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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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

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

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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.
    Read full review
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