
    10
    Game: Shin Megami Tensei IV
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Atlus Publisher: Atlus System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS) Year of Release: 2013 Length of Playthrough: 63 Hours Total Score: 95/100 Value Score: 9.5/10 • Story: 9/10 • Characters: 9/10 • GamePlay: 10/10 • Graphics: 8/10 • Sound: 10/10 • Music: 10/10 • Length: 10/10 • Replay Value: 10/10 • Player Value: 9/10 Pros +High    Game: Shin Megami Tensei IV
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Atlus
    Publisher: Atlus
    System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
    Year of Release: 2013
    Length of Playthrough: 63 Hours

    Total Score: 95/100
    Value Score: 9.5/10

    • Story: 9/10
    • Characters: 9/10
    • GamePlay: 10/10
    • Graphics: 8/10
    • Sound: 10/10
    • Music: 10/10
    • Length: 10/10
    • Replay Value: 10/10
    • Player Value: 9/10

    Pros
    +High replay value such as New Game Plus and multiple Endings
    +Great story, cast of characters and gameplay
    +Great OST and voice acting
    +Choice of multiple difficulty modes
    +Great engaging and customizable gameplay

    Cons
    -Map areas can be confusing at times
    -High difficulty even for normal battles
    -Animated cutscenes are stills most of the time
    -Visuals look outdated compared to other games from the same universe (due to the system it was released on)

    ----

    Series wise score comparison sake

    Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS): 95
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 1 Portable (PSP): 88
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 2 Innocent Sin (PSP): 85
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 Portable (PSP): 95
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 4 (PS2): 97    … Expand
  54. Axlyss
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    Its a good game baseline SMT games have never been about the story but about philosophy. Each character is based on a philosophy which is why they never really change. Some choices are hard to make some things are not as the appear play the damn game. My only gripe is the characters do not react to certain things when its opposes his or hers alignment, Can't really get into to much detailIts a good game baseline SMT games have never been about the story but about philosophy. Each character is based on a philosophy which is why they never really change. Some choices are hard to make some things are not as the appear play the damn game. My only gripe is the characters do not react to certain things when its opposes his or hers alignment, Can't really get into to much detail without spoiling. .… Expand
  55. guiletheguiles
    Mar 18, 2021
    7
    While definitely not perfect, Shin Megami Tensei IV is probably one of the most addictive jrpgs I've ever played.

    The art style alone made me immerse myself into this bleak world of demons and play the game for about 60 hours. Chracters might not be well developed, but they're unquestionably well-designed. The same can be said about the demons, but on a much bigger scale. Each demon is    While definitely not perfect, Shin Megami Tensei IV is probably one of the most addictive jrpgs I've ever played.

    The art style alone made me immerse myself into this bleak world of demons and play the game for about 60 hours. Chracters might not be well developed, but they're unquestionably well-designed. The same can be said about the demons, but on a much bigger scale. Each demon is unique and intriguing enough so you'll never get enough of collecting and fusing them. I've wasted countless hours checking their stats, playing with the fusion network, reading their descriptions. I couldn't get tired of it.
    One other thing that kept me glued to the game was the combat. The famous SMT press turn system is incredible. Finding enemies' weaknesses feels rewarding as hell and making sure that your character and demons are well-protected and well-prepared doesn't feel at all like a chore, it's actually entertaining. Part of why the battles work so well is likely due to how fast-paced, fun and challenging they are.
    As for the story, well... It's good. Its semi-minimalistic approach does handle well the ending for each route. It's just not AMAZING. But it does carry an intense and dense atmosphere, touching on some interesting themes and expanding the post-apocalyptic world more and more as it progresses. It's just sad that main and supporting characters are somewhat forgettable.

    As for the icing on the cake, it has to be the soundtrack. It's simply nostalgic and astonishing. Completely matching the game's mood, hyping some exciting (or gloomy) moments and providing some bonafide tracks. If Shin Megami Tensei IV were an album only, no game included, I'd still love it.

    But SMTIV isn't without its shortcomings. I've encountered BIG issues here.

    First and foremost: Every map in this game sucks!
    Traversing through Tokyo is the worst part in the game. The overworld map is weird, slow confusing and extremely unintuitive. The same goes for the dungeons. They're repetitive, wonky and lazy. Thank god for the art direction, because the environments and directions presented are horrible. The entire game, no matter which route you choose, screams AIMLESS. And that's a huge problem! It's such a huge design flaw that it ended up hindering a chunk of my experience with the story and my progression, in general.
    Another extreme nuisance for me was the negotiation system. Again: Aimless!
    It's purely luck-based and let me tell you that luck isn't at your side at all in this game. One pure example for this is the vastly exaggerated difficulty right at beginning. It's brutal! And yes, it does get easier after you take down the Minotaur, but why the **** make the TUTORIAL area so unbearable? Makes no sense...
    The last problem lies in the Challenge Quests. They're just... boring. While some of the challenges actually matter, most of them are useless and unrewarding. And if you're somehow stuck in the neutral route, boy... Good luck getting the 1st place in the hunter board. It's a slog!

    All in all, Shin Megami Tensei IV is an underrated gem on the 3DS. An addictive experience, with an interesting story and an amazing battle system.
    The game's mistakes are undeniably ruthless and irritating, but if you manage to get through them, you'll find a very good jrpg to play for a long while.    … Expand
  56. bonkturbo
    Mar 8, 2019
    9
    The game is awesome. A starter tip, get your agility up so you can out run those damn blue digi-demons.
  57. ParkerI
    Jun 28, 2016
    7
    At about 15 hours into this game, I'm not sure if its worth continuing. The visuals and the atmosphere of this game are nailed perfectly. The combat system is simple turn based RPG fair which I expected going into it. However, its too much rock paper scissors with very little strategy involved. The real challenge in this game is keeping your Demons alive with the over powered encountersAt about 15 hours into this game, I'm not sure if its worth continuing. The visuals and the atmosphere of this game are nailed perfectly. The combat system is simple turn based RPG fair which I expected going into it. However, its too much rock paper scissors with very little strategy involved. The real challenge in this game is keeping your Demons alive with the over powered encounters and bosses. Luckily, unlike most RPGs you can visibly see the enemies and proactively ignore them if you want. When the game finally opens up from its introduction, is when it takes a huge leap forward with many alternate paths. However, getting past the difficult early part of the game left a sour taste in my mouth.

    The catch to this game that's supposed to separate it from other RPGs is the demon recruiting and fusing process.

    Recruiting is interesting giving a risk vs. reward dynamic. Failure to choose the correct dialogue options will skip to your turn and potentially leave to your team taking loads of damage. Successfully recruiting a demon, gave me an adrenaline rush especially when receiving a Mecca and/or other gifts in return. You can unlock perks to improve this process (which I recommend).

    Fusing demons is addictive. Though the more I dove into this game, the more this one glaring problem was made evident. The demons are not UNIQUE enough. Pokemon for instance has HUNDREDS at this point and manages to make them all feel unique with movesets, abilities, and typings. SMT4 feels like a step back from the Pokemon series. With Demons recycling the same moves and unnoticeable improvements from fusions.

    The story does save the game. If you like dark, gritty, and engaging story and characters this game does shine. The characters are all fully voiced all with distinct and interesting personalities and goals. There are different endings based on the choices you make in the story. I have yet to complete the game but I can already see the various paths you can go to have a profound effect on the story.

    Overall, this is a good game but its combat system doesn't offer anything unique or different from other RPGs since the SNES. I may finish SMT4 for the story but the high difficulty curve and generic combat is keeping me from continuing at this pint.    … Expand
  58. VivaChiba
    Feb 5, 2016
    9
    Games like this really aren't for everybody, but if you are into this kind of thing, you'll most likely love it - I know I do!

    Basically, you capture/breed demons and enter into various dungeons to, well, pretty much kill things. Yes, there's a story - and I was suprised at its depth and how well it's written - but the real appeal comes in training and capturing/creating more and more    Games like this really aren't for everybody, but if you are into this kind of thing, you'll most likely love it - I know I do!

    Basically, you capture/breed demons and enter into various dungeons to, well, pretty much kill things.
    Yes, there's a story - and I was suprised at its depth and how well it's written - but the real appeal comes in training and capturing/creating more and more powerful demons - it's kind of like a "dark" version of Pokemon. Fantastic.    … Expand
  59. MazinroboX2
    Mar 8, 2018
    9
    This is a very nice Shin Megami Tensei Game!! It has a good story, quite good characters, and its JRPG mechanics are great, the battle system is amazing. You have to focus on attacking the enemy's weaknesses, because they inflict much more damage and give you extra turns. Battles tend to be very fast-paced, you do a lot of damage to enemies, but enemies do a lot of damage to you as well,This is a very nice Shin Megami Tensei Game!! It has a good story, quite good characters, and its JRPG mechanics are great, the battle system is amazing. You have to focus on attacking the enemy's weaknesses, because they inflict much more damage and give you extra turns. Battles tend to be very fast-paced, you do a lot of damage to enemies, but enemies do a lot of damage to you as well, so be prepared. It is in fact a very challenging game, the beginning of the game is one of the hardest beginnings I have ever experienced in a JRPG, you die, and you die a lot!!

    As for demons, you form a team consisting of quite a few of them, but fight only with 4. You acquire them by recruiting them in normal battles, and by fusing. Fusing is extremely important in this game, do not get too attached to a demon, this is not Pokémon! You have to fuse your demons a lot to constantly get stronger demons and access to new abilities. I personally enjoy the fusion mechanic, I spend a lot of time seeing what demons I can create and what abilities can help my team more. The variety of demons in the game is very nice, you have a lot of freedom and options throughout the whole game.

    As for maps and puzzles in the game are nice, although as the game progresses and the world becomes bigger and bigger it's extremely easy to get lost or to not know where is the place you need to go next. I've needed a walkthrough a couple of times to keep progressing.

    All in all, an extremely good game, it can be frustrating at times and maps aren't the best, but it is a gem and a extremely enjoyable JRPG. I know the beginning of the game is tough, but give it time and learn how to deal with the mechanics, you'll have a great experience!    … Expand
  60. Ices1ice
    Aug 24, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Disclosure this is the only SMT game I have beaten besides persona 3 & 4 and I will probably compare to those as they are my only reference to this style of game. I finished this game on normal with a nutural run.
    Story- The story of this game takes a while to get going and it is ridiculously segregated as you will most likely get lost. The story is passable when it happens, it's a philosophical tale that will test you and put you in one of 4 endings. The part that kills it for me over say a persona title is that I couldn't care less about Jon, Walter, Isabeau or pretty much anyone in this game. Maybe if we knew something about these characters to humanize them a bit the twists would be more impactful. In persona you genuinely care about the characters because you see them at their worst you shoot the **** with them and you feel like you know them. They are real people unlike generic girl who's only characteristic is that she likes manga.
    Gameplay- The only reason to play this game, it's fun to fuse demons and come up with crazy builds, boss battles are challenging for a bit then you become the Archmage of the entire **** universe and cream anything in your way. Exploration sucks ass I looked up a guide and it still sucked don't recommend playing this game blind; most of your gameplay will be spent wondering what the **** to do.
    Music- BLAND nothing in this game stands out that I remember. Persona 4's music blows this games out of the water in my opinion. Every track in Persona is memorable and I can hum along to all of them. This game has out of place rock and ambient sounds that usually made me turn the sound off
    Conclusion- This game is for hardcore nutbags that are okay with gameplay and difficulty over literally everything else. There is a very low variety of gameplay so you better love negotiating, fusions and Boss Battles because there is little else here of value. It was entertaining enough but it is a far cry from the quality of Persona.    … Expand
  61. supermalik987
    Sep 5, 2020
    8
    its a fun nice return to a SMT game is locking to kick you in the balls when you **** up . As a SMT fan is always fine to kill the demon with your gun and the one keep killing you . I do wins my play throw i got the neutral rt but got chaos which its also cool . Dont spent on any stupid crap in the game you would end up getting better armor with quest . the few thing i didnt like about theits a fun nice return to a SMT game is locking to kick you in the balls when you **** up . As a SMT fan is always fine to kill the demon with your gun and the one keep killing you . I do wins my play throw i got the neutral rt but got chaos which its also cool . Dont spent on any stupid crap in the game you would end up getting better armor with quest . the few thing i didnt like about the is . The map, quest / main story doesn't tell you where to go if unless you remember where to go or if you print a map out to make easy for you . But to far its kinda fun when you find out what to do , But for the players that can be hard . and make sure you stock up on play coins when you died in the game .… Expand
  62. Diugo
    Mar 18, 2022
    9
    One of the most interesting jrpg's out there. The game tackles very heavy topics and makes you really think about the situation the world is in. Story is very captivating especially when you have to make chooses that influence the story. Gameplay is amazing and super fun. Some aspects could have been better, especially regarding the UI.

    Ignore the bad reviews, they are bots. If you are    One of the most interesting jrpg's out there. The game tackles very heavy topics and makes you really think about the situation the world is in. Story is very captivating especially when you have to make chooses that influence the story. Gameplay is amazing and super fun. Some aspects could have been better, especially regarding the UI.

    Ignore the bad reviews, they are bots. If you are slightly interested in this game try it out, beginning can be a little slow but after the game opens up more it becomes amazing.    … Expand
  63. jjjj2367904
    Jan 18, 2022
    9
    I one-hundred percents the game, and absolutely loved it. That’s all I can say. The story is very well made with some hiccups here and there. The gameplay is amazing and is well made but can broken at times. The music is just beautiful very and well made. The graphics look great for the 3DS, especially in 2013, and still holds up well. The characters are very well wrote. This is personallyI one-hundred percents the game, and absolutely loved it. That’s all I can say. The story is very well made with some hiccups here and there. The gameplay is amazing and is well made but can broken at times. The music is just beautiful very and well made. The graphics look great for the 3DS, especially in 2013, and still holds up well. The characters are very well wrote. This is personally in my opinion the best 3DS game and also my favorite Shin Megami Tensei mainline game.… Expand
  64. k1t3
    Dec 14, 2022
    10
    A masterpiece, perhaps greatest game on the 3ds. Shin Megami Tensei IV has it all: an exciting story with multiple paths and memorable characters, the most captivating cast of monsters this side of Kanto, fun, engaging combat, and a whole heap of style. Any RPG fan up for a dark adventure will have a blast here; you don't need any background in the MegaTen series to enjoy it, and theA masterpiece, perhaps greatest game on the 3ds. Shin Megami Tensei IV has it all: an exciting story with multiple paths and memorable characters, the most captivating cast of monsters this side of Kanto, fun, engaging combat, and a whole heap of style. Any RPG fan up for a dark adventure will have a blast here; you don't need any background in the MegaTen series to enjoy it, and the well-balanced Easy mode means anyone can get in on the action. If you're looking for a 3DS game to sink your teeth, claws, and time into, this is as good as it gets.… Expand
  65. lidwang
    Jan 8, 2022
    8
    A fantastic game. Not only the battle and fusion mechanichs are top notch, but the envoiroment and structure of the world is amazing, realsitic and cruel against the player, which makes sense in the context of the game. also the story and characters and philosophical themes are really well explored.
  66. Terrorgod
    Feb 28, 2020
    7
    Other than the persona series, SMT 4 is the first mainline shin megami tensei games I played. It took me awhile to beat this game as the first time I played it i didn't realize how much more intense this game was than persona (this is a thing i learned to love). The first thing I can immediately note is how the game doesn't handhold you at all. The start literally does some exposition,Other than the persona series, SMT 4 is the first mainline shin megami tensei games I played. It took me awhile to beat this game as the first time I played it i didn't realize how much more intense this game was than persona (this is a thing i learned to love). The first thing I can immediately note is how the game doesn't handhold you at all. The start literally does some exposition, tosses you in a dungeon, and tells you to kill, befriend, and etc with demons. These demons can actually kill you at this point in the game easily, which is kind of great. Your friends in the game aren't overly hands on as well which means that any accomplishment really feels like it belongs all to the player, creating a great risk and reward system that feels amazing when you finally overcome and obstacle that seemed insane at first.

    Going into more depth on the gameplay, it uses a combat system called the press turn system. In which on your turn you are given markers equal to the amount of party members you have, each action costs a marker, if you get a critical or hit a weakness the marker instead starts glowing for another use, missing however makes you lose two markers. Overall with a party of 4 (which you will always have after the tutorial) makes it so you can have up to 8 turns or as low as 2 if you are unlucky. These same rules apply to enemies (and are only slightly changed for some bosses) but create some of the most fast paced and intense turn based jrpg combat out there. Combat always feels good, trash spawns can get you off guard, experimenting actually has merit, etc. Overall I loved the combat. But after getting past that, the rest of the gameplay is kinda dull in comparison. Level design past the tutorial is kinda iffy at best, no real dungeons besides some randomly generated ones that don't have alot of purpose unless you are going for a hidden ending and even then im not sure they all matter as they respawn, characters are all over the place along with the story, which is fine but some are just extremely underused and forgotten which makes you scratch your head a bit. Traversing the world has its ups and downs and the map is horrid, it can be hard to spot things even on a 3ds XL.

    Overall loved the experience overall, its heavy, dark, and extremely fun. Probably one of the best games on the 3ds, and definitely the game I've sunk the most time into on the system. I only wish it wasn't on this system on on the vita at the time so I would have experienced it sooner and had it in more detail as this game was definitely pushing the tech to its limits. 7/10 would bring walter to minotaur again.    … Expand
  67. SaiyanPride89
    Nov 4, 2021
    10
    This is my favorite game of all time. The soundtrack is absolute fire, combat is great and addicting, my favorite story in the mainline smt(so far), it needs to be ported in HD like nocturne. This game changed my life. Play it.
  68. Cafe_8bits
    Dec 26, 2019
    8
    SMT IV its a masterpiece of the 3DS, its a magnificent JRPG with an great atmosphere, great plot, characters and world building. Its a shame that the end of the game kinda slows down the entire plot, and that made me kinda upset.
    The gameplay its great, the demon fusion program kinda sucks tho. But, all other aspects of the apps, Burroughs and other new mechanics works pretty fine.
    If    SMT IV its a masterpiece of the 3DS, its a magnificent JRPG with an great atmosphere, great plot, characters and world building. Its a shame that the end of the game kinda slows down the entire plot, and that made me kinda upset.
    The gameplay its great, the demon fusion program kinda sucks tho. But, all other aspects of the apps, Burroughs and other new mechanics works pretty fine.
    If you are looking for a JRPG with tons of content and hundreds of hours to have at your 3DS, give SMT IV a shot!    … Expand
  69. matrakci
    Nov 20, 2019
    10
    This is a great game even for people who have never experienced this kind of jrpg game.
  70. DarkFireUmad
    Aug 25, 2020
    8
    Acabada la ruta Neutral de este juego y sinceramente me ha sorprendido para bien y para mal, he visto menos profundidad en algunos aspectos del gameplay que todo el mundo dice que tiene por encima de Persona y su historia y setup del mundo me encanta.
  71. ThePSButton
    May 6, 2020
    8
    Hay ligeros cambios a la fórmula de combate que la hacen aún mejor que el III, pero en general si jugaste su predecesor, te sentirás en casa con esta cuarta parte. El arte es precioso, la trama es interesante y me atrevo a decir que es el mejor sistema de combate que te puedes encontrar en la plataforma. Así de bueno es Shin Megami Tensei IV.
  72. Akashdeep
    Sep 10, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. **** persona!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Expand
  73. PL_DarkYagami
    Jul 21, 2020
    8
    This game is really good but it gets boring.Still a really good entry to the SMT series
  74. INU4SH4
    Jun 22, 2020
    7
    I'm a huge fan of the SMT and Persona universe and at first, I really loved the atmosphere and challenges delivered by SMT IV, but after a few hours, the game becomes painfully easy. This was actually my first game in the series following some Persona games, so initially, this looked like Persona on steroids but the magic quickly vanished. This pales in comparison with other games in theI'm a huge fan of the SMT and Persona universe and at first, I really loved the atmosphere and challenges delivered by SMT IV, but after a few hours, the game becomes painfully easy. This was actually my first game in the series following some Persona games, so initially, this looked like Persona on steroids but the magic quickly vanished. This pales in comparison with other games in the series but still manages to be a pretty good game.

    The story was very good and the gameplay was solid as well but this game has a few crucial flaws holding it down.
    Firstly, its difficulty at later stages of the story compared to other SMT games was quite trivial. Another issue I had with SMT IV was the exploration. Exploring Tokyo in this game wasn't very fun, it was a painful experience and I kept getting lost all the time thanks to awful in-game tips. The last issue is the last freaking quest. The Chalice of Hope quest was just pure torture and almost killed the experience for me but I endured.

    Good game but could be better. Still recommend playing this to hardcore JRPG fans and the sequel SMT IV Apocalypse is definitely worth the trouble.    … Expand
  75. Leliel66
    Jun 19, 2020
    10
    De los mejores juegos desarrollados por atlus, una historia profunda en donde tus decisiones importan, 10/10.
  76. manhack
    Jun 29, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Я люблю эту игру, из-за неё я купил 3ds. Это было не забываемо!Чувство, что твоё действие имеет вес, что тебя не считают за дурака, оч крутая карта Токио, и я могу ещё долго говорить… Expand
  77. caiomachi
    Jul 5, 2020
    9
    Pros:
    • Visuals
    • Soundtrack
    • Story
    • Demon design
    • Character
    • Game difficulty in general
    • Aesthetic
    • Maturity and philosophy

    Cons:
    • in game tokyo map could've been more useful (lack of the areas names)
    • Some boss battles are too easy (depending on your build, you'll be OP)
    • Mikado and some characters could've appeared more
  78. Squid_boi
    Jul 21, 2020
    9
    One of my favorite RPGs ever made, and probably the best of the megaten series. The characters are great, the story is interesting, and the gameplay is fun. Sure it's a bit hard at first, sure the alignment system is still not great, but damn is it fun.
  79. mtkf
    Oct 30, 2021
    9
    Bought this game on a whim when it was on sale, and it has since made me a huge fan of the franchise. Since then I've finished it's sequel Apocalypse, then SMT3, and have just started Devil Survivor Overclocked. SMT4 is a fantastic JRPG, not just on the 3ds, but in general. It's like a dark pokemon with more vulgar themes and mature content. Cannot wait for for SMT5.
  80. SMT4_fan
    Sep 29, 2020
    10
    This is the best game ever made. The story is interesting and the turn based battles are challenging but fair. Would recommend this game to all Jrpg fans.
  81. Brender
    Sep 30, 2020
    9
    The best RPG. Sure it has some flaws, but most can be ignored or don't matter. Or i'm just stupid.
  82. Shin_megami
    Jan 5, 2021
    10
    Probably one of the best games on the 3ds open world great setting cool character designs literally everything you do or say affects the story for law chaos neutral and some others which I won’t say because they are spoilers great gameplay storyline ost boss fights are great
  83. SOLID_SNAKE_kw
    Dec 15, 2020
    10
    Just perfect Great addictive gameplay with awesome story I don’t why user rate is very low
  84. todi
    Jul 22, 2021
    10
    Easily the best 3DS game in my eyes, any fan of ATLUS or JRPGs in general should pick this up. The different ways to play between character builds/demon party composition, on top of choosing between law, chaos, or a neutral route is awe-inspiring. Combine this with a gripping story and exciting, challenging battles makes this a game for the ages. The game is quite difficult (especially atEasily the best 3DS game in my eyes, any fan of ATLUS or JRPGs in general should pick this up. The different ways to play between character builds/demon party composition, on top of choosing between law, chaos, or a neutral route is awe-inspiring. Combine this with a gripping story and exciting, challenging battles makes this a game for the ages. The game is quite difficult (especially at the beginning), but becomes much easier and is so worth the grind to make it.… Expand
  85. Gwalunir
    Apr 13, 2021
    9
    This was my first Megaten game, and my introduction to the franchise, and it was worth my time, for sure. Even eight years after its launch, it still holds up as an amazing entry to an amazing series. First of all, I want to point out the aspect that most enchanted me: the combat. The press turn system is simply one of the best combat systems I've ever seen in a game, be it an action orThis was my first Megaten game, and my introduction to the franchise, and it was worth my time, for sure. Even eight years after its launch, it still holds up as an amazing entry to an amazing series. First of all, I want to point out the aspect that most enchanted me: the combat. The press turn system is simply one of the best combat systems I've ever seen in a game, be it an action or turn-based RPG (those are the two genres that I play the most and can really talk about). Exploiting enemy's weakness to gain more turns really hooked me in, and the need - you don't really have a choice, honestly - to use stat buffs and debuffs just made it more strategic and engaging. The story is ok, not bad, not great, and the characters are a bit one-sided. But that doesn't really take away anything from the experience. Moreover, the music, be it ambient or battle are simply put fantastic, I could listen to them for days on end and not feel it has become repetitive. The songs really make you feel the atmosphere of the game, and the demon designs and negotiation system also deserve a lot of credit, as they are very well done (though you will surely get frustrated at the beginning as you get used to what the demons want). I do have to say I didn't finish the game completely, having only done one out of the four possible endings, although were I to pursue them in the future, I am certain I would have as much fun as I had the first time through. All in all, it's an amazing game, and even more worth the price nowadays. Definitely one of the best RPGs on the 3DS (and also of all time).… Expand
  86. Foolkner
    Jul 24, 2021
    9
    Truly one of the best 3DS games you can get. Has great music, characters and a really great story.
    Probably my favourite SMT game from Atlus. Highly recommend!
  87. jacktwelve
    May 29, 2022
    9
    why is the score so low. This is a fantasic game with a legit good story, strong sense of atmosphere, fun but challenging combat system, and tons of replay value
  88. dhgcousin1
    Jan 17, 2023
    8
    With the amount of improvements added to the game's combat since SMT III, an impressive world to experience, burroughs making the game easier and more fun to enjoy and the return of the chaos, law, & neutral endings from way older entries in the series, SMT IV is a must play 3DS turn based rpg. My main problems with the game is it's simplistic story that I don't mind too much, the use ofWith the amount of improvements added to the game's combat since SMT III, an impressive world to experience, burroughs making the game easier and more fun to enjoy and the return of the chaos, law, & neutral endings from way older entries in the series, SMT IV is a must play 3DS turn based rpg. My main problems with the game is it's simplistic story that I don't mind too much, the use of sprites instead of models but it makes it comparable to SMT I & II, some of the dungeon designs (they sometimes feel like just hallways), & other minor problems with the game. Although the game has obvious problems, the game also features one of the best soundtracks of all of Megami Tensei and the pacing of the game is relatively alright. The game is still fun at the end of the game and has a good amount of replay value due to the multiple endings & however way you like to make your character (magic build is the best build in the game btw).

    8/10    … Expand
  89. KomaKuga
    Jul 8, 2023
    10
    One of the best JRPGs ever. This score is completely **** people mad it wasn't nocturne. One of the best stories i've seen in a JRPG, beautiful subversion of expectations, VERY clean gameplay, deep characters put in a deep dilemma, three (four) endings that all offer a different take on morality, and very very replayable. Incredible how it can be compacted into a 3DS game not gonna lie.
  90. Heraldrick
    Apr 22, 2023
    7
    When I think back on my experience with SMT 4 I tend to think of the orgasmically good combat and a few standout moments of the story in a setting I never clicked with. The Press-Turn system alongside the "Smirk" mechanic is a fantastic foundation for any game to build off of. SMT 4 goes above and beyond that though, this is the game that made it so when I get absolutely destroyed an enemyWhen I think back on my experience with SMT 4 I tend to think of the orgasmically good combat and a few standout moments of the story in a setting I never clicked with. The Press-Turn system alongside the "Smirk" mechanic is a fantastic foundation for any game to build off of. SMT 4 goes above and beyond that though, this is the game that made it so when I get absolutely destroyed an enemy in a turn-based game I just go "ah, feels like home." Because I know that I will soon go from being the one getting abused to turning that enemy/boss into a wimp screaming for mercy when they hear MY boss music after some prep. This game is worthy of many dozens of hours of play if only to experience this combat and go from being a boss's b"tch to making the boss your b"tch.

    Where I think this game falls short is in the traversal and branching story. I generally prefer character-driven stories with settings among the more fantastical rather than apocalyptic. Unfortunately, this game embodies some of the reasons why. Traversing the overworld was a nightmare, just to find my way to the next story beat I often had to pull up a fan-made map on my computer screen and trace the needed route with my finger because everything looks the same in the apocalypse. And while this game is more character-heavy than other SMT titles it doesn't really center much of the conflict around them, they are just outlets for the writers to ask broader questions from the player. Though I should note it was just good enough with the combat so amazing that I played it all the way to the end.

    Some advice for those thrillseeking through this title:
    Learn to buff
    Love to fuse
    Walter will not "end it thus"    … Expand
  91. Heretoir
    Feb 9, 2023
    10
    This is my favorite game, it has some flaws but the gameplay is great and it looks amazing for a 3DS game, this is your starting point if you want to get into shin megami tensei.
  92. Naked_Snakee
    Apr 7, 2023
    8
    Just text (crutch) to save the game to the list. Such things. Maybe I'll do a review later.
  93. Untung_Kasarung
    Apr 16, 2023
    9
    My current favorite SMT game as well as 3DS game. I thought it was gonna be a generic jrpg set in medieval Japan with European twist but the twist inside the Naraku was jaw dropping. This game has quite a complex story and morality as well as interesting characters with their own character arcs. My only complaint is probably its bias towards neutral ending, treating it as the "definitive"My current favorite SMT game as well as 3DS game. I thought it was gonna be a generic jrpg set in medieval Japan with European twist but the twist inside the Naraku was jaw dropping. This game has quite a complex story and morality as well as interesting characters with their own character arcs. My only complaint is probably its bias towards neutral ending, treating it as the "definitive" or the "canon" ending.… Expand
  94. Kalphazzo2010
    Jun 16, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Shin Megami Tensei is one of the best mainline SMT games and a great starting point to the series for beginners. The game follows an interesting story about gods, demons, and lets you take a path of your own with 4 different endings each with differing outcomes.

    Pros: The game's story is great with interesting characters, events, and setting. The main characters eventually all diverge down their own path and it is up to you to decide who you agree with and support the most (My favourite is definitely Walter)

    The gameplay is very unique to other JRPGS, it uses the press turn system which rewards you for exploiting the enemies weaknesses and using your actions wisely, it punishes you for going guns blazing into battle and provides a unique charm to the game

    The world of SMT4 is expansive with many places to go, the land of Mikado is a beautiful and peaceful place with a hidden darkness underneath. While the environment of post apocalyptic Tokyo immerses you into the environment and give the people a sense of realism.

    This game, unlike most SMT games does not have too many dungeons. Instead it thrives on the open world nature of Tokyo with countless areas to explore

    While going down the main story you get many different side quests to go down. Almost all are optional but they give good rewards and can give you insight into the world

    The bosses of SMT4 are highlights of the game, from the Minotaur to Lucifer and Merkabah every boss has a unique Moveset, dialogue, and cool designs included

    Finally the soundtrack to this game is amazing giving every place it's own feel, brooding techno to melancholy harps the music has it's own style which is intensely memorable

    Cons: The game is now 10 years old and some cracks have shown in it, the graphics are good for a 2013 3ds game but they are a bit messy, the developers definitely did make the best out of the hardware constraints but there are still some things that can't be fixed

    The game's difficulty can be quite intense for people new to the Megami Tensei franchise, especially during the beginning of the game. Personally I never saw much issue with it but somehow the tutorial can be harder than the rest of the game

    The gameplay is amazing but some cracks show, mainly how the smirking system is unfair. Smirking is a status effect which can be gained from landing a super effective attack or a crit. Smirking makes the users next hit an automatic crit which in turn gives the party a press turn. Smirking is good to use by the party but the enemies use it as well, meaning if you get hit with an enemy smirk it's very hard to bounce back

    Lastly the alignment system is a bit quirky, the alignments are not really created equal because the neutral path is the canon ending with the most content. But for some reason they made the neutral path almost impossible to get, you have to go down a strict alignment guide to get to it which is a pain in the ass for most people


    Overall, SMT4 is definitely one of the best and most unique JRPGS for the 3ds. It's story and characters stand out to other SMT games and it's gameplay is one of the most refined in the series. If you're interested in Shin megami tensei but you don't know where to start, this is one of the best games to go with.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best 3DS Game of 2013
8
#8 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2013
5
#5 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 48
  3. Negative: 0 out of 48
  1. Hobby Consolas
    Jan 23, 2015
    90
    The combat system, character development and demons are a great evolution from previous games, but graphics needs some improvement.
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  2. games(TM)
    Jan 8, 2015
    90
    An incredibly in-depth RPG that should result in no two players having a similar run-through. [Issue#156, p.122]
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  3. FNintendo
    Jan 4, 2015
    80
    It keeps some of the best aspects of the series, while adding new and always welcome content. The game's pace keeps the player interested non-stop and its overall quality redeems Shin Megami Tensei IV from the late European release.
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