Shin Megami Tensei IV arrives on 3DS as a fresh start for Atlus’s long-running series, and it mostly earns the trust placed in it. The game drops the familiar city of Tokyo for a new setting, new demons, and a new hero who can talk back to the gods themselves. That change carries risks, but the result holds together better than expected.
Trailer, via Official ATLUS West.
A New Hero With Something to Say
The central character here is a young man who wakes up in a strange world with no memory of who he is. He quickly learns he can summon demons to fight alongside him, and later he finds he can also speak directly to the gods of the heavens. That power shapes the whole game.
The setup gives Atlus room to explore ideas about faith, power, and free will that older entries in the series touched only lightly. Players spend more time talking with gods and demons than ever before, and those conversations often feel more urgent than the usual dungeon chatter.
Demons and Combat in 3D Space
Combat is where Shin Megami Tensei IV sets itself apart from its handheld predecessors. Instead of moving through menus, players now control their demons in real time, moving them through rooms while enemies attack from the side. It sounds small, but it changes the rhythm of every fight.
The system rewards patience. Players can wait for openings, set up traps, or strike at weak points, and the game tracks those choices in its stats and story branches. It is a bold step forward for a series long stuck in menu-based combat, and it works far better than anyone had reason to expect.
Here is what stands out about the combat design:
- Real-time positioning that lets players plan attacks around enemy formations
- Demon stats that grow based on what kind of fighting they do
- A stat tracking system that shows exactly how each demon improves over time
Story and Setting
The story follows the hero’s search for his identity across a broken, godless world. Along the way, he meets other survivors, gods, and demons, each with their own reasons for wanting what he wants. The plot moves at a steady pace, mixing action with quiet moments of reflection.
Some players will find the pacing slow in the early hours. The game takes its time establishing the world and the cast, and some of that setup drags before the stakes fully land. Once the story picks up, though, the payoff is strong.
Sound and Presentation
Atlus built Shin Megami Tensei IV for 3DS, and the presentation matches the ambition of the game’s systems. Character models are detailed, and the environments hold up well in motion. The sound design keeps the tone dark and tense, matching the series’ usual mix of dread and awe.
Not everything holds up equally well. Some menus still feel dated, and the frame rate dips during busier scenes. None of these issues break the game, but they are noticeable enough to remember.
What Works Best
The strongest parts of Shin Megami Tensei IV are its best features working together. When the combat, story, and setting all line up, the game feels like a genuine evolution for the series.
The conversation system deserves special note. Players can refuse a god’s request, bargain for a favor, or simply listen to what they have to say. Those choices ripple through the story, changing which demons join the team and which endings become available. It is a bold move for a series that has rarely let players talk back to its gods.
The game also offers a surprising amount of freedom. Side quests and optional encounters populate the world, and players who dig deep will find hidden demons and extra story threads that never make it into the main path. That depth rewards curious players without slowing down anyone chasing the main plot.
Where It Falls Short
No game is perfect, and Shin Megami Tensei IV has its rough edges. The early hours drag, and some of the world design repeats itself more than necessary. The story also asks players to accept a few conveniences that strain belief, though they rarely get in the way of enjoying the adventure.
The game also leans heavily on its dialogue to carry weight, and some of the writing feels rushed or thin compared to earlier entries. A few late-game twists depend on information players may have forgotten by that point, which breaks the sense of stakes in ways the combat systems cannot fix.
Final Word
Shin Megami Tensei IV succeeds because it dares to change the series instead of repeating it. The new combat system, the conversation mechanics, and the willingness to let players talk back to gods all push the series forward while keeping its core intact. The rough edges exist, but they do not sink the game.
Players who have followed the series since its early days will find plenty here to love, even as the game moves away from the settings and systems they know best. New players have a solid entry point too, since the game explains its systems clearly and never assumes prior knowledge.
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