This is a database and useful tools for Shin Megami Tensei IV that I personally collected and verified. I cover things like damage calculators and reverse lookup for fusion recipes, aiming to provide services not commonly found on existing websites.
All image copyrights related to Atlus Co., Ltd., and all other intellectual property rights, belong solely to Atlus Co., Ltd.
What kind of game is SMT IV?
It's the first numbered title in the main series since Shin Megami Tensei III in 2003.
The field, like in Shin Megami Tensei III, features third-person perspective movement, and the battles involve a press-turn system with four characters, including the protagonist, following the recent Megaten style.
The story is relatively straightforward with alignments leaning toward LAW and CHAOS, featuring character-driven routes. But...
It's like... kind of hazy, you know?
I felt the same ambiguous atmosphere in this game as I did in "Raidou vs. King Abaddon," and it gave me more of a Megatenoid vibe rather than a direct sequel to the mainline Shin Megami Tensei series.
Even though the battles are press-turn system, the damage from skills is calculated by adding the power to the character's stats. As a result, at higher levels, there is not much difference in damage based on power, creating a somewhat unclear feeling.
Is it recommended?
As a game, it's quite enjoyable just for the press-turn battle system. Also, based on the Playing videos, Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL seems incredibly interesting (not played at the time of writing), so playing it as a setup for FINAL might be a good idea.
If you're hoping for a dark Megaten similar to Shin Megami Tensei I or II, it might be a bit tricky. If you haven't played them yet, titles like NINE or STRANGE JOURNEY might be more to your liking.
How to Play SMT IV Now?
Unfortunately, preparing the play environment can be challenging.
This software was released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013 and there have been no ports or remakes since. To make matters worse, in September 2020, the hardware was discontinued, and in March 2023, the official store stopped selling the download version.
The DS and 3DS are quite tricky platforms, especially since games are designed with a dual-screen layout.
Is it impossible to port to newer hardware after this?
You guys probably don't want to bother with the kind of maintenance required for a port, right?
Even as of 2023, it should still be possible to play it by purchasing used hardware and software. The 3DS is the exclusive platform for various Atlus titles like the Shin Megami Tensei IV series, Soul Hackers, Strange Journey, and Devil Survivor series, making it a worthwhile device for Atlus fans.
With the store discontinuation, I believe you can no longer buy DLC, but it doesn't affect the core game, so you can still have plenty of fun with used software alone.
PR: Amazon
※ These prices are as of the times of listing on Amazon.