I don't really play many RPGs. Certainly in terms of classic turn-based menu-oriented RPGs all I have under my belt are a few generations of Pokémon, Golden Sun, and the first quarter of Chrono Trigger—most of which I played as a child. But my girlfriend talked me into playing this, and it turns out to be amazing.
More than anything else, Nocturne reminds me of deck-building games. The process of acquiring new demons, while Pokémonesque on the surface, differs substantially in the way it plays out in practice. Demons require much more XP to level than the protagonist, forcing the player to engage with the fusion mechanic. This in turn carries over skills, allowing the player to gradually craft synergistic teams while also reacting to new constraints in terms of available fusions and distinct strategies required by different bosses.
The game shines within battles as well. Its signature press-turn weakness/resistance system allows for complex sequencing of plays, and the dance of bufss, debuffs, and resets makes even weakness-free boss fights engaging.
By the end of the game, I was doing what I lovingly referred to as "ten-dimensional calculus", with dozens of fusion calculator tabs open in my browser trying to assemble the very best possible team to fight the notorious final boss of the secret ending. And in the end, my plan succeeded and I walked all over him. That's what I call videogames.
More than anything else, Nocturne reminds me of deck-building games. The process of acquiring new demons, while Pokémonesque on the surface, differs substantially in the way it plays out in practice. Demons require much more XP to level than the protagonist, forcing the player to engage with the fusion mechanic. This in turn carries over skills, allowing the player to gradually craft synergistic teams while also reacting to new constraints in terms of available fusions and distinct strategies required by different bosses.
The game shines within battles as well. Its signature press-turn weakness/resistance system allows for complex sequencing of plays, and the dance of bufss, debuffs, and resets makes even weakness-free boss fights engaging.
By the end of the game, I was doing what I lovingly referred to as "ten-dimensional calculus", with dozens of fusion calculator tabs open in my browser trying to assemble the very best possible team to fight the notorious final boss of the secret ending. And in the end, my plan succeeded and I walked all over him. That's what I call videogames.