Relax, April Fools is over. You can get excited now.
Considering yesterday was April 1st, it’s no wonder that some announcements that may seem too good to be true were held off until today. Case in point, this morning Atlus announced that after 10 years, Shin Megami Tensei will be returning to the states with the fourth mainline title in the series this summer, exclusively for the 3DS.
The new entry simply titled Shin Megami Tensei IV, is the first true successor in the beloved franchise since 2004’s Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne and is being built with the 3DS’ unique features in mind. Outside of StreetPass and 3D, it's still not known if any other specific features will be utilized.
The story of SMTIV revolves around “the sacred protectors of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado,” the Samurai. The player will be thrust into the role of a newly appointed Samurai, and will be responsible for making preparations to defend the kingdom from a growing army of demons. Decisions made by the player will shape the story and the world.
The press release also bullets some more specific features to get fans riled up. These include:
- A World to Discover, A Mystery to Uncover - The life of a Samurai is fraught with peril. Players must leave the safety of the kingdom in order to defend it from the invading demons. There the story unfolds as they become involved in a fierce battle between God and demons.
- Demon Collection and Fusion - The core mechanic of the Shin Megami Tensei series returns with more than 400 demons to recruit, collect, and fuse together. Players will constantly be challenged with balancing the strengths of their demons to ultimately excel in battle.
- Choices and Consequences - Throughout the player's journey, they must choose their own path. The choices will affect them, other NPCs, and the overall outcome of the story. Branching story paths require careful consideration since the fates of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado and the rest of the world hang in the balance.
- Pressing the Combat Advantage - The Press Turn system requires strategic thinking for every battle. Pinpointing an enemy's weakness will provide a vital extra turn for players to exploit. But there are dangers as well...reckless attacks against demons cause players to lose their turns and give the enemy an opening to strike back.
SMTIV is being released this summer as a “premium title.” This may explain the game’s MSRP of $49.99 (according to the press release), which is higher than the normal $39.99 that a majority of 3DS titles a released at.
Let us know what your thoughts are on the long awaited return of Shin Megami Tensei by sounding off in the comments section below!
Press Release
Shin Megami Tensei Returns
The Mature-themed Role Playing Game Franchise Is Back After a Decade With Shin Megami Tensei IV
IRVINE, Calif. - April 2, 2013 - It's been nearly ten years since the last chapter closed in the original Shin Megami Tensei® role playing game (RPG) series, but the long wait is nearly over. Developed by the award-winning ATLUS team, Shin Megami Tensei IV (SMTIV) features powerful new demons, expansive dungeons, epic story arcs with branching plot lines, game-altering decision making, and more. Built specifically for the Nintendo 3DS™ system with optimized graphics, 3-D dungeons, voiced dialogue, and StreetPass functionality, SMTIV will be a premium title available this summer.
Building on the styles of ATLUS' Persona, Devil Summoner, and Devil Survivor titles, SMTIV is the first true successor to 2004's Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. The story of SMTIV revolves around the Samurai, the sacred protectors of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. As a newly appointed Samurai, players will struggle with factions that have nefarious designs on the world as they defend their home kingdom from a growing army of demons. Decisions players make throughout the course of the story will have lasting repercussions, as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Shin Megami Tensei IV blends familiar features from previous SMT games with all-new features that take advantage of the Nintendo 3DS system, including:
A World to Discover, A Mystery to Uncover - The life of a Samurai is fraught with peril. Players must leave the safety of the kingdom in order to defend it from the invading demons. There the story unfolds as they become involved in a fierce battle between God and demons.
Demon Collection and Fusion - The core mechanic of the Shin Megami Tensei series returns with more than 400 demons to recruit, collect, and fuse together. Players will constantly be challenged with balancing the strengths of their demons to ultimately excel in battle.
Choices and Consequences - Throughout the player's journey, they must choose their own path. The choices will affect them, other NPCs, and the overall outcome of the story. Branching story paths require careful consideration since the fates of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado and the rest of the world hang in the balance.
Pressing the Combat Advantage - The Press Turn system requires strategic thinking for every battle. Pinpointing an enemy's weakness will provide a vital extra turn for players to exploit. But there are dangers as well...reckless attacks against demons cause players to lose their turns and give the enemy an opening to strike back.
"The return of the legendary Shin Megami Tensei series is one of the biggest milestones yet for ATLUS and the 3DS," said Naoto Hiraoka, president and chief executive officer, Index Digital Media, Inc. "Since this is the first title from the original SMT series in a decade, we tapped the best developers from many of ATLUS' acclaimed projects including Nocturne, Strange Journey, Persona, and Soul Hackers to create a premium experience that lives up to our fans' and our own expectations."
Shin Megami Tensei IV will be exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS system and sold as a premium title beginning this summer. The game is expected to receive an M rating from the ESRB, but is not yet rated. More details will be revealed in the future, with updates on the official SMTIV website at http://www.atlus.com/smt4.
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