I think my real rating for this game would be 4.7/4.8 out of 5, and only because I think the menus are kinda clumsy and unintuitive and shuffling the skills demons inherit through fusion is boring.
Otherwise? I think this was peak JRPG and dungeon crawling for me. Everything about Nocturne is simply pure art, from the BEAUTIFUL and strong visual identity to the iconic and extremely unique OST that, when put together with the game's themes, characters and narrative, an opressive ambience is estabilished - an ambience that is unlike anything else I've seen in videogames so far. It instantly became an all-time favourite of mine.
The combat mechanics may not be as sophisticated as other titles in the genre (or in the same franchise, with games like SMTIV having superior combat IMO), but it simply works really really well, and you feel like every move can be useful. I also loved how there wasn't a huge focus on fusing a lot of demons everytime, but on the dungeons itself, which are where resides the core experience of this game. I kinda missed a story that made itself more present throughout the course of the game, but reaching it's end it's awesome how this more simple and philosophical narrative choice works wonders to the deliver the exact amount of impact in the game's endings - which are all very interesting and fulfilling in different ways.
Nocturne combines what I love the most in JRPGs and SMT with a unique personality and ambience that's yet to be replicated (even though I doubt it will ever be). It's everything I thought it would be and more. Pure delight.
Otherwise? I think this was peak JRPG and dungeon crawling for me. Everything about Nocturne is simply pure art, from the BEAUTIFUL and strong visual identity to the iconic and extremely unique OST that, when put together with the game's themes, characters and narrative, an opressive ambience is estabilished - an ambience that is unlike anything else I've seen in videogames so far. It instantly became an all-time favourite of mine.
The combat mechanics may not be as sophisticated as other titles in the genre (or in the same franchise, with games like SMTIV having superior combat IMO), but it simply works really really well, and you feel like every move can be useful. I also loved how there wasn't a huge focus on fusing a lot of demons everytime, but on the dungeons itself, which are where resides the core experience of this game. I kinda missed a story that made itself more present throughout the course of the game, but reaching it's end it's awesome how this more simple and philosophical narrative choice works wonders to the deliver the exact amount of impact in the game's endings - which are all very interesting and fulfilling in different ways.
Nocturne combines what I love the most in JRPGs and SMT with a unique personality and ambience that's yet to be replicated (even though I doubt it will ever be). It's everything I thought it would be and more. Pure delight.