Devil Summoner - PS2

I couldn't help it, I decided to put in some hours on another Atlus Shin Megami Tensei game. I started Devil Summoner and couldn't stop - even though I just bought a PS3.

This one is actually not an RPG, and it's not set in present day. The story revolves around a group of mages in industrial Japan. The order of "Raidou" is committed to maintaining peace in Tokyo. They do so with the power to see, combat, and summon "devils" (which are Personas in all the Persona games).

This was a major turning point in Japan, as they began westernizing and adopting technologies from America and Europe. I always felt that the days were pretty bleak there, but playing this game makes it feel very exciting. There're young men who are intrigued by the steam boats and trains and young women who want to try the sun dresses from Europe. I think I enjoy these aspects more because I was a Japanese history major in college.

(Raidou and his funny hat) The game itself is an action RPG where battles warp you to a fighting screen. You have a sword, a handgun, and the ability to summon devils. You fight in towns and then you fight in the dark world. This is the natural sequence of events in the game. Once again there is monster fusion, and it becomes like a mature version of Pokemon. Each monster has it's strengths and weaknesses and they also come with special abilities like "sneak" and "fly". These abilities enable the detective summoner to snoop in places where any normal sleuth cannot.

(the detective agency) All in all the game is fun and has a nice sense of challenge. You can go through levels quicker if you know how to hack and slash correctly, but you can also dominate the bosses if you rather level up. So it's got a good balance of "Action - RPG". The fusions for the devils make this game interesting for those who like to "collect them all".

I'm finally in Episode 8, and I think there will be only two more episodes before this all comes to an end. I'm about 20 hours in, so I doubt this will take more than 30.

Below are some scenes I took with my camera. I love the settings: the Red Light District, the old Ginza district, and a conversation with a huge demon.

Persona 4 - PS2 (part 3)

So there is an end after all. I was really hesitant in playing the end of Persona 4 because I really wanted to get the true ending. Naturally, I got the worse one the first time around. I couldn't find out who the true crook was and I got a quickie cut-scene in the end with no real boss to battle. So let me recall what happens, there will be spoilers from here on.

We learn that the delivery man was behind some of the kidnappings and he himself has the power to enter TVs. He kidnaps Nanako and Nanako's dad rushes after her. They go into a high speed chase and all three gets into a bad accident and ends up in the hospital; the same hospital. A very edgy scene ensues as everyone waits on the dying Nanako. This could have easily been made to a movie, and the game does a really good job in capturing the moment. My heart sunk when I saw the flat-line.

So that was December 18th in the game? If you did the wrong thing, that would be the end of the movie. It all corresponds to answering the right questions when you and Yosuke are arguing in the delivery guy's hospital room. If you answered it correctly, you'll still be playing the game after christmas and into the new year. You'll be given a new dungeon to capture the true culprit. I won't give away who he is, but I'll have to say the boss is actually challenging.

The last boss is a giant eyeball. Yes, he has a LOT of tricks so I'll try to break it down. I used Yosuke, Yukiko, and Teddie. You'll need to heal a lot. I chose Yosuke because he's the only social link that I maxed out, which enabled his Persona to graduate to Susano-O. Teddie's Amrita and HP recovery spells will help you greatly. Yukiko will be needed for reviving the dead. You'll need every thing you can to battle Ameno Sagiri, the big eye ball. It has like eight major attacks. For one, it has every elemental spell: fire, ice, wind, and lightning. So either way you'll get dazed. Along with that he also has Megidola. It's good to fully heal your guys every turn. He also has two turns. Galgagin Eyes will make you dazed, Nebula Oculous is a physical laser that will hit everyone, God's Punishment halves your HP, and Foolish Whisper makes you unconscious as well. When he does the Fog, it's best to heal yourself and replenish your MP. In attacking, I recommend using Loki and the strongest Bufu spell.

After a bitter fight, you should be able to knock him down. Defeating him will send you into the last few days before the new year. You've beat the last boss, congratulations! Not quite yet. There's still something that's troubling the main character. Like, how did this all start, and why did he have the power to enter the TV in the first place? Ahh yes, the troublesome nature of the curious human. What does it lead you to? Another boss, yes a boss after the last boss.

Enter, the Torii Gates to hell and Izanami. Yes, this is the same Izanami in the creation myths for Japanese Shinto. She was the wife of Izanagi and the mother of Susano-O. It is her that helped create the islands of Japan and it is her that delve into the netherworlds. In the end, Izanagi confronts him and he forces her to stay in the land of the night while he runs away to the daylight. The fact that Persona is based on Shinto is great! You'll have to travel through ten more levels of dungeons in Ashihara Nakatsu before reaching the boss. I hope you had charged up your social link with the Fox, because you'll need him to heal you from here on. There's no going back.

I won't go into the details in fighting Izanami. But it is not as difficult as the big Eye. After a difficult battle with Izanami, she will use a spell that will drag your guys to hell. You'll have no choice but to hope for savior, and there is one. Izanagi, the persona you started with. He will aid you in your time of need. After this, you're definitely definitely done with the game. Well, the first time around. I doubt I'll play it again in the near future, so this is the end for me.

• Game Time: 80 Hrs and 13 Mins (plus 2 hours)
• Completed the true ending
• Maxed out all personal statuses

Persona 4 - PS2 (part 2)

(Image: Yukiko a little tipsy after a couple of spiked drinks.) Well, this game is done! But what do I have to say about it? It took about a month and a half to do this and a so much has happened in the game. The little town of Yaso-Inaba will never be the same again. As usual, the masses do not really know what happens in the middle of the night.

(Image: Rise question's the hero's true nature.) The crew of four grew into nine, with new members that include Kanji, Rise, Teddie, Naoto, and a mysterious magic Fox. They have their days dealing with the murders, and they have their days studying for exams. There is a moment where they go on a school camping trip, and there is a moment where they all go to the ryokan. Lots of happy days, and lots of sad days. I can't believe how much I enjoyed this game and then it all ends.

There're even a few characters that are carried over from Persona 3: like Tanaka the salesman, and Mr. Edogawa, the teacher. Tanaka can be seen every Sunday morning as he became a tele-marketer and Edogawa makes a cameo appearance when the kids go to Gekkokan High for a visit in the big city. They got to stay in a love hotel and visit a night club. Somebody spiked their drinks, and they started saying more than then intended to.

(Image: Battle with Evil Teddie) All I have are all these pictures that I've taken along the way. The next post will be about the end boss, the boss after that, and the boss after that. A girl is fighting hard to stay alive in the hospital, and the the entire town is enveloped by the mysterious fog. What's left for a guy to do? But to kick-ass and take names.