Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (2009) (Nintendo DS) (Atlus)

The next installment in the mainline Megami Tensei series is both fresh and familiar at the same time. Like Devil Survivor before it, Strange Journey was developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS but the new game is a first person dungeon crawler rather than a JRPG/SRPG hybrid.

The Antarctic settings couldn't be more different from the pre- and/or post-apocalyptic Tokyo we've seen in games like Devil Survivor, Nocturne and Persona, and the intriguing retro sci-fi vibe also stands out from previous titles (although familiar-looking character and demon design adds a stronge sense of continuity to the experience). The first person dungeon exploration is obviously highly reminiscent of SMT1 and 2 but the addition of something called a "Demonica suit" seems to have introduced a few new gameplay mechanics as well. Also, Shoji Meguro's unusually orchestral soundtrack - with its particularly effective use of vocals - is pretty awesome...

At the time of writing there is no information available on whether an English localization is planned, but considering all recent SMT games (including spin-offs) have been released at least in the US, a North American release for next year might not be too much to hope for...

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Shin
• Megami
• Tensei
• Strange
• Journey
• Atlus
• Nintendo
• DS
• JRPG
• 真・女神転生
• Shoji
• Meguro
• Kazuma
• Kaneko
• First
• person
• Turn-based
• Party-based
• Demon
• fusion
• negotiation
• Wizardry

[Maximusmadrica]

I'm going to go get it today after work.

[Demiath]

Sounds like a very good idea. My own pre-preordered import copy has just shipped from some warehouse outside Toronto of all places...

[guila1001]

correct me if im wrong but it's goin to have a USA release twomorrow...right?

[Demiath]

That's right, US gamers should be able to buy the game today. Lucky bastards... ;)

[Bakutakamine]

My internet had been f'd up recently, and this loads very fast compared to what ive been getting, tank u :3

[Jamick98Geass]

This game is so fun. I got it on release day. :)