Probably one of the most talked about sleeper MMORPG hits last year, Shin Megami Tensei: IMAGINE (SMT) is hailed as one unconventional game. Perhaps a complicated game for some, SMT is definitely a recommended game for players wanting something new and more “modern.” Gamers wanting to try this game should take note of a few things before diving into the adventure. Here’s a shortlist of things to remember that are essential for your survival.

1. Demons are integral
SMT’s demons are no ordinary run-of-the-mill pets. If you want to survive in post-apocalyptic Tokyo, you have to train a handful of demons in your arsenal. Going alone is virtual suicide. The wild demons wandering around are definitely stronger than humans, and you’ll need all the help you can get. And when I mean all, I mean every possible demon that you can cram into your available demon slots. You’ll need to exploit the weaknesses of your every target, and to do so, you’ll need the proper demon in hand.

2. Experiment with Demon Fusion
SMT isn’t your average Pokémon. At later levels and harder areas, you have to try catching and fusing different demons to get different results. Fusing stronger demons often pass their strong skills to the resulting fusion. Demon fusion also unlocks more entries in your demon compendium (much like a Pokédex). Be sure that your most frequently-used demon is within your alignment, or else summoning costs will be a pain. If you’re lucky enough, you might gain a fused demon that can do both offense and support.

3. Magnetites, Magnetites, Magnetites
As much fun as demon summoning is, you’re actually burning up a certain summoning cost called “Magnetites.” These items are uncommon loots from monsters and/or quest rewards. You can also find them being sold by other players in the local market. Stock up as many Magnetites as you can. You’ll need them if you have to continually swap demons in the field or in dungeons. It is also wise not to sell them off to other players. There are other ways of gaining money (Macca), to be frank.

4. Plasma Farming for money
Running short of Macca? Then try spending some time farming loots from the plasma orbs floating around the field. A lot of items sell for a hefty sum at the local NPC shop. Here’s what you can do: go farm all the loot you can grab from the plasma; see which items sell the priciest at the NPC shop; then on your next farm, stack only these pricey items. Make sure you have a lot of inventory space for those stacks to gain the maximum Macca your inventory can offer. Make this a habit and you’ll be rich in no time.

5. Decisions affect alignments
SMT has an alignment system that ultimately affects how you attract, battle, capture, summon and train demons. It also affects how your character interacts with other NPCs from different towns and cities. For important quests, you’ll often be given a couple of choices. Every choice you make tilts your alignment slightly to either chaos or law. There’s a third choice too for those wanting a neutral alignment. As an incentive for choosing a side, you can gain access to rare demons exclusive to the alignment you chose. NPC shops also give discounts or charge more for your shopping needs depending on the alignment you chose and the location of the shop.

6. Form over function
Since the setting is Tokyo, we shouldn’t be surprised at the fact that it’s a haven for fashion. SMT reflects Tokyo’s fashion through its variety in apparel. A word to the wise though, not all apparel have decent stats. Most of the suits and dresses you may loot or buy in the game may have bonuses and attributes at the lowest end of the spectrum. Make sure you’re fully equipped with decent armors and weapons before going Rambo against huge mobs.

7. Be versatile in combat
The good thing about the lack of a job system is the freedom to use any weapon available in the game. This is important when you’re considering the weaknesses of the target monsters. Monsters may be weak against a certain type of bullet or gun, type of blade, blunt weapon or magic. If you attack with the wrong weapon, you’ll need triple the effort in killing the monster or worse, it’s invulnerable to your constant battering. Employing this strategy doesn’t mean you have to master every single weapon in your skills list. You can opt to allocate the experience points in just one skill or weapon, like a sword or rifle, and turn off allocations for the other specialties, but still have access to a huge arsenal in your inventory.

8. A good defense is the best offense
Combat is certainly different in SMT. You need to charge up before attacking or firing. An effective way of battling monsters is to use and abuse the counter skill. This nulls any damage dealt to you and returns the damage back to the monster. But don’t get cocky though, since counter has a charge-up and cooldown time. The best way to survive the incoming barrage is to hit and run. Make sure you’re within ample distance away from the monster before casting Counter, and run away until the cooldown disappears. If you’re a gun user, fire some rounds at the target to slightly knock it back. If counter is a bad idea, try using block, or use your demon as a decoy before you land some hits. Don’t worry about your demon. Your survival is more important here, since you lose a decent chunk of exp when you die.

9. Assemble parties during important story quests
Almost every single chapter-ending quest in SMT requires a dungeon run. The completion of a chapter or a dungeon run often reaps a 6-digit exp reward at the bare minimum. As a bonus, the number of people in the party having that same quest becomes a multiplier for the exp reward. Example, if four people have the quest, that’s exp reward times four! If you have friends or guildmates, it’s better to be at the same quest or chapter in order to get this amazing incentive. Else, you can still join parties to help in previous quests. You still get the bonus exp they’re getting.

10. Grind, grind, grind…
As much as I don’t want to disappoint you readers, SMT is a grind game through and through. The quests come a dime a dozen, and are often difficult to accomplish without achieving a certain level. You’ll spend around 70% of your time grinding and leveling before you can be capable of accomplishing the story and side quests. More so, you might venture out to faraway maps with monsters 5-10 levels higher than you just to get decent exp. One major frustration in SMT’s grind is the difficulty of killing multiple monsters in one go. You’d often have to attack them one by one. Therefore, leveling is a painstaking task in SMT.

For those wanting to try SMT, I hope these ten pointers help you in your journey through post-apocalyptic Tokyo. Remember that, in any game, your survival is the most important priority. And SMT certainly does not falter in reminding us players of that notion. Happy playing!

Article by kenny, Freemmogamer.com - Posted 8/20/09