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Shin Megami Tensei II

Developed By: Atlus
Review By: Names
Written on: Wednesday, August, 23rd, 2006 at 06:44:37 pm
Rating: 75%
Site: here
System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System

DISCLAIMER: As with most reviews, this one contains spoilers, though they were kept to a minimum. Also, I may in the future post this on other sites.

INTRODUCTION
Some several decades ago in the 1990’s, there was a violent conflict between the forces of Law and Chaos, in the end leaving the world ravaged and ruined. Though the war had come to an end, humanity was yet left to struggle for its survival, now against the harsh and abrasive new world it had been so suddenly thrust into. Eventually, upon the ruins of old Tokyo, a new city governed by the church of Mesia, followers of God, was built. With its secure, self-contained environment, soon people from all around the world had flocked to the refuge of Tokyo Millennium, as it was called. It is here that Shin Megami Tensei II is set.

PLOT 95%
The story begins with our meeting the silent protagonist, Hawk, who is afflicted with amnesia, and Okamoto, the feisty old man who serves as both his personal trainer and parent. We learn that Hawk has been participating with great success in a Coliseum Tournament and that he is now ready to enter the final round which will determine who comes home with the glorious status of Champion. Before setting out for the final round of the Tournament, things take a turn for the mysterious when Hawk spaces out to have a vision wherein he finds himself in a lab where he is asked by an old man to assign a name to the human figure lying suspended in a laboratory vat.

Needless to say, things do get off to a slow start. During the first half of the game, the player will find himself running various menial and tedious errands that contribute little to the plot; of special attention is a pair of the two dullest, and most frustrating, directionless fetch quests I’ve ever had to perform in an RPG. To be sure, compelling plot points and questions are presented, but their impact is blunted by all the traveling and task work.

It’s in the second half of the game that things really begin to shine. The game’s atmosphere takes on an engaging air of starkness, of dark mystery and occult. Mysteries unravel, questions receive intriguing answers, conspiracies are exposed, and motives revealed. And, to add icing to the cake, you get to take sides (or no side at all) in the ensuing conflict. Sure, the game’s latter half is not without its fair share of tedium, of wandering hither and thither and performing dull chores, of frustration; but when the credits roll, you are left knowing that you have just experienced a truly compelling, if not expertly executed, story.

GRAPHICS 65%
While Shin Megami Tensei II’s storyline is excellent, the graphics don’t fare quite so well. You’ll find yourself unimpressed with the dull attack animations in battle; you’ll find yourself growing weary at seeing the same two or three varieties of tile and wall as you wander through a dungeon; and you’ll find yourself apathetic towards the overworld map, which looks something like an oddly-colored cross between Sim City and a Lego landscape. And of particular note is that, with the exception of the overworld map, the entire game, battles and all, is presented wholly from a first person point of view, which, in addition to not looking particularly nice, often makes it that much more difficult to traverse the game’s labyrinthine passages and dungeons. That said, the graphics do get the job done and are for the most part decent; they’re just thoroughly mediocre.

Thoroughly mediocre with a couple of exceptions, that is. The story and dialogue scenes, while nothing impressive, are nonetheless well-drawn and animated; and the battle backgrounds are well done, too. More graphically outstanding, though, is the game’s myriad demons. From the phallic, many-tentacled Mara, to the handsome Loki, it is unmistakable that the artist has put careful thought and detail into his work. And the demons aren’t just merely drawn, either--they’re animated. Granted, the animations aren’t terribly impressive, oftentimes being nothing more than flashing eyes or snapping mouths, but they are a nice touch that brings the game a dash of life.

MUSIC 70%
Musically, Shin Megami Tensei II is a mixed bag. On one hand there are such fine pieces as the catchy battle theme, the faintly moving credits music, and the starkly evocative compositions prevalent in the Abyss; on the other hand there’s horribly cheesy and repetitive stuff, such as that which plays on the overworld map or that which is heard on the way to and from the Center. Fortunately, the good counters the bad, albeit at cost to the overall aural appeal.

GAMEPLAY 65%
The gameplay is, for the most part, standard RPG fare. HP and MP; random turn-based battles which reward experience, money, and the occasional item; leveling up and learning new spells as you do so; allocating stat points; and going on shopping sprees at the local armory or drug store--you will find all of that in this game.

The gameplay’s one highpoint is provided by the demons encountered in battles throughout the game. When you are met by a group of demons, which are the MegaTen analogue to the monsters typical of other RPGs, you are given the option of trying to engage them in conversation. If the demons are willing to hear you out, an exchange ensues. Depending on the choices in dialogue you make, as well as your intelligence level, the demons may flee, assault you, give you a gift, or even become your ally. Should a demon choose to join you, it will be placed in computer storage wherefrom you may withdraw it for a small fee to help you in battle. Beware, though, for as you walk about, demons accompanying you will gradually consume your supply of magnetite, which, once depleted, will result in rapid draining of their HP. (Your magnetite supply can be replenished by defeating demons, receiving some as a gift from them, or finding it in boxes.) In addition to serving as party members, demons can be fused with each other at the Jackyou Manor, free of cost. With the performance of the fusion ceremony, a new demon is born, its variety and power dependent on the participants. In addition to fusing just demons, after a certain point in the game, you’re also granted the option of fusing demons with weapons (and weapons with weapons, if you don‘t wish to sacrifice your hard-earned minions), a process that can result in new and improved armaments.

The single blemish on the gameplay--and it’s very much a significant one--is in the exploration aspect. Virtually every area in the game, with the exception of the world map, is constructed like a winding labyrinth. Even with assistance from your handy map, which gradually fills in as you explore an area, (you’ll be using that thing a lot) you’ll find yourself frequently getting lost and running into dead ends. Even while navigating through familiar areas, you’re likely to meet with a dead end or two or find yourself unable to locate your destination. To make matters worse, as you wander through these maze-like locales, as mentioned earlier, your demons will consume your supply of magnetite. Though you’re likely to be able to maintain your magnetite levels, so long as you’re careful not to use too many demons and/or overly powerful ones, you’re nevertheless left feeling discouraged to explore, something that makes little sense in a game that entails so much wandering. And as though this isn’t enough, several of the dungeons are filled with annoying traps and puzzles which serve to frustrate, rather than enrich.

OTHER
It is absolutely imperative that you use a walkthrough while playing Shin Megami Tensei II. Not infrequently it is the case that you are given little or no direction as to what you must do next. Particularly with the pair of tedious, backtracking fetch quests that appear near the middle of the game, you are bound to spend hours upon hours wandering around, without some sort of guidance.

Another thing that must be noted is that the story draws heavily on religion, using it in a way that some might find offensive. I would, in particular, advise those of Abrahamic faith (Jews and Christians, for example) to exercise caution in considering whether to play this game.

CONCLUSION
Overall, Shin Megami Tensei II receives a 75% from me. It’s an excellent game, with an engaging atmosphere and intriguing storyline, but a few serious flaws hold it back from the greatness it came so near to achieving.

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