Certainly Devil Summoner isn't as good as its predecessor but it's still worth a look.
- Capturing demons is fun
- Nice twist to the previous turn-based games
- Great setting
Negative
- Battles start to feel repetitive thanks to the large amount of random encounters
- Some minor long load times and slow paced
- For some reason there isn't any voice acting
- Some demons are missing from the previous installments
Devil Summoner might appear a bit disappointing compared to Nocturne. I haven't played Digital Devil Saga but when comparing this to Nocturne it is a big step backwards. It lacks some important things that made this series good in the first place, but Devil Summoner is still a good game.
Like the other games you get name the main character, but as the game full title suggest his name is Raidou Kuzunoha. The game's historical setting mainly hits the spot, because there is nothing particularly interesting in the story except that Raidou is a devil summoner and a detective and with his partner are investigating a case of a girl who has been kidnapped from under their nose from unknown people. Most of the time you'll travel the town, talk to people and other things.
Normal people can't see demons. Capturing demons in battle is the highlight of the battle system. Raidou doesn't have any skills and without demons you won't survive. Summoning demons into battle helps because Raidou can't use magic just attacks. And for the first time, this is an action role-playing, unlike Nocturne; it isn't turn-based, which isn't a bad thing. You can summon demons outside battle. You can take control of them to investigate or use their abilities to get items. Some demons can fly or ignite people or even read minds. You can't talk to everyone, and Raidou can pass through people. And another thing, if you summon a demon outside battle it will follow you, even if it is big.
Fusing demon is still available. If loyalty is MAXED by fighting in battle, you can easily fuse demons you've captured. In town you can go to a guy who looks like an evil scientist and ask to fuse 2. To make a demon become loyal, make him fight beside you in battle and after each won battle you will earn EXP and loyalty EXP. Raidou can't learn skills, so demons are crucial in almost every battle.
Unfortunately the random encounters are too frequent and occur everywhere. And some minor long load times sometimes slow even more the pace. Plus the worst thing about Devil Summoner is that there isn't the same number of demons found in Nocturne. The number is much smaller and most demons don't look great and most of them especially the first ones are annoying.
Graphically Devil Summoner doesn't look very good. Graphics look somewhat dated, though the environments look as they should in that era. For a reason or an another there is no voice acting to be found at all, except for demons who say something before battle. Music doesn't really stand out.
It is not as good as Nocturne that's for sure. But its unique gameplay ideas and setting make this RPG worthwhile. Devil Summoner can't be recommended wholeheartedly because of its repetitive nature, missing voice acting and disappointing choice of demons. Luckily that dark storytelling of the Shin Megami series remains and people interested in these types of games should find Devil Summoner fan, but don't go expect too much.
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Graphics = 7.2
Graphics are fairly dated. Environments and setting add something to an otherwise bland looking game. Demon models are fine and their attacks still look good.
Music = 6.3
No voice acting crushes the music score. Background music doesn't do much more.
Presentation = 7.4
Good looking cutscenes and art design. Weak production values.
Gameplay = 7.8
Deserves credit from being different from its predecessors. Combat is action and not turn-based. You can't control demons in battle. There are far too many random encounters and appear everywhere which slows the flow of the game. Not enough demons variety.
Camera / Controls = 6.6
Camera is a bit zoomed in, but it isn't bad. Moves at a slow pace.
Story = 7.9
It is as one should expect from Atlus, dark story telling but no voice acting lessens the impact. Devil Summoner's story is deep and long enough to keep fans engaged.
Stability = 8
My game suffers from some long load times pre-battle. I don't know if it is just mine, but the frame rate is stable. No problems encountered yet.
Difficulty = Medium
It is not hard. Though it's an RPG so you need to do some extra battles. But it is much easier than Nocturne.
OVERALL = 7.3 / 10
7.3 a good score for this game, which doesn't keep pace with its 2004 predecessor. It is disappointing is some way, but it is still a worth while game and does who enjoyed Atlus previous games should find this game fun for a short while. But Devil Summoner has unique and variety mechanism, doesn't fully realize its potential but we can't say it's not worth of the Shin Megami name.