#Genuinely I really hope this game gets a remastered port AND done properly so that more people can experience this gem of a RPG

[rustyvanburace]

It’s May 23rd in JST now and Shin Megami Tensei IV celebrates its 10th year anniversary...

I bought this game during the Atlus 3DS mega sale last year, initially having doubts as there were some things about IV I was hesitant on. I had only just played SMT Nocturne and V at the time, being a series greenhorn then, who of course couldn’t say no those unbeatable sales. I don’t think I would have even bought IV if it weren’t for the huge discount. I asked my Twitter followers whether my next game should be this or Strange Journey Redux.

I’m so thankful now that they picked IV for me. (Spoilers below)

Almost immediately upon playing IV, I was absorbed by its mysterious narrative and surprising use of setting. Compared to Nocturne and V, which both relied heavily on atmospheric story-telling and intentional vagueness in their cast (which I can also appreciate), I had practically fallen in love overnight with IV’s intricate world-building and its down-to-earth cast. Jonathan, Walter, and Isabeau were more than just vehicles used to propel an alignment, but they were first and foremost people with their own lives, dreams, interests, strengths, and comedic setbacks. Even the most minor of characters had so much to say. And then, as I already really enjoyed the Press Turn System, having it still in IV and tying it all together with the Smirk mechanic made it all the more fun and satisfying for me. Very early on I was challenged by the game’s merciless difficulty that kept me fully engaged. I felt so triumphant when I finally did topple the Minotaur and Medusa.

Surprisingly IV’s story was something that had long eluded me and felt so at-a-distance. I already knew a couple (spoilery) things about other SMT games I hadn’t played yet, but somehow IV kept itself hidden. I of course knew that Tokyo would be coming and I already had a lot of preconceptions and expectations as I played. But despite those, IV still surprised me and seized my being into becoming a participant and witness. I still felt the weight of rediscovering Tokyo. I expected Issachar to become a jealous rival and I mourned his death all the same. I was shaken by the immediate parallels I saw that was happening in real-life (like the book bans). I was confronted by weighted choices that actually made me stop to confront my own beliefs, far more than Nocturne and V ever did, and then left me to deal with the consequences of those choices. When Walter finally turned on Jonathan at the meeting with Lilith, thereby severing their friendships for their own beliefs, I was literally shaking with trembling hands holding my 3DS. I already knew of Blasted and Internal Tokyos way ahead cause of a guide I was using, but never actually expected them to be alternate worlds or to be confronted by phantoms coaxing me to bring about a nihilistic end.

My gut wrenched in mourning when I heard Issachar’s true voice spoken through The White. And again when, having taken the chaos route, heard Jonathan’s dying breath after slaying Merkabah. I was heartbroken too that my actions and decisions lead to Walter’s and Isabeau’s own deaths too.

After initially doubting this game and having convinced myself that Nocturne would probably be the only SMT game I really like, my doubts and expectations were thoroughly dashed at very turn. IV had hit every nail on the head in a RPG I had, at the time, been struggling to find in a lot of other RPGs.

I love SMT IV. I plainly do. Its heavy weight and darkness, but also glimmer of hope that shines in-between, has been a source of both engrossment and comfort. Now having played every mainline game, I can partly understand why a lot of people were/are very hard on IV because of how much it harkens back to SMT1 and 2. But having played those myself now, those experiences only makes me appreciate IV that much more as what I see as a celebration of SMT’s long history and the beauty of its story-telling. And I think that to just dismiss IV as a mere copy of previous games is showing disrepect toward how much loving care and attention to detail was invested into the directing, writing, and overall development of this game. As well as how it creatively re-imagines and ties 1 and 2′s narratives together. IV has even got guest illustrators who contributed art pieces and new demon designs. SMT IV is not a lazy rehash by any means, but a celebration of what came before and what could come next.

My first passing encounter with IV, actually, was many years ago. Long before I even got into SMT. It was with the release of IV Apocalypse in 2016. It had very briefly caught my attention then and I think I had considered trying it. In the end I didn’t but I sometimes wonder to myself what if I had. Would it have led to me becoming curious in the prequel and discovering IV a lot sooner? Would I have become this enamoured with IV as I am today? Or would I have just lost interest while playing IV Apocalypse, not finding it as satisfying or having difficulty following it, and thereby never give IV a chance? I actually do love IV Apocalypse, but a lot of that hinges on IV itself. Though I often wish to myself I had discovered IV a long time ago, I also think now it is good and even better that I discovered it during this tumultuous point in present time and personal life. So much of my love for IV is tied to bringing me much needed comfort, introducing me to friends who I now love, and even just hitting every head in a RPG I’ve been looking for.

So I think then that, yes, it was good actually that IV eluded me for this long until that Atlus 3DS sale happened. And I am immensely grateful for that as, again, I don’t think I would’ve given IV a chance if not for that. All else I can say is, thank you again Atlus and all those who contributed, for bringing this game to light.

#Oop I REALLY went off on this one but I love this game too dearly so who can blame me #Genuinely I really hope this game gets a remastered port AND done properly so that more people can experience this gem of a RPG #shin megami tensei iv #smt4 #smt4 spoilers #smtiv #Rusty's Prattles