Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Reviews
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster is an unforgiving, borderline nihilistic tale of ruin that doesn't even let me have fun when I try. The updates to this fourth different version are not enough to justify the price. You either see it as iconic or moronic. Either way, you would be right.
Shin Megami Tensei is a memorable sign of what the series represents. Atlus has done a great job when it comes to updating the title to the current dynamics of video games. Still it is to be noted that there are significant points that should have been improved. Mainly with regard to videos and soundtrack, which could provide a significantly improved experience. Nevertheless, it is the best version of the game and the easiest way for current players to experience the series and learn about the origins of the mechanics, designs and themes of its Spinoffs.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite a few bumpy features and frustrations, Nocturne is a game that still plays great almost twenty years later. With the addition of voice acting, remastered graphics, and its quality of life changes, it cements itself as a JRPG experience that is still worthwhile even if battles can sometimes be difficult and repetitive.
This is the game that set my standards for a turn-based JRPG, and revisiting it showed me why. Make no mistake, I loved Shin Megami Tensei IV, Apocalypse, and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE as well. But this one stands triumphantly as the best of MegaTen (although TMS is a solid second, salty Fire Emblem fans be damned). At least for now. Shin Megami Tensei V is on the way, and it’s coming for Nocturne‘s crown. May the best God-rejecting simulator win.
In short, due to its design coherence, importance in mechanics, high artistic personality and conceptual depth, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster is, of course, a must-have game for experienced dungeon crawlers or fans of the Shin Megami Tensei series who haven't played it yet. Due to its high difficulty and strenuous pace, both for combat and exploration, the title is not recommended for first-timers in the series, much less for those who have not played any RPG of the type.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yes, I love the game! Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster does so many things right that a Japanese role-player would want. First, an exciting story that takes a bit to get going, but picks up tremendously as the game progresses. With a total of six different endings, you can dive more than a hundred hours into the game. Secondly, the combat system, despite its age, is not boring. No two battles are alike, and in the most marginal fights you have to be careful not to die. Only by cleverly using the press-turn system can you survive. But this level of difficulty has been greatly alleviated with the "Gracious Mode". This means that a wider audience can now have fun with the title. Only the annoying random battles dampen the euphoria. Last but not least, the collecting urge is more than satisfied in the title. With far more than a hundred demons and monsters, there are endless possibilities to put together your dream team. Also, many monsters can evolve as well, giving a real "Pokémon feeling". I'm confident that Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster will be a big seller. Perhaps this will see more Shin Megami classics get a re-release on the current generation of consoles. Also, this spin-off is the perfect preparation for the hopefully soon to be released fifth part!
Review in German | Read full review
Overall, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster was more of an average experience, especially for a newcomer to the series. It’s by no means a terrible game, as the unique story with multiple endings is interesting enough to follow. The demon recruiting system even had the same drive to catch them all, allowing you to tailor-fit your party to deal with the various fiends throughout the game.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD is a great way to experience the game for newcomers as well as die-hard SMT fans.
If you are a guy who likes hard times, then this title may be one of the best RPGs you have ever played.
Review in Greek | Read full review
This game has been on my “GOAT” list for almost two decades, and revisiting it in 2021 hasn’t changed a thing.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is a perfect example of the elaborate gameplay that defies the passage of time. Although the original game was released in 2003, the gameplay is still wonderful and addictive. In addition, the variety of stages and the difference in how to finish them, with enemies and bosses designed differently for each stage, Each enemy has its own behavior and the way to eliminate it is different. They are not a tool to receive damage, but an enemy that makes you think about all your steps. I wish Atlus paid more attention to the remaster, as there is no change to the cinematic scenes despite their small numbers, and using the music of the PlayStation 2 version even though there is a pure version on the Youtube platform is a shame. Despite that, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is a unique and wonderful experience that is different from the rest of the JRPGs that fans of this genre should try.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster may still have some rough edges for a remaster but a number of improvements as well as combat and recruitment systems that hold up strong help this classic JRPG remain just as worthwhile today as it was in 2004.
Considering how much ground the Shin Megami Tensei franchise has gained in its efforts to court fans in North America since Nocturne first released, the game, in retrospect, feels like a harbinger of things to come that went unheeded. Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster pushes the game to new levels in terms of quality and accessibility, allowing fans the chance to fully appreciate its heady, post-apocalyptic, coming-of-age story on their terms. That's an opportunity they should not miss.
Nocturne may have some updated visuals, but there’s still parts of this game that are a bit too old-fashioned.
Nocturne is a timeless classic that retains undeniable value to this day: narratively and tactically deep, challenging, long-lived and immortal, but this remaster limits itself to the bare minimum without adding anything noteworthy.
Review in Italian | Read full review
You'll definitely have fun with Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster if you're a fan of JRPGs and don't mind dark subject matter. The dungeon-crawling and battle system provide a solid level of challenge and the gameplay stays interesting throughout. However, the lack of visual detail and poor music quality will constantly remind you that you're merely playing a remaster of a PS2 game.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster is an average port of an exceptional title. Despite being almost 20 years old, it's still one of the best JRPGs ever made, and it still stands up favorably to the games that came after it. It's still a PS2 game at heart, but it's a rare one that has aged quite well, so it's still worth playing for the first time even without the comforting glow of nostalgia. Unfortunately, the actual HD upgrade is perfunctory and bare-bones, so what you see is largely what you get. It's basically a way to play Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne on modern systems, and it's good for that. It just could have been more.
Between the steep difficulty curve and unconventional story, Shin Megami Tensei III won't appeal to everyone - but those who can stomach strategizing through even random battles while reading between the script's lines will be rewarded with an outstanding RPG. Tokyo's warped state post-Conception leads to a hostile atmosphere that's carried all the way to the credits, and dungeons are elaborately designed and make use of consistently fresh gimmicks. Multiple endings keep the story replayable, with Hard Mode offering series veterans even more challenge. There's nuance to every aspect of gameplay, from the Press Turn battle system to Demon fusion and recruitment. As true in 2021 as it was in 2003, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is nothing short of a must-play RPG.
The wildly popular Persona franchise likely wouldn't be what it is today without Nocturne's influence, and as a fan of both series I'm incredibly excited to see this classic title be rediscovered by a new generation. I can't help but feel let down by the poor audio compression for the soundtrack, but ultimately that was just as much of a problem in 2003 as it is now. This is the best way to play Nocturne, and I think any fan of classic JRPGs owes it to themself to do exactly that.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne was one of the first games I ever reviewed as a game critic, back on the PlayStation 2. I was mesmerised by it then, because I found it to be a deeply challenging, but also deeply rewarding JRPG, and its dark, genuinely adult theme wasn't so common for JRPGs back then. 18-odd years later, my interest in games has shifted slightly, and I'd like to think my capabilities and depth as a critic has matured. However, this game continues to compel me. It is thought-provoking, deeply creative, and a genuinely serious JRPG. Oddly enough, one of the qualities that drew me to the original has drawn me back to the remaster: we still don't get so many of those.