Revealed in Nico Nico’s Super Conference last weekend, Shin Megami Tensei IV for the Nintendo 3DS will have a whopping 50 hours of story content, plus paid DLC. Much like Fire Emblem: Awakening, another lengthy 3DS RPG with paid content, Shin Megami Tensei IV is a game that has enough longevity to be a full game experience.
Other information from the conference notes that this game shares no relation to the previous mainline titles of the series, and has a “Dropped Moon Phase System;” one that turns the flow of battle, negotiation, and fusion.
Here is a summary of the conference by Re: Gigen, translated courtesy of Gematsu:
- There’s no direct connection to the previous three Shin Megami Tensei games, but the background music arrangement holds some deeper ties to the previous titles.
- The world of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey is unrelated to Shin Megami Tensei IV‘s, but the Black Samurai’s suit might be related, and a connection with the first Shin Megami Tensei is also possible.
- It takes over 50 hours to complete the game.
- Plans for paid downloadable content will be revealed at a later date.
- Lucifer will make an appearance, but Louis Cyphre’s appearance is unclear.
- The three Jack Brothers will make an appearance and a new Jack Frost will be introduced.
- There is an option to switch character voices on and off.
- Demon Fusion and conversation, etc. rewards the player with experience points.
- The Macca Beam will appear. But this time, there is no Moon Phase System.
- A brutally difficult mode might be included.
- The release date for the original soundtrack is still undecided.
- V-Jump will publish a Shin Megami Tensei IV-based comic, with someone named Minadan leading.
The news about Shin Megami Tensei IV having DLC may be disappointing to fans, but there is fortunately enough content to make for a full game experience, with paid content acting only as supplements that are not required to fully enjoy the game. Fans of the series should still expect a lot of interesting new and returning elements that were enjoyed in previous instalments.
Shin Megami Tensei IV will be releasing in North America July 16, 2013.
