Gonzalinho
2006
1989
2010
This review contains spoilers
The first SMT I played. 2 years after abandoning this game at the Zelenin neutral fight, I beat the remake and started playing other SMTs from the main saga. By pure boredeness, I decided to give this version another go with a chaos character, and managed to get the credits roll.
In general, the game is fun, altough the fusion system is pretty limited (only 6 skills per demon, heritage limitations and having to reroll to get certain skills) and the last half of the game has some pretty nasty dungeons. Both things are kinda fixed in the remake.
Another problem this game has is that by the time you get to Mem Aleph/Pillar Zelenin, you barely have level 70 and it is common practice to grind xp to get some decent demons that can beat the game (I actually beat the game at level 69 with a couple of good support demons and a high level Mara you can get from a side quest, so it doesn't apply so much to the chaos ending). I would have liked that demons in Horologium give you more xp.
Overall is one of my favourite games from the saga. It has an amazing plot, OST, gameplay and difficulty. The main turn-off are some dungeons dessigns, but appart from that is a pretty solid JRPG. I actually think this version and the remake are as good, but I would prefer the last one because of the fussion system improvements.
In general, the game is fun, altough the fusion system is pretty limited (only 6 skills per demon, heritage limitations and having to reroll to get certain skills) and the last half of the game has some pretty nasty dungeons. Both things are kinda fixed in the remake.
Another problem this game has is that by the time you get to Mem Aleph/Pillar Zelenin, you barely have level 70 and it is common practice to grind xp to get some decent demons that can beat the game (I actually beat the game at level 69 with a couple of good support demons and a high level Mara you can get from a side quest, so it doesn't apply so much to the chaos ending). I would have liked that demons in Horologium give you more xp.
Overall is one of my favourite games from the saga. It has an amazing plot, OST, gameplay and difficulty. The main turn-off are some dungeons dessigns, but appart from that is a pretty solid JRPG. I actually think this version and the remake are as good, but I would prefer the last one because of the fussion system improvements.
2009
2018
It's a promising game with many good things, and many bad things. There are well designed mechanics, like the total customization of the difficulty settings and your starter "land", but other things like combat or colonist IA makes it hard to not get tilted while playing at the game. Overall, I think the game rely too much on randomness, and many times it makes less good than bad. My personal recommendation to play this game is intalling QoL mods or playing other similar games instead.
2016
It's kinda of a niche game, but amazingly executed. All game mechanics kinda fit together. Balanced and pretty fun, It's the perfect example of an indie studio pouring love into their game.
I hear constantly that it's a difficult game, yet there are several minitutorials and tips that explain you all basic mechanics when you unlock them throught the game, and also a tutorial mode. Still, you can complete the game on your first try with your own means, and you can also beat it with super optimized stuff, which is the best part: there is never a "right" way to play this game.
I hear constantly that it's a difficult game, yet there are several minitutorials and tips that explain you all basic mechanics when you unlock them throught the game, and also a tutorial mode. Still, you can complete the game on your first try with your own means, and you can also beat it with super optimized stuff, which is the best part: there is never a "right" way to play this game.