[Spoilers will be dropped at anytime, you've been warned]
Ah, Shin Megami Tensei. One of Japan's "Big 3" JRPG franchises, and my personal favorite out of all of them. Where Final Fantasy tries to radically innovate, SMT stays grounded in what is tried and true. Where Dragon Quest stays grounded, SMT does something slightly new and different. Yes, SMT is the "Goldilocks Zone"; it sticks to the same principles that have guided the series' direction, while doing things differently just enough to bring a fresh experience (that isn't totally botched).
And this is only considering the gameplay: Shin Megami Tensei is not afraid to delve into darker/more meaningful themes than your standard video game, and with every game comes a totally unique and immersive setting, from the high-end cyberpunk of Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers' Amami City, to the desolate and lonely Vortex World of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Each new entry gives us a taste of a fresh myriad of genres, ideas and themes that combine together with fantastic gameplay to create some of the best JRPGs have to offer.
My personal favorite game? Probably Nocturne (a pretty vanilla answer, but bear with me). But outside of the mainline series as my favorite spinoff?
I suggest you read the top of this post.
Digital Devil Saga came out behind the heels of Nocturne as a new take on the SMT series. While still using the same engine as Nocturne, Digital Devil Saga used a new approach to the classic Megaten formula. It tosses out demon recruitment/fusion, and instead of presenting a story based around the choices of the player, DDSaga presents a linear and cohesive character-driven storyline, a format that has made DDSaga a good recommendation to those more familiar with story-heavy series such as Final Fantasy. As a person who actively looks for good storylines and characters, this was a big plus for me when starting the game, and I quickly fell in love. However, many spinoffs of SMT also have linear/character-driven stories themselves, namely Devil Summoner and Persona. Persona in particular has the same amount of focus on characters as Digital Devil Saga, if not more, and as my entry point (Persona 3), I definitely hold a special place for it in my heart.
Why is it, then, that I love Digital Devil Saga the most out of all of them?
The Setting/Premise/Tone
Let's get this out of the way: transforming into demons to rend, slaughter, devour your enemies in bloody carnage within a dark world of eternal rain is the edgiest f*cking thing ever.
AND I LOVE IT.
There is no subtlety about it: you have a demonic avatar that thirsts for the blood of your enemies. Kill and consume them all to ascend to your salvation, where you find out that you've been computer simulations all along and the real world has become a barren wasteland filled with petrified people because THE SUN GOT MAD.
...okay, it is definitely more complex than that, but when you boil it down, the premise of Digital Devil Saga is bold. The thing I love about it is despite the premise on paper sounding brutal, the story never falls into melodrama or goes into emo-phases that may normally arise when someone else comes up with dark premises, nor does it get overly disgusting/gory/however you want to call it. I would probably not have enjoyed the games as much as I did if, let's say, Argilla mourned Jinana's death constantly and repeatedly throughout the story, or if every fight scene contained blood/guts spread everywhere gratuitously ala Urobutcher. The beauty of it all is that it keeps the dark overtone without being incredibly dark in itself, and that is a good thing. I like dark stories, but I don't need to have my brain drained of color because of it being "dark".
The Gameplay
Considering that Nocturne is my favorite mainline game, you can pretty much assume that gameplay is one of the big reasons why I love Digital Devil Saga.
Building off of Nocturne's engine, Digital Devil Saga utilizes the staple battle system of modern SMT games, PTB; or, Press Turn. Just like every SMT game, setup is the most important part of the game, using elemental properties to the fullest are the key to success, and you have three party members who can learn any skill they desire- waiiiit...
One of my favorite things about the gameplay is the sheer customization you can have. Because you do not collect demons, instead, party members learn skills from Mantras and can switch skills around freely. This can lead to some incredibly powerful setups that can be just as rewarding as demon fusion; believe me, the hype was real when I got Serph to learn the Resist Fire passive. And praise be unto Dyne + Boost + Amp + Mind Charge + Makakaja x4, an incredibly overpowered setup in every SMT made easier to achieve than ever before. It feels good knowing that with a little time and effort, you can effectively make nearly every boss battle a cakewalk.
...if you play your cards right, that is. Another thing I like about the gameplay is the difficulty, because despite being able to break the game via damage output, the game is still fairly difficult if you do not know what you are doing. The real challenge of the game is to be prepared for anything, because enemies are both tough and resilient to your attacks; elemental properties are played up to the maximum, as enemies will often have an incredible amount of Resists/Nulls/Repels/Drains. The game takes in account that you can use anything, and thus expects you to use everything. Because of this, the games continue to provide a competent challenge no matter how many runs of it you can play through, and it's always a blast devouring your enemies.
The major point I would like to bring up is that Digital Devil Saga was, in my opinion, a proper restructuring of the mechanics introduced within Nocturne. The games introduced elemental shields that added a layer of defensive strategy to the gameplay. Some may argue that this trivializes some of the game, but to me, it is a welcome substitute for getting demons that have the necessary resistances. The three-character limit I felt really served the mechanic well, due to the limited turns ensuring that you need to know who to set the shield to and when to defend. Not to mention, shields do not make the game easy, as enemies use these abilities to the fullest extent just as the player would; often, you'll only be able to hit a weakness on the first turn, before the enemy starts to cover it repeatedly on following turns. There was definitely some good game design on Atlus' part, and to that I commend them for it.
Also added in are combination skills, where two/all of the party use their turns together to execute powerful attacks. While I never used the skills often, I find it a very nice mechanic not just because it gives more options, but because I feel it exemplifies the theme of "comrades" throughout the games, with the Embryon working in cooperation to overcome challenges in battle. It says a lot how combo skills are only present in the Persona series and DDSaga, and I think it's a nice touch that not many people give much credit for. This, combined the exclusive mechanic of Hunt skills to help characters grow stronger, make for a very nice integration of the plot into gameplay.
One thing I would like to note is that grinding can be very time-consuming in these games. A lot of people are likely critical about this aspect of the game. However, I enjoy the gameplay enough that it isn't an issue, and that it feels great to be able to obtain powerful skills through your own ability and perseverance. It fits the "Chaos alignment" mentality that the games have. (I wonder if Yu Godai went Chaos route in her Megaten runs and used that as DDSaga's inspiration...?)
The Characters/Plot
This is probably the greatest reason why Digital Devil Saga is such a beloved installment in the Megaten franchise.
And for good reason.
First, the characters are very well written. If you only considered things from a writing perspective (and ignore gameplay/stats, voices, etc.), chances are that there won't be a single member of the cast that you will actively despise, and if you do, it will be because they were meant to be hated in the first place. Each member of the Embryon gets their place in the spotlight throughout the game, and you can really see their characters develop through the choices and experiences that they come across. This ranges from Argilla's acceptance of devouring others as a necessary evil, to Heat's struggle with feelings that he cannot deal with using force. My personal favorite, however, is Gale's character development, from a monotonous and emotionless tactician, to a man of honor and loyalty. His scene in Digital Devil Saga 2 with Fred is one of my favorite scenes from the games, because it reflects this development of his character. I really have a soft spot for all of the main cast from DDSaga, and if there's only one thing I have to say, it's that Cielo should have had some more focus. A very nice brudda, ja, but his presence in the Embryon is not as pronounced as the other members. But again, everyone was just so likable, regardless of how much attention they got, that I can overlook this. I mean, just watch the snippet from DDSaga 2 to confirm that Cielo is amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pJSLoK0IZM#t=350
Second, the plot development is incredible. It has everything; love, betrayal, friendship (in the form of comrades), humor, sadness, heroism, anti-alcoholism, to name a few things. It has many twists and turns, and even while reading about the series, playing the game through the first time definitely gave me a few surprising and emotional moments. One thing I appreciate very much is that the game has very good usage of narrative techniques, especially foreshadowing and wham lines. Okay, maybe they're not everywhere, but when they do use them, it really hits it home with you. Tell me with a straight face that the revelation of children not existing in the Junkyard was not a "holy crap" moment. Or the scene where Serph gets decommissioned by Heat in the second game.
The apocalyptic story of how the world became subject to the wrath of God is very in-line with the rest of the series, but it does it differently than the rest of the series with its focus on characters and influences from Hinduism. The latter I especially enjoy very much; Hinduism and "datapunk" (as I call it) are not two things you would immediately think of together, but Yu Godai/Tadashi Satomi managed to marry and blend the two concepts together in a seamless fashion that makes for a very nice and unique flavor. You won't be able to find anything like it anywhere else.
The Art/Design/Atmosphere
Alternative title: The part where I talk about Kazuma Kaneko.
Kaneko is undoubtedly my favorite character designer in any form of media. He has an unparalleled skill in creating distinct characters that stay true to what they are based off of, while retaining a unique design to them. Working on Digital Devil Saga, his creativity shines through. Sure, maybe the designs he created for the game aren't the first thing you would think of when imagining "Varuna, god of rain", but from a design perspective, his designs really worked with the game. In an interview, Kaneko stated that he omitted the eyes of the Atma Avatars and placed emphasis on mouths to emphasize the concept of devouring your enemies, and that has always struck me as brilliant. It's the subtle things like that which really make the atmosphere of the game so good. Kaneko really made the game come together with his strong character designs complementing strong characters themselves, giving the game an iconic look. Personally, whenever I think about Digital Devil Saga, the first thing that comes to mind is the Karma ring that the Society uses. I'm not entirely sure why; I guess a ring of hammered-in nails can really get hit into your head, eh?
Also worth mentioning is the world design and atmosphere. I can't really find the words to describe it, but the best way I can put it is that it is very immersive. When I think of the Junkyard, I can just imagine the cold, wet air passing by me, with the ruins of battle under a gloomy sky in the distance. The taste of iron blood in my mouth. The hot, dry wasteland of the Real World, with my skin tingling from the Solar Noise trying to corrupt my data. How the Sun feels like a warm, moist greenhouse. They never outright describe any of these sensations or conditions, but somewhere along the lines, I became sucked into the world of DDSaga and imagined myself in the world I was playing in. I could imagine how everything occurring on screen felt, physically. I don't know if it was just me, but out of all the Megaten games, not one of them captured the same sense of atmosphere and immersion that Digital Devil Saga gave for me; these two games are the most tangible to me. DDSaga 1 & 2 are some of the few games where 'feeling' is a heavy basis of why I love them so much.
THE MUSIC
I am a big, BIG music nut. Well, okay, maybe not in terms of composition, but I love a good soundtrack all day, everyday. And the OST of Digital Devil Saga is incredible. Shoji Meguro always changes his style to complement the games that he composes for, and this is no exception. There is a heavy focus on dissonant rock in the first game, reflecting the focus on "eat or be eaten", where as the second game is much more techno oriented, reflecting the focus on "reality as data". It's touches like these that really make an experience for me.
For a change of pace, I think I'll go down through a list of my favorite tracks from both games, in no particular order:
Junkyard: The world map/area select theme of both Digital Devil Saga games. It is a very good remix/re-purposing of Sera's song that has a style that fits both games' atmospheres. I especially love the song when it plays during the point in DDSaga 2 where the Sun begins to go haywire; to me, the song brings out how it's the Embryon's last stance. It takes on a tone of determination, yet you can hear a bit of sadness/despair as well, which can represent how hopeless their situation is; how do you coerce the Sun before the break of dawn? It is a song that can take on multiple meanings, despite it being only used on a menu screen, and I love it.
Man's Tomb: I'm not entirely sure what compels me about this particular track. It is, for the majority of it, a nice, steady guitar riff with background synths. A very simple tune, but it is one of the better normal dungeon themes in the game, in my opinion. A majority of the DDSaga dungeon themes aren't the most memorable songs in the world, admittedly. This song just has a certain quality to it that just sticks with me.
Big Battle: Has a great buildup and is simply hype incarnate. My favorite battle theme in the first game. Sometimes, less is more. God-tier guitar is god-tier.
Wolf's Pride: I can't find it on Youtube, but this is the only cutscene track in both games that I can remember clearly in my head. The scene it played in, accompanied by the guitar riffs of this track, made a lasting impression in my head that I won't forget. Rest in peace, Lupa.
Occupied Sector/Man Hunting: One of Digital Devil Saga 2's first tracks, the sounds used in the song are the first taste of the techno-feel that the soundtrack has to offer, with a heavy electronic bass and all. It represents to me the separation from the Junkyard; "Welcome to the real world!"
EGG Facility Revisited/Five Years Before: The most atmospheric track in the game, in my opinion. The first time I heard this theme, I knew that everything had gone to hell. This dungeon was actually unnerving to me, and this theme exemplified that feeling. The closest thing in Megaten to a horror-esque atmosphere, and it fit the context of the situation well. (I also just like how the bassline sounds.)
Hunting - Betrayal: Everyone's favorite DDSaga boss theme. I love this track not just because of how badass it is, but also what it represents. As a remix of the regular battle theme of DDSaga 1, to me it represents the experiences that the Embryon had in the Junkyard; those who had fallen around them, their experiences, and how they have grown from battle. This is the theme of Embryon Ass-kicking: the best of the Junkyard, right in your face. The battle with Heat/Vritra to this song is one of my favorites in Megaten. The scene itself brings out the quality of tragedy in this song when the original Hunting kicks in, as if the song is saying, "We're comrades, why must we fight like this? It isn't right!"
The Sun/Nirvana: Another great atmospheric track, one of the main things that helped shaped my aforementioned immersion inside the Sun. I've always imagined the scratchy/static percussion to be Solar Noise at work. Something I find ingenious is how this theme is a remix of DDSaga 2's Mantra Grid theme, symbolizing how Solar Data is the source of everyone's demonic power.
Divine Entity/Brahman: I don't even need to explain why it's one of the best, if not THE best, final boss theme in the Megaten series. JUST LISTEN TO IT. STRINGS. TECHNO. PIANO. THAT GUITAR.
In conclusion
Overall, Digital Devil Saga is by far my favorite spinoff of the Megaten series. It has an amazing cast, very engaging/challenging gameplay, a superb story, an incredibly unique atmosphere, and a great OST; everything I look for in a JRPG.
I could go on, but I cannot think of anything to close off this post, so I will pull something from Rasen's ask.fm that sums up my feelings nicely.
Anyways, I'm not sure what to do, now that this post is over, but I think this calls for one more song:
Long live the Embryon; your stories may have ended, but the journeys that I've spent with you all will be remembered for years to come as one of the best experiences I've had in my history of gaming. YHVH bless.
~Fang
No comments:
Post a Comment