Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
From MegatenWiki
Contents |
[edit] Title
| Kanji | English | Place of Release |
| 真・女神転生 III: Nocturne | (Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne) | (JP) |
| 真・女神転生 III: Nocturne マニアクス | (Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniacs) | (JP) |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne | (NA) | |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call | (EU) |
[edit] Systems & Dates
| PS2 | 2003.02.20 | |
| PS2 | (Deluxe Box) | 2003.02.20 |
| PS2 | (Maniacs) | 2004.04.29 |
| PS2 | (the Best) | 2004.08.05 |
| PS2 | (U.S. Version) | 2004.10.12 |
| PS2 | (EU Version) | 2005.07.01 |
[edit] About
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is the English version of the Japanese ATLUS Playstation 2 RPG title Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne Maniacs. It is a director's cut version of the game Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne, which is just like Maniacs, but lacks extra areas, characters, etc. The first incarnation of the game was released in Japan in February of 2003. Maniacs was released a year later in 2004 in Japan, and as Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne in the USA in October 2004.
In Nocturne, you are a boy who starts out by taking an innocent trip to the hospital to visit your sick teacher, Yuko Takao, with your friends Chiaki Tachibana and Isamu Nitta. On the way to the hospital and upon arrival, there is a strange feeling in the air accompanied with even stranger happenings, and soon you find yourself the survivor of the apocalypse and a resident of what is called the Tokyo Conception. Given amazing powers and capabilities bestowed upon you from the Magatama given to you by a strange boy, you must set out on a quest to help recreate the world how it once was, or give birth to a new world with the guidance of a kotowari (reason).
[edit] How does Maniacs differ from the original release?
- The Amara Deep Zone (also called the Labyrinth of Amala) dungeons and events.
- A sixth ending(True Demon) obtainable by completing the Labyrinth of Amala.
- A bonus for keeping your first demon party member(Pixie), or a demon created by fusing her, in your group until reaching the 5th Kalpa(floor) of the Labyrinth of Amala.
- Bonus Majin boss battles (In English; Fiends)
- Deathstone fusions; allows creation of Fiend demons.
- Devil May Cry 2's Dante: you fight him, and you can have him in your party near the end if certain obligations are met.
- The option of allowing Jaaku Frost (Black Frost) join your party.
- The option of allowing the manekata (manikins) Futomimi and Sakahagi join your party.
- The option to fight and later enlist the help of Beelzebub and Metatron.(both met in the Labyrinth of Amala)
- The move 'Penetrate'(Pierce) can be obtained by completing the Labyrinth of Amala. (Ignores enemy resistance except Repel on Physical)
- Minor normal game event changes and additions based on the progression through the Labyrinth of Amala.
- Graveyard High Score battles can be played in the Labyrinth of Amala, and upon completion a special event can be obtained in the second playthrough.
- A new jacket for the protagonist at the start. On a second playthrough, you can choose the original or Maniacs outfit for a stat bonus.
- A choice to play Normal or Hard mode in any number of playthroughs.
- Elimination of the Debug Mode.
- Added true final boss for the True Demon ending, Daimaou(Devil) Lucifer.
[edit] What are the differences between the English and Japanese versions?
The differences between the two versions are few and only involve names of people, places, and things.
| Japanese Translation | English Version | |
|---|---|---|
| Hitoshura | = | Demi-Fiend |
| Chiaki Tachibana | = | Chiaki Hayasaka (changed because of restriction on number of roman characters) |
| Amara Deep Zone | = | Labyrinth of Amala |
| Majin | = | Fiends |
| Jakyo Manor | = | Cathedral of Shadows |
| Akuma Zensho(o) | = | Demonic Compendium |
| Manekata | = | Manikins |
| Jaaku Frost | = | Black Frost |
| Mother Harlot | = | The Harlot |
Most demon races were also changed; some remained. Here are the changes:
| Kanji | Japanese Translation | English Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 魔神 | Majin | = | Deity |
| 女神 | Megami | = | Megami |
| 破壊神 | Hakaishin | = | Fury |
| 地母神 | Jiboshin | = | Lady |
| 鬼神 | Kishin | = | Kishin |
| 聖獣 | Seiju | = | Holy |
| 精霊 | Seirei | = | Element |
| 御魂 | Mitama | = | Mitama |
| 妖魔 | Yoma | = | Yoma |
| 妖精 | Yousei | = | Fairy |
| 天使 | Tenshi | = | Divine |
| 堕天使 | Datenshi | = | Fallen |
| 竜王 | Ryuo | = | Snake |
| 魔獣 | Maju | = | Beast |
| 地霊 | Chirei | = | Jirae |
| 妖鬼 | Yoki | = | Brute |
| 鬼女 | Kijo | = | Femme |
| 邪神 | Jashin | = | Vile |
| 魔王 | Maou | = | Tyrant |
| 夜魔 | Yama | = | Night |
| 妖獣 | Yoju | = | Wilder |
| 幽鬼 | Yuki | = | Haunt |
| 外道 | Gedo | = | Foul |
| 大天使 | Daitenshi | = | Seraph |
| 軍神 | Gunshin | = | Wargod |
| 幻魔 | Genma | = | Genma |
| 竜神 | Ryujin | = | Dragon |
| 神獣 | Shinju | = | Avatar |
| 霊鳥 | Reicho | = | Avian |
| 凶鳥 | Kyocho | = | Raptor |
| 威霊 | Iryo | = | Entity |
| 魔人 | Majin | = | Fiend |
[edit] Major Characters
| Name | Kanji | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| 'The Hero' | This is your character, the protagonist of SMT3. He's a young quiet boy who's undecided about his future, and we join him on the way to the hospital to visit his sick teacher. You can name him whatever you want, but during the game a lot of demons will be calling you Hito-Shura - 人修羅, or Demi-Fiend if you're playing the English version. Shortly after starting the game he is transformed into a demon, yet maintains his human heart. The Demi-Fiend is also an optional boss in ATLUS' title Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner. | |
| Chiaki Tachibana /Chiaki Hayasaka | 橘・千晶 | A friend of the protagonist who is from a rich family. She has to have her way most of the time. She survives the apocalypse and wanders about the ruins of Tokyo looking for power. She eventually decides to bring the kotowari of Yosuga to life, where only the strong survive and maintain power over those who are weak. |
| Isamu Nitta | 新田・勇 | Isamu is another friend of the protagonist. He is a bit whiny and wimpy, and relies on the kindness of others all too often. After surviving the the apocalypse and drifting around the Vortex World, Isamu goes into the Amara Network and is overtaken by its power, becoming one with it. He strives to create the world of Musubi where everyone is their own ruler, and they don't bother in the business of others. |
| Hikawa | 氷川 | Hikawa is the head of the Cybers Corporation, as well as the Gaia Cult. He is the one mainly responsible for sending the world to its apocalypse, and he did it so that he could recreate it based on his ideals, which he calls Shijima. He can summon demons, and starts the Nihilo Organization where they gather to bring a world of silence to life. |
| Yuko Takao | 高尾・祐子 | Also known as the Medium/Maiden. Yuko is the protagonist's teacher as well as a member of Hikawa's Gaia Cult. She participated in the apocalypse so that she could create a world of freedom, but comes to find that she is merely a tool in Hikawa's path to make his Shijima world. She struggles to find her kotowari while being blindly guided by the goddess Aradia. |
| Jyouji Hijiri | 聖・丈二 | A reporter for a magazine that covers the occult. He has a dark secret that not even he is aware of. He survives the apocalypse and tries to stop Hikawa from completing his plans. Hijiri studies the terminals in each city hoping to learn more about them. He is a big help to you at the start in gathering info and guiding you in the network, but soon his obsession over the Amara Network gets him into complex situations. Hijiri is rumored to be connected with Aleph of Shin Megami Tensei II. |
| Futomimi | フトミミ | Futomimi is the leader of the manekata. He has the ability to see into the future. |
| Sakahagi | サカハギ | Sakahagi is a violent manekata who skins his own kind to make clothing for himself. He has a dream to become king of the demons. |
| The Young boy and Old Woman | These two appear every so often around the Vortex World. They were responsible for giving the protagonist his demonic powers with the hope that the hero would keep the young boy 'entertained'. | |
| The Old Man and Young Woman | These two sit in the deepest part of the Amara Deep Zone, but can heard and spoken to via use of various peepholes. The woman knows many secrets about people and places, and encourages you to gather menorahs/candelabras and complete the Amara Deep Zone as the Old Man wishes. | |
| Dante | ダンテ | He survives the apocalypse and is hired by a strange employer to hunt down the Hito-Shura. He is also considered one of the Majin (Fiends), as he holds a menorah. Dante is from the Devil May Cry series of games by Capcom for the Playstation 2. He can also be seen in Capcom's Viewtiful Joe. |
[edit] Awards
RPGamer 2004 Reader Results
- Best of PS2 - Third Place
- Graphics - Honorable Mention
- Storyline - Honorable Mention
- Best Overall - Honorable Mention
RPGfan 2004 Editor Picks
- Rob Bogdanowicz - Third Place
- Tim Duong - Second Place
- John McCarroll - Third Place
G4tv 2004
- RPG of the Year - Winner
