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rustyvanburace · 11 months

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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

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universestreasures · 2 months

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Extension / Spinoff Of This Thread With @shacchou

🎶"Looking up at the sky with you, two bright shining stars call to us. Here we are, standing strong. Shining with our Buddy Lights..."🎶

The gentle and soothing singing voice of his friend was pleasant on the young boy's ears. Never in a million years did he think Tasuku had such a hidden talent, and yet here he is listening to him sing a song from the heart just to try and help him feel better. Then again, the Buddy Police Boy Wonder was good at a lot of things: Buddyfighting, school, investigating; just to name a few. So, him being good at yet another thing shouldn't be too surprising by this point to Mokuba.

He really was just like...Seto, wasn't he?

Drawing those comparisons between Tasuku and his brother was what the young boy had begun to do unconsciously since their initial meeting, but such things slowly became more and more common as he spent more time here. In fact, even now as he sits there listening to the other sing his tune, he can't help but visualize a younger Seto there soothing him instead, despite the fact Mokuba's never heard his brother ever sing before in his life.

Yes, the pre-teen seemed to embody the positive qualities that Mokuba associated with his elder brother from the past: warmth, gentleness, selflessness, compassion, happiness, protectiveness, honesty; all of those things he saw in Tasuku. Perhaps it was those qualities in him that had drawn the younger boy to seek out his help specifically during this time. After all, this entire situation came about because of his own feelings regarding the past, a past he can't seem to stop trying to chase despite promises of a prosperous future.

Such feelings did not change ever since being here. In truth, being around the blue-haired boy just made them stronger, the younger Kaiba feeling a semblance of what was lost the day he and his older brother were adopted. That just spoke though to a simple fact, a fact the boy knew deep down but did not want to admit to himself: that Mokuba had not yet fully accepted in his heart who his brother was today, in spite of their improved relations after Duelist Kingdom.

Mokuba wasn't so naive as to think that neither him or Seto wouldn't change over time. That would be nonsensical, especially considering the circumstances of their lives since becoming Kaiba's. No, what Mokuba couldn't seem to comprehend, and felt frustration and sadness towards, was why his brother was still...well...a stick in the mud, to put it nicely, long after their stepfather was gone.

From his viewpoint, that man was the sole reason for Seto's major shift in demeanor. So why did he have to keep acting so cold and grumpy now? Like he wasn't looking forward to the future he had been preparing for them all this time? The question went unanswered in his mind, no matter how much he tried to come up with an answer.

It had taken Mokuba some time to regain his own true smile after everything that's happened, no part in short thanks to Yugi's crew and his own he managed to make. He wants the same for his brother, to heal past the pain of Gozaboru's tryannny and be able to be as happy as he was prior to it. That selfless desire that seemed so far out of reach was a key part of why he was so hurt. He felt like his brother was just keeping himself miserable needlessly, overworking himself to death and isolating himself from and rejecting anyone who dare try to add some happiness into his life.

He just wanted his brother to be happy again like he was before, to play with games again truly for the fun of it and not in pursuit of revenge or victory. Was that so wrong to wish? To wish his brother could try to start to heal after the suffering they both went through, like Mokuba had?

Clearly, that sentiment was wrong. Otherwise, the elder Kaiba wouldn't have rejected his feelings that night so fiercely. In spite of his good intentions, Mokuba's feelings were burdening his brother, trying to drag him to a place he didn't want to go near for reasons not understood. It's something he's felt since a young age and seen time and time again to the point where he questions whether his inclusion in Seto's life was ever a good thing.

If Mokuba wasn't around, then his brother no doubt would have been adopted quickly and potentially not by a monster like Gozaboru.

If Mokuba wasn't around, his brother wouldn't have had to fight so hard to protect and care for him all the time, to secure a future for them both when securing one for a genius like him alone would have been easier.

If Mokuba wasn't around...perhaps he never would have lost his smile to begin with.

The very thought causes tears to come from his purple eyes, syncing up with the end of Tasuku's sweet song. His breaths came out shaky, unable to stop the floodgates from flowing. Without needing to think, his hands move to clasp the pair of lockets around his neck, as if he would die without doing so.

"Why...? Why?! Why am I such a burden?! Such a bad brother?!"

His voice echoed throughout the small apartment room, his voice portraying the inner pain he felt akin to being kicked in the gutts. Why did he have to follow Gao's advice? Why did he have to speak his mind and say such hurtful things? Why didn't he just let things be as they are despite wanting so much more, like he's done before? Why did he do something that would risk his staying in his brother's life?!

Perhaps taking that risk was why Seto had yet to contact him since he left. Because maybe he felt the same thing Mokuba was starting to think: that he didn't want him to come back. That way, his brother wouldn't have to entertain the younger boy's 'nonsense' anymore, and he could live his life without being reminded of the past he clearly was repulsed by.

Maybe...things were better off this way, after all...

"Mokie Mokuba."

The all-too-familiar voice reaches his ears, and an all-too-familiar touch can be felt on his shoulders. Mokuba opened his teary eyes slowly in response. In front of him, with his vision blurred by the water, he...saw him. He saw his brother, but not the one of the past, but of the present.

Did he come here to see him? Did he come here to take him home? Did he come here because...he still loved him?

"S...eto...?"

"You're not..."

"A burden or a bad brother." The illusion Mokuba's mind had created shattered with Tasuku's next words, as gentle as they were. The young Kaiba was now thrust again into reality, purple hues glancing up at his friend who had been the one speaking the whole time. Seems like his mind and heart were continuing to play tricks on him.

How cruel.

"Listen to me. You've done nothing wrong. It's your brother who has. Don't blame yourself for his mistakes." Mokuba is then pulled into the other's arms, him being comforted by Tasuku's warmth. "Never think you can't express how you're feeling or that it's wrong to feel how you do, no matter who tells you."

The embrace lasted as long as he needed to calm himself. After having cried himself to death, the older kid lets go, gently standing up from his position of sitting next to the boy in order to gently try and guide Mokuba to lie down once again. Once he is set, he watches Tasuku grab the blankets, scattered at the bottom of the bed, and attempts to tuck him back in, not realizing his method of tucking was not to Mokuba's preference (it was too tight). Still, the young Kaiba didn't voice anything to the contrary, for he had lost his voice from all that crying.

"Now, try to get some rest, okay? Gao is coming over tomorrow. He said he wants to have a game of Capsule Monsters with you. I'm sure you two will have a blast." Tasuku then moves to the door's exit, Mokuba glancing over at the soft smile he can see through the light coming from the rest of the apartment. "Sleep well, Mokuba. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me or Jack. We're here for you."

The door then closes, leaving Mokuba alone in the room whose only light source was a nightlight Tasuku had gotten for him. He reaches for his Blue-Eyes plush, hugging it tightly for support. It's then he reaches with one of his arms to open his own locket, staring at the picture of Seto inside intensely until he passes out from emotional and physical exhaustion.

#💎 Crystalized Hidden Gems (Drabble)#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba)#💎 Wonder Treasure (Tasuku Ryuenji)#💎 President With A Blue-Eyed Lighting (Shacchou)#💎 Vice's Monochromic Alternate Path (Mokuba Manga Verse)#💎 Wonder's Game Of Life (Tasuku Yu-Gi-Oh! DM Verse)#tw long post #tw ptsd #(I told Ani a spin off drabble of Mokuba's POV during this angst fest was coming and here it is. ;;;;;#(mokuba's pain just hurts me so much like bby no you're not a burden and your brother loves you ;;;;;#(this takes place the night before gao's visit where he pitches that idea to tasuku further showing why tasuku was not about it #( i also wanted to have a specific thing for Tasuku to reference for the eventual interaction with Seto #(the song tasuku is singing here is actually the ED his va does sing in the show and is a song other chrs have sung IN universe too #(plus Soma Saitou has such a beautiful voice like omg ;;;#(I thought it was fitting and sweet to include it. tasuku doesnt like share his singing talent with others that much unless they are close #(more so because he figured he'd start getting people to want to turn him into an idol if it went public #(its something he learnt how to do from his mother much like seto with his piano playing from what Ani has told me which #(another thing these two have in common icb this LOL #(the song is linked on all the lyrics in the reply if anyone wants to listen to it! soma saitou tasukus va has such a wonderful voice ;;;#(but yeah i hope ani and anyone else who reads this enjoys it despite the angst! it's good to have mokubas headspace written out prior to #(his inveitable talk with seto #(providing context as to where he's at and such #(also getting to dive into mokubas sub concious projecting of seto onto tasuku that just really shows how he needs #(his brother rn despite tasukus best efforts to try and be that sort of figure for him rn

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