Description
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (known as
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax in Japan) is an enhanced version of
Shin Megami Tensei III, and the first in the series to be officially released in the West. This version contains several features not seen in the Japanese-only original release.
A few scenes and story events have been added. Most of these have a connection with an optional path available for the game's protagonist, called "True Demon". On this path the hero has to face several new powerful boss enemies known as the Fiends; the first of those appears in an obligatory additional fight early in the game, while the rest are optional unless the player aims to reach the new True Demon ending. A vast dungeon called Labyrinth of Amala has been added to the game. Exploration of this dungeon is connected to the True Demon path as well, which also includes an additional final boss.
Dante, the main character of
Devil May Cry games, makes an appearance in this enhanced version. He is fought as a boss enemy early in the game, and can be recruited into the party if certain conditions are met. This release also contains an additional opening movie prominently featuring him.
The enhanced version allows the player to select Normal or Hard difficulty level from the beginning of the game. A few adjustments have been made to the gameplay balance: for example, there are less enemy ambushes than in the original version, and lower possibility for the protagonist to be hit by an instant-death attack.
Other gameplay tweaks include a transformation bonus for keeping the first recruited party member, an option to fuse some of the previously encountered boss enemies and have them join the party, an option to fight (and later recruit) the powerful demons Beelzebub and Metatron, and a new skill (Pierce).
Alternate Titles
- "真女神转生III" -- Chinese spelling (simplified)
- "真・女神転生 NOCTURNE マニアクス" -- Japanese spelling
- "SMT Nocturne" -- Common abbreviation
- "Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call" -- PAL title
- "Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax" -- Japanese title
Part of the Following Groups
User Reviews
The Press Says
| Digital Entertainment News (den) |
Jan 04, 2005 |
9.3 out of 10 |
93 |
| Yahoo! Games |
Oct 08, 2004 |
  |
90 |
| Gamesmania |
Aug 01, 2005 |
88 out of 100 |
88 |
| GameZone |
Nov 22, 2004 |
8.6 out of 10 |
86 |
| IGN |
Sep 22, 2004 |
8.6 out of 10 |
86 |
| GameSpot |
Oct 07, 2004 |
8.5 out of 10 |
85 |
| Video Game Talk |
Apr 07, 2005 |
 |
80 |
| Jeuxvideo.com |
Jun 29, 2005 |
16 out of 20 |
80 |
| Digital Press - Classic Video Games |
Jul 02, 2005 |
8 out of 10 |
80 |
| MAN!AC |
Jul 01, 2005 |
80 out of 100 |
80 |
Forums
Trivia
One of the major differences between this version (in fact, the English translation of
Nocturne Maniacs) and the original, Japanese-only release of SMT3, is the side-plot involving Dante, the popular demon-hunter from Capcom's
Devil May Cry series. Dante's presence was largely advertised in many commercials for the game. However, there is only one time in the entire game where you
must meet Dante (and fight him). After that, everything connected to him is optional, if you just follow the main plot, you'll never see him again.
This entry to the MobyGames database was contributed by
YID YANG 
(162399) on Oct 12, 2004.
