Shin Megami Tensei review
Test: Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey Redux: The Marchioness of DemonsBeginning of the 21st century ... Victim of human greed and greed, Earth is on the brink of extinction. Wars, famines and overproduction transformed the blue planet into a giant trash can, so that its ecosystem eventually faltered. An anomaly, called Schwarzwelt, is devouring the South Pole and is spread molecule by molecule. Given the urgency of the situation, the UN has created an entity aimed at understanding the spread of this gigantic black hole. And of course, the mission will turn to disaster ... This is the topo of this Strange Journey, remake of the eponymous game released in 2010 on Nintendo DS. Dungeon-RPG of the extreme against the backdrop of an ecological and science fiction message, this spin-off may seem dated but depicts a rapidly addicting universe.
If you are expecting a 3D adventure with a chiadic staging and its share of spectacular effects, go your way. Despite its beautiful Etrian Odyssey-like setting, Strange Journey is formidably austere. Fixed shots, progression box by box and fights in subjective view, the formula remains unchanged and is based on the clichés of the dungeon-crawlers. The story begins as the expedition team approaches dark matter. After a formal briefing, the player - like his acolytes - sinks into the meanders of the maelstrom. On site, interested parties discover that the places are infested with demons and that it will take much more than their Demonica armor, a combination designed to withstand the harshest environments, to get them out of this bad patch. Human losses, mechanical anomalies, betrayals ... expect to suffer!
THE DAY OF THE APOCALYPSE
Unlike the universe generally treated in the Shin Megami Tensei (from which the Persona series or Devil Summoner follow), that of Strange Journey is much darker and more pessimistic. The plot revolves around several main characters. In addition to the officer that the player embodies, the plot is interested in the fate of Zelenin, a Russian scientist, Jimenez, a mercenary who trained in the American army or even Commander Gore, general at the head of the expedition . A woman named Alex (and specially added to the cast of this 3DS version) will also have a leading role in the progression of the scenario. The story is also very well written and it is very harmful that it is entirely in English. Whether through the themes discussed or the assumed criticism of the company, the developers did not go with a dead hand and it is worth getting involved.BRIEFING AND EXPLORATION
Strange Journey takes place in two phases. If the main mission is to study the different areas of the Schwarzwelt, it is important not to neglect all the preparatory stages of your expeditions. These irretrievably pass through the actions within your vessel, the Red Sprite. The vehicle has several facilities (Command Room, Sickbay, Lab, Deck ...) allowing you to take stock of current missions, access equipment or even treat your injured partners. The landing zone, meanwhile, allows you to reach the various exploration zones (some of which are covered with traps). Once on the ground, the progression takes place box by box and a card, located on the screen of the bottom of the laptop, materializes little by little to mark your progress in the labyrinthine maze. The combination offers a device indicating the presence of doors, artifacts and treasures. It is therefore necessary to gradually sink into these long corridors to collect valuable information and get hold of materials (formas) essential to the good performance of the mission and the evolution of avatars. Along the way, it is not uncommon to come across colleagues, entities offering small side quests ... and of course salvos of demons ready to do anything to stop your actions.Regulars of the series will not be surprised to find the gameplay of yesteryear. The clashes are turn-based and the player can influence the attitude of the demons they meet. If it's possible to fight, defend yourself or even flee, you can also negotiate with the opponent to join your cause or provide you with equipment and other resources. The value of the fighting lies in this balance between conflicts and talks. At each meeting, it is enough to analyze the demon to find its weak points and adapt its position vis-à-vis the opponent. It also highlights the new system of cooperation between team members. When a weakness is detected on an enemy, a cooperative attack can be launched for more efficiency. Besides, Shin Megami obliges, you will need to recruit demons to progress in the adventure. Your team can accommodate up to 4 individuals, it is best not to neglect this aspect to avoid many worries. Because if Strange Journey offers nearly 350 demons, the player can only wear 18 permanently. So you have to make the right choices, knowing that the system (elementary, fire, ice, etc.) offers to merge your different entities to create increasingly powerful demons. Provided they respect their alignments (the type of creature, so to speak). Suffice to say that the possibilities are enormous and it is certainly on this point, in addition to its engaging atmosphere, that the cartridge stands out.
A QUALITY REMASTER
For this new edition, Atlus has chosen to use Etrian Odyssey's engine and the rendering is rather convincing. Even if the graphics are not spectacular, the whole is neat, the monsters and characters have been redesigned and effects have been integrated into the environments. Despite everything, one cannot help but castigate the two-stage animations of the enemies and the relative softness of the confrontations. There should have been more visual impact in the attacks but we ended up being satisfied with it. Far from being stingy in content, this iteration offers a new labyrinth, new demons and characters as well as illustrations fully updated. Some demons have even been redesigned and gameplay adjustments have been made. Finally, it is important to note that the game now offers three difficulty modes: casual, standard, expert ... and it is even possible to unlock an option called impossible. Suffice to say that you're not done drooling ... But if you like this genre and the dungeon-crawler, no doubt that this Strange Journey Redux will not leave you indifferent. And what a pity that it is not in French!The notes
+ Positive points
Inviting and immersive atmosphere
Well-honed mechanics
Quality writing
Wide range of demons
Super efficient level design
Negative points
Lack of life
Low impact of attacks
Despite its apparent austerity, Strange Journey Redux is the best in dungeon-RPG. Although suffering from the inherent flaws of the genre, the game erases its flaws by an ingenious level design, a well thought out progression and an atmosphere as suffocating as it is immersive. The small touch to the Metroid brings an undeniable plus and the artistic direction is finally highlighted by more detailed models than on the original support. For fans of the series, this episode is a safe bet and a great introduction to novices who are not afraid of getting lost in the labyrinthine mazes of his madness. We will just blame him for his overall lack of life and punch.
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