SMT4 is approaching, so I'm gonna do a playthrough of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (also know as greatest rpg ever created) to celebrate!
For those unfamiliar with the game, it takes place in post-apocalypse Japan. You become half-human half-demon, and all other humans are transformed into demons, with the exception of certain main characters. Your fate is to become the greatest power in this new world and to shape it as you see fit. Along the way, you recruit other demons to join you in your cause, and you meet a variety of characters along the way. Also, Dante from Devil May Cry plays an important role because why not.
I've played this game quite a bit, so I know enough about Nocturne to not particularly care what I do next! Therefore, all important story/gameplay decisions (and even some unimportant ones) will be based on your input! Make me the strongest hero ever! Make me super weak and a burden to my own team! Give me any kinds of restrictions you want! Let's make this interesting.
First: What ending will I be shooting for?: -Neutral -Regular Demon -True Demon -Yosuga (Chiaki-aligned) -Shijima (Hikawa-aligned) -Musubi (Isamu-aligned)
Second: Name me! Pick my character name (story purposes) and my battle name!
Third: What type of Demi-Fiend shall I be? -Physical (if going for True Demon, pretty much required that I go Physical) -General all-around magic -Fire-specific, Ice-specific, Thunder-specific, Force-specific -Healing-specific -Death/Expel-specific -Buff/debuff-specific -Write in whatever combination you want! If you want me to keep Lunge for 70 levels I will.
Fourth: Any other restrictions you want to see me play with! Hard Mode, no fusion, Nuzlocke, whatever you can think of!
Hard: A level of difficulty suitable for those seeking the thrill of death. Awesome. Biggest difference is that enemies will remember my weaknesses and take advantage of them.
I haven't played my PS2 in awhile so my controller is kinda dusty and sticky. Ew.
Opening scene! The "unnamed woman" (who we know is Yuko, the teacher) is spouting all kinds of mysterious foreshadowy BS about the world's end and "saving me". But now she needs to know my name? Why doesn't she know already?
My name is Dark LUNK, and my battle name is LUNK. (Not gonna lie, I liked this one the best, it's like Link and HUNK combined!)
I'm gonna go for the True Demon ending, and my character will be physical-based. Both overwhelming majority. However I'll throw in some thunder, death and expel magic to make you happy! And force too.
Oh... I forgot that we get to name all the story characters also. WELL THEN, Teacher is now Naoki Kashima. Anyway Naoki keeps telling me random apocalyptic stuff. Whatever. I never liked Teacher character that much, honestly.
Now I'm in a train station - pretty sure Persona 3 started this way also. Isamu (male friend) texts me, but he is renamed to GOKU YAJIROBE. I remember this station as the location of the Trumpeter fight - I never had much a problem with the dungeon here, nor the tunnel. Anyway, I head to Yoyogi Park and run into Hijiri, he tells me about cults and crap. Female friend calls me, and she is renamed to Die No. I'm off to Shinjuku Medical Center to visit my dying teacher. I meet Die in the lobby, she comments about how eerie it is that there's literally no one in the hospital. She's not TOO flustered though, so that's good. She told me where to go but I didn't pay attention so I wander aimlessly until I find my good friend GOKU. We shoot the breeze and go back to Die. Die is a *****, I never liked her either. GOKU gives me an ID card to access the basement, so I head down. Inside one room is some creepy businessman with a big blue cylinder. Ah, it's Hikawa, talking about ending the world using all that cult scripture language. He forgot he was in the hospital.
OH DAMN this dude summons a Baphomet right behind him, he's got some skills, but Naoki comes to save me! Oh Naoki-san~! She scolds him like a 9-year old and invites me up to the roof. On the way I run into a small blond child with an old woman, they say some mystery stuff and disappear. I'm not gonna lie, on my first playthrough I was blown away by the Lucifer reveal, I had no idea. Not sure if I just didn't pay attention or what, but that twist totally threw me off. Fantastic stuff, I love this game so much.
Anyway up on the roof, Naoki is explaining everything to me finally. Rebirth of the world, carrying the sin, etc. and some great music plays. Another thing I love about Nocturne - amazing soundtrack. Anyway she asks me to find her after the Conception and - it happens. Black lightning and darkness except for the giant ball of light in the sky, and suddenly it ends. the giant ball of light talks to me (which doesn't make sense until the end of the game), and tells me to discover myself. Now thw old woman and the child are talking to me, and the child drops a worm (the first magatama) onto my face - "this will make you a demon". Now I see myself without my jacket but with lots of cool blue tattoos all over my body. These scenes are jumping around everywhere.
Anyway, I'm in the basement now, which makes no sense. I run into Hijiri examining that blue cylinder. "I don't think the poilce can help us" yeah well they're all dead bro that's probably why. This game always makes me wonder if things like the occult, demons, etc. could actually be real - what would really happen? How would we react? Most people would probably be casualties. We say they're crazy now...
Anyway I save here because I have to go to the mechanic, I'll be back later on.
if Bikeshorts Buzzkillington weren't way too many letters long, that totally would've been my name.
I'll be physical based, but I'll try to throw in electric, force, expel, death and buff/debuffs when I can. I don't think Hitoshura can learn Debilitate, though. But I'm pretty sure I can learn Fog Breath, which is so stupidly broken. Can I learn it in time for Matador? I don't anticipate much of a problem until the Matador fight, which is famous as the moment when **** starts getting real. I've never HAD to fuse an Uzume for Matador, I usually stick with a Nozuchi, but I might this time around.
I died once already from a sneak attack and double crit attack. I'm only going to comment on what I actually get done.
I exit the save room and go to the elevator, and suddenly I'm in an "unknown realm" (Amala Network). I see a young woman with an old man and then they disappear. I find some medicine. First battle time! Foul Will o' Wisp x2. apparently they both "WaNt eAT". Kill 'em both, level 2. Now a Haunt Preta. Old man tells me to go left, I go right because **** authority. Some Kodamas to fight - they make me use a Medicine :( Now I'm back in the elevator. Up to the lobby.
The exit is blocked, so I need to go through the annex gate and exit via the annex. Apparently there's a human spotted there as well. At the gate I meet Fairy Pixie! She's quite nice and we become friends! I always liked this Pixie. If y'all hadn't chose True Demon then I'd have given you the option to abandon her at the park later on, but now she's here for keeps. We get the keycard from some more weirdo Pretas. Now random encounters are activated, and I get a Jirae Kodama to join me! I need a Brute Shikigami before I fight Forneus, though, double Zio es #1 strategy. I am able to recruit a Shikigami and a Jirae Hua Po, all on my first try. Dark LUNK has some skills with these sexy ladies. I remember these demons being much harder to recruit, especially Hua Po, she's usually a *****.
I make my way to the lobby of the annex, and to leave I must defeat Fallen Forneus. So be it, punk manta ray with a lame crown. I take my Pixie, Kodama and Shikigami and beat him fairly easily. I didn't do any kind of grinding, either! Forneus gives me the ice magatama Wadatsumi, which I won't use because you all hate ice skills. I exit to world map for the first time, and the child tells me more apocalypse crap. At least they're being social, though. We see Dante, too, he's gonna "get to work". It's DMC2 Dante, aka Worst Dante. Apparently some people want me to forego Dante, which I don't mind.
I make it to Yoyogi Park and the Pixie says that it's time to go. :( I tell the Pixie that I need her and she starts getting all flirty with me and decides to stay. Dark LUNK is gettin' a handy tonight! Exploring Yoyogi I run into Incubus, aka Boner Demon. This thing is so creepy and I always do everything I can to avoid fusing them. He tells me how hot the Lady of the Fount is, so I go find her... SO HOT OMGG. I head out of Yoyogi and into Shibuya. A forced encounter with a Nekomata gets my Kodama killed, but I am so pro that it doesn't matter. I recruit a Femme Datsue-Ba on my first try also. I head to the nightclub and meet my good friend Die! How did she get here with no demon friends? PLOT HOLES. Some forced encounters get me very low and kill a few of my demons, but no Nuzlocke so ha. I find the first Cathedral of Shadows, and I never noticed that the minister has some sick sunglasses. I really need to keep my demons with me, keeping the party full is the name of the game. I love when a Foul, Haunt, Wilder etc. randomly joins you - Once I had a Will o' Wisp at this point and it makes some interesting fusions. It's a full moon but I can't make sacrifices yet. Anyway, I save and am done for now.
Party:
Fiend Dark LUNK lvl 8 (Lunge, Analyze, Life Bonus) Fairy Pixie lvl 5 Jirae Kodama lvl 5 Brute Shikigami lvl 5 Jirae Hua Po lvl 5 Femme Datsue-Ba lvl 7
I really don't know. It has bothered me for so long. I've never let my PS3 controllers sit for as long so I'm not sure. But things like my DC and GC controllers never have this problem. My brother has some nasty sweaty hands and I would usually just attribute it to him.
I had a feeling Bikeshorts Buzzkillington might be too long a name. With a name like that your swag levels would be off the charts.
From: McBonesII | #016
Kodama + Shikigami = Fairy Jack Frost (7)
For fusions go with this. You're losing Shikigami either way, but Kodama is pretty useless and Hua Po will have Agi to go along with your Bufu Jack Frost. You should be able to get Frost to inherit Zio and maybe Dia if my memory serves me. I also do you just need a monster that descended from Pxie to get the uber Pixi or do you need her in her original form?
Jack Frost can definitely learn Dia, probably Zio and Zan also, though I won't be able to get them all at once. Shikigami is pretty useful, he usually holds his own for quite awhile. I'm a fan, but Jack Frost is legit too. Awhile ago I started a tradition where I never fuse away my Jack Frost. Persona 3, Devil Survivor, Devil Summoner, Strange Journey, I keep my Jack Frost to endgame. He's just such a good guy, I can't bring myself to abandon him.
Yeah either one works. If I fuse Pixie away, so long as I still have something with the original Pixie in it, it'll transform. So tell me to do whatever you wish with her.
Starting up the game now, update coming eventually.
Ah, constantly redoing my fusions until I get the exact skill set that I want. I missed this. Fusing Kodama the gumby demon and Shikigami the paper bag demon for Jack Frost. I could've gotten Dia/Zan on him, but I went with Dia/Zio just to speed it up, and it's not a huge issue at this level. "Let's go, hee ho!" Well said, my new best friend.
Next to the Cathedral is the junk shop, where Heeho the Jack Frost is selling some goods! I can't afford the Magatamas yet so I buy some dis-poisons and leave. I thought I was done in Shibuya, but after wandering around I triggered Hijiri teleporting in to the Shibuya terminal. He wasn't there the first time. Anyway, he's sending me to Ginza via the Amala Network - I had totally forgotten about this, even though the Amala Network dungeon(s) were some of my favorites. Awesome music, fighting some demons you don't normally see, good stuff.
Now I'm in the Amala Network with Hijiri guiding me with his lovely voice. I manage to find a healer, so I am doing alright until I run into 2 Aeros and an Erthys. LUNK misses Lunge THREE times wtf what a loser. Then again Aeros has high Agility... Lesson learned, I have died. Then I run into Aeros x4 and die. I forgot that this dungeon actually kinda kicks ass. Then I die to Foul Mou-Ryo x5. Forget what I said about liking this place - it's too early in the game for me to be able to hold my own when each set of enemies appears right after the last set dies. On try #4, a Mou-Ryo asks for a Chakra Drop. I know this situation all too well - always give the unrecruitables whatever they ask you for. It joins me! Worth it. Then I die again. Datsue-Ba's Shibaboo is the only thing even giving me a fighting chance. Then I die because "new enemies appear" twice.
I am frustrated at this dungeon and I really don't want to resort to grinding.
Anyway I've realized that Kodama is usually the reason that I even make it through the Amala Network, hitting Erthys for weakness. Luckily my Mou-Ryo learns Zan on levelup so I'm probably going to grind that up to get Zan and then take another shot.
Suddenly the random encounter rate has dropped, I'm only running into groups of 2/3 enemies, and there hasn't been a single "New enemy approaches!" thing. I am really confused. I manage to get my Pixie to evolve into a High Pixie, which gives her much better stats and Wing Buffet, so I have a better shot now. But then I run into that 7x Foul Specter boss fight and they rip me up. ****. I manage to beat him on the second try with only LUNK living. I don't even care, this dungeon was crap. I had forgotten it, but the first trip to the Amala Network is one of the harder dungeons in the game. Aeros does not belong there. You aren't far enough in to equip yourself to deal with it, really.
Hijiri opens the path to Ginza, but suddenly I find myself in an "unexpected location" which is really the Labyrinth of Amala. I look through the peephole of the tree and see the creepy stage that the old man is sitting on. The young lady with the old man begins talking, and is already dropping hints that the Labyrinth is literally Hell. She gives me the Candelabrum of Sovereignty, aka the thing I use to find all the skeletons. Now I'm in Ginza, finally.
I see lots of Eligors around, because this place is controlled by the Assembly of Nihilo, aka Hikawa's group of Saturday morning cartoon villains. I find Nyx's Lounge, and Loki tells me I can't go into his room. Screw him. I begin exploring the world outside of Ginza, looking for Assembly of Nihilo base. They don't let me in, though. :( My Mou-Ryo FINALLY gets to level 8, and changes his Toxic Sting to Zionga. Mou-Ryo is my new fave. Then a Haunt Preta joins my party! This is actually the third non-recruitable to join me, but I died once after a Wilder Zhen joined me. I don't remember this happening so often, but I love it. Then I seduce a Night Lilim - I answered her question wrong, but I'm hot, so that's good enough for her (never heard that one before). LUNK getting so much action from these ladies. My party keeps dying, and it costs like 500 to revive them. I'm down to 1200 macca. I save and stop because I'm hungry.
Party Fiend Dark LUNK lvl 12 (Lunge, Analyze, Life Bonus, Berserk, Ice Breath) Fairy High Pixie lvl 10 Fairy Jack Frost lvl 7 Foul Mou-Ryo lvl 8 Jirae Hua Po lvl 6 Femme Datsue-Ba lvl 8 Haunt Preta lvl 4 Night Lilim lvl 8
Fusion Choices (this is gonna start to get long after awhile) High Pixie + Jack Frost = Element Aeros lvl 11 HPixie + Mou-Ryo = Haunt Choronzon lvl 11 HPixie + Hua Po = Yoma Isora lvl 14 HPixie + Datsue-Ba = Choronzon HPixie + Lilim = SNake Nozuchi lvl 14 JF + MR = Choronzon JF + DB = Choronzon MR + Datsue-Ba = Wilder Bicorn lvl 15 Hua Po + Lilim = Foul Blob lvl 16 Hua Po + Preta = Vile Baphomet lvl 33 (with really crappy carry skills because they're so weak) Datsue-Ba + Lilim = Jirae Sudama lvl 13
A few combinations make Momunofu but I'm probably gonna end up recruiting one anyway. Same with Isora, Sudama and Nozuchi, they're each actually pretty solid.
Anyway, next on the agenda is fighting the Fairy Troll guarding Loki's room. Nulls Ice iirc, but I'll figure it out. There are quite a few spots on the world map I can explore for bonuses but I get too low to go out too far before needing to turn back. I've burnt through a lot of Life Stones and Medicines just to try and explore every corridor and found nothing :(
No luck recruiting an Apsaras or an Angel, yet, they both want so much money and I need it for the Fountain, and also for the Support magatama the Shibuya guy is selling. I'm surprised at how often these other demons have offered to join my party, though, I've never had this many and I've barely been playing. I like having a padded party.
I am eagerly awaiting the Matador fight so that I can proceed to hate my life for however many hours it takes me to beat him. But the Fiend music is quite possibly the best music in the game, so at least there's that!