Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call (aka Nocturne)

SMT: Nocturne is a game that is like nothing you've encountered before. The story is strong, the characters are well developed and the graphics are true megaten (shin megami tensei) in that the settings are devoid of unnecessary items and everything has a starkness about it. But then the distinctive graphics are what distinguishes a megaten from all others.

In Nocturne you take the part of a normal teenage schoolboy in Tokyo, Japan who, with friends, stumbles across a plan involving their favourite teacher to end the world – but here's where it departs from the usual rpg ‘save the world’ plot. The world ends – called ‘The Conception’ – and in preparation for its ‘Rebirth’ it's you who will put it back together.

Seperated from your friends, your party is formed by recruiting the demons that have escaped into the world. Each has its own skills and by ‘fusing’ two, or more, together you are able to transfer those skills, and add others, to create a team of deadly allies. And you'll need them, because you'll be facing the likes of Vishnu, Cerberus, Titan, Dionysus and other deities. But the Bosses will have you wondering what you've stumbled into as you square off against the 4 Riders of the Appocolypse, The Harlot, The Trumpeter, Beelzebub and others more terrifying and amazinging in their splendor.

SMT: Nocturne is a deeply satisfying turn-based rpg with 4 different endings, and none of them is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

SMT: Nocturne quickly became a cult classic in the US, so I urge you to grab it while it's available because it will become hard to find. Not only that, but buy it because it's an excellent game.

This game is what JRPGs should be.

The background of the game is just as Sherrin has said. What they haven't told you is how atmospheric the game is and how it draws you in. The environments blend together extremely well and with the unique graphical style help create a world you will find very attractive and very believable.

The large number of demons help populate this world and adds an exotic flavour which will keep you coming back to this game. Taken from many mythological sources, these demons are visually appealing (well, most of them) and make the game what it is.

The game features quite a lot of customisability compared to most jrpgs. No, you can't change your main character's face or gender, but you can adjust all his stats and skills and make pretty much all the decisions for him. You really start feeling like ‘this is my character, these are my demons’ when you're into the game and you get to choose how it all ends.

The writing is also good, with most demons given a personality that feels believable and appropriate.
Soundtrack is very appropriate, with a mix of rock and organ music it really gets you into that mood of a post-apocalyptic world.

The game does have a steep difficulty at times. You will find yourself grinding now and then, but it will not be enough to keep you away. The game will suck you in until you finish it, and then you will start a new game just to beat those old bosses again!