Weapons and warriors UNITE! - Phantom of the Kill Reader's Review

There was this one time that I am walking in the mall, holding my cell phone, and watching some random YouTube videos. As I watch through the videos, there was this ad that popped in my screen...

It was a game that was somehow similar to another game that I became close with, and that game was Fire Emblem.

However, this game was different. It was on the mobile and it had some interesting design choices that made me like the game at first glance. That being said, behold one of the underdogs of the SRPG genre.

Enter... Phantom of the Kill's Reader's Review. For more information, feel free to go to their website at https://phantomofthekill.com/.


Title: Phantom of the Kill
Date released: May 19, 2016 in the US (with constant updates keeping into consideration)
Company: Fuji&gumi Games (gumi)
Genre: Strategy RPG
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (but it's a sure-fire Teen)


Brief Background: gumi was founded in June 13, 2007 and the company has been since popularly known in the mobile community with games like the immensely popular Brave Frontier, the now defunct Chain Chronicle, and the recent Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, a game developed in cooperation with Square Enix and Alim.

What do you do here?
In a world where malevolent forces dominates the land, you serve as a commander in this Norse-inspired post-apocalyptic world where the many weapons of legend are at your disposal; in the form of people known as "Killers". These are a selective few who partake a secret yet dangerous proposal by the Ragnarok Institute known as the Killer Project where these individuals are granted beast blood and essences from legendary arms (known as Killium) in order to make a last-ditch attempt to save humanity from utter destruction. However, these powers do not come without risks...

Killer Princes, male test subjects of the Killer Project, tends to go haywire when they undergo "Beast Mode" for long periods of time; making them more savage and uncontrollable. This is where you, the player, steps in. Commanders possesses a unique material called "Vibium" granting them the ability to keep these men in check. The troubles do not step there however, as a horde of monsters have taken over humanity and its up to you, and your army of Killer Princes and Princesses, to stop them.

What makes the game interesting?
The game play is simply a straightforward Strategy RPG; choose a unit, pick where you want to go, attack enemies, rinse and repeat. This is very cool as people who are fond of the Fire Emblem series will be able to identify these mechanics very easily. However, there are some mechanics that are quite distinct for this game. One of them is the elemental affinities. These affinities greatly affects on how much damage you can both deal and take. Additionally, each character are not basically carbon copies of each other unlike in other Strategy RPGs. While each of them can have the same job, the play style of each unit differs from one other; from the stats that they get when they level up to the unique special moves that they can learn. Speaking of special moves, specific characters can undergo special quests known as "Character Quests" where you see the origin of story of each Killer Princes and Princesses, after which they receive a special skill that you can use in battle. Another interesting thing about this game is that it has tons of Event Quests for you to enjoy, from the experience-filled Metal Gardens to some very important side quests like Gold Rush and quests that you can do to get evolution materials. There are two ways to recruit units, via Lazulis and another one using Mana Points, which you can use to make powerful units early on. Finally, there are a lot of updates going on right now, so be on the lookout for future upgrades in game modes and other stuff. Also, I would like to add that the game has no permadeath, so this will probably give some breathing room for those people who are not fond of that particular feature.

What are the flaws I found in this game?
Being a free-to-play title, it also utilizes micro-transactions. Fortunately enough, the game is so balanced that you won't be needing much Lazulis (the game's premium currency) to proceed further of the game. Also, with the game just recently released in the West, it is quite short and still needs more content to fill in to. Furthermore, like every other freemium games out there, it relies on a random number generator to determine certain outcomes; from the units that you want to recruit to the critical hit chance of your attacks. Weapon fusion also relies on RNG, which sucks because I am quite hesitant to fuse my strong weapons only to get useless ones in the end. Despite these short-comings, these are compensated by a very-well balanced combat system and a daily rewards system... just make sure to check in every single day! The arena matches are fun, but what's more fun is that they remove the EXP limit that players can receive (or at least increase the threshold).

How did you know about Phantom of the Kill? What was your initial reaction to it? Who is your favorite PotK character so far?
I am not entirely sure what to say at first, especially that the trailer that I watched is so cheesy that it's easily to assume that its terrible, but after playing the game, I must say that I am quite caught off guard. The game play is nice despite its random nature, and there really is no need for you to do anything special, which I've already mentioned above. I have to be honest, the game is not ground-breaking but it is a very nice addition to the mobile library by every means, if it only because of its familiar game-play. As for my favorite character in the game, I have to say Labrys, because she reminded me of Love Live... for some strange reason. :D

Can you recommend this game?
I say yes. The mechanics of this game is very much recognizable (if not innovative) and the game-play is so balanced that newbies can be able to get into the game so easily. Also, with a lot of constant updates and features, the developers really do know how to keep their player-base interested with the game.

Overall rating: 8.7/10
As expected from a freemium, this game has the setbacks and limitations of being an online-only game. Nevertheless, it is not a frustrating experience and it has a lot of things going for. Updates, events, freebies, you will be sure to play this game for a long time. Now then, go out there and bring victory for humanity!

Fight on, Commander!!!

--END OF REVIEW--

Character ideas for Phantom of the Kill - Part 1

Phantom of the Kill is a game where warriors (known as Killer Princes and Princesses) are bestowed by different powers based on different weapons coming from different mythologies.

That being said, with a lot of mythological weapons that are introduced in this game, there are some weapons that came in my mind that can become great additions to this game. NOTE: These are just ideas that I came up with and these are not confirmed by any way to be released as a character in the game (and if ever they are ever released eventually, then feel free to ignore everything that is written here).

For this topic, I would be mentioning that characters':

1. Potential Background (based on given gender)
2. Weapon Type
3. Preferred Trait
4. How many stars does this particular weapon have?
5. Signature Skill

Anyways, here it is. 

1. Claimh Solais (M)

Background: Calm yet tenacious, this young warrior is known among one of the most well-composed Killer Princes that was ever produced by the Ragnarok Institute. His Killium came from the legendary sword Claimh Solais, also known as the "Sword of Light". While outside the battlefield, he is known to be a very kind person; capable of making trades of jokes and puns. He is also a very cheerful young man which he can use to cheer up fellow Killer Princes and Princesses whenever odds are going against them. When backed into a corner, however, he unleashes a malevolent force, so powerful that not even he can't realize what's happening.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Guard

Star Levels: Starts as a 4-star Unit, can evolve up to 5-stars!

Signature Skill: Radiant Force - May activate when attacking. Deals massive damage and has a chance to deal fatal damage against enemies.


2. Hrunting (F)

Background: A young woman with a lustful thirst for battle, however, she often fails to display them. Her Killium came from Hrunting, a sword that was once used by the hero Beowulf. It is known that Hrunting was once used by Beowulf to slay an evil giant, but the weapon fails to harm it. Just like her Killium, she often becomes a burden to her fellow Killer Princesses. But despite the backlash that she is getting from her peers, she is willing to do whatever it takes to prove her worth and not to end up like her source of Killium; to become useless.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Force

Star Levels: Starts as a 3-star Unit, can evolve up to 5-stars!

Signature Skill: Unyielding Spirit - May activate when being attacked. When an attack is about to KO her, the attack will instead drops her HP to half of her max HP.


3. Gleipnir (M/F)

Background (for Male): A young prodigy with an undying passion for knowledge. His Killium came from Gleipnir, a mysterious ribbon that binds the wolf Fenrir. Like his Killium, Gleipnir used to bind his negative emotions by showing off his cheerful side to everyone around him, because he believes that getting depressed in such a grim time can be devastating for the team's morale. Despite his charade, however, his commander can see through his acts and encouraged him to become more open to his situation. 

Weapon Type: Staff

Preferred Trait: Magic/Vitality

Star Levels: Starts as a 3-star unit, can evolve up to 4-stars!

Signature Skill: Phantom Soul - May activate when attacking. When activated, his attack will never miss.


Background (for Female): One of the youngest Killer Princess to undergo the Killer Project, she finds strength from negative emotions and loneliness. Her Killium came from Gleipnir, a powerful ribbon that acts as a powerful seal against Fenrir. She is an anti-social and will do whatever it takes to avoid contact with anyone. If someone approaches her, she'll just simply shoo them away. Or in extreme cases, forcing them to do so. She believes that relying in her comrades is a stigma and can cause her to falter sometimes. Perhaps she's just trying to be independent? No one will ever know...

Weapon Type: Staff

Preferred Trait: Magic/Dexterity

Star Levels: Starts as a 3-star unit, can evolve up to 5-stars!

Signature Skill: Grand Hex - May activate when getting attacked. All damage taken instead heals her HP.


That's all I can think of for now. Nevertheless, if you have ideas, feel free to share them. Also, my Reader's Review of this fantastic game is already on the works, so be sure to check that out as well. :)

EDIT: The Reader's Review for Phantom of the Kill has already been released, so feel free to check that one at your own leisure.

First impressions about Monster Hunter Generations

So after hearing the Nintendo Direct last March (I think? I can't really remember), there is soooo much anticipation (and perhaps some disappointment) regarding to the lineup of games announced, and one of them is a game called "Monster Hunter X". It's international title was then revealed as Monster Hunter Generations which added to the hype because it is finally to be localized in the West.

The point is; after the monumental success of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Capcom really has no reason to localize the said game. After all, Monster Hunter has recently become one of Capcom's staple titles alongside Mega Man and Street Fighter after the game's remarkable performance in Japan (with no less than 3 MILLION copies being sold in just a month after release). 

For those people who are not familiar with this series, the Monster Hunter franchise was first released to the world by 2004 on the PlayStation 2 where it became a very popular title in Japan. However, unlike Japan, Monster Hunter wasn't all that well-received overall for western players. While Monster Hunter Freedom Unite had a very strong cult following, the game itself was met with mixed reviews despite its cult following.

Now, people are starting to wonder on what will be the future of the franchise at that point. Nevertheless, it remained strong till this day.

So, what will people expect from this new iteration of the Monster Hunter franchise? I will only be able to come up with the some of the highlights.

1. Hunting Styles - one of the newly introduced combat mechanics in Monster Hunter Generations is the Hunting Styles. These styles can allow you to mix and match your playstyle; whether it is acrobatic gun-play or powerful blade techniques, these styles can enable for you maximize your hunting experience.

2. Hunter Arts - another combat system that is introduced in conjunction with the Hunting Styles. Hunter Arts are special techniques, unique from weapon to weapon, which utilizes unique attacks and skills that are never seen in a Monster Hunter game before, making hunts faster and more dynamic than any other in the series. These techniques can allow you to unleash massive Hammer swings and even shoot a gigantic fireball!

3. Prowler Mode - among the newly introduced mechanics in MHGen, this is one is the most awaited one! For the very first time, players can now play as Felynes (cat-like NPCs that help you during hunts), utilizing a unique move-style and different sets of equipment. Additionally, it also has its own quest line, making the game itself even more expansive.

4. Deviants - Subspecies will not make a comeback in Monster Hunter Generations, instead we are being introduced to the Deviants, unique monsters whose skills and appearances differ greatly from their normal counterparts. They are more powerful, more vicious, and deadlier than ever before. They possess unique attacks that can destroy you if not fully prepared. The good thing is that they can only be accessed at a certain point of the game, which gives you some ample time to prepare for these beasts. There are 12 of them... in case you're wondering.

... and SOOO much more. There are a lot to be expected about Monster Hunter Generations, so stay tuned for more updates!

Monster Hunter Generations in stores July 15 2016!

March to the battlefield - Fire Emblem Fates Conquest Reader's Review

There comes a time in a gamer's life where you are given a choice; innovation or nostalgia? This is the case of the newest installment of the Fire Emblem franchise known as "Fates". At first, I find it extremely irrelevant as I think of it as a similar concept as Pokemon, and yes, it is! However, this where the question kicks in my mind; will I take a fresh start or will I embrace the past?

In this case, I decided to bite the bullet and go with nostalgia against innovation. The challenging aspect of this particular version makes me convinced that I've came back in this game... with a bang and a severe concussion to go along with!

That being said, here's my Reader's Review of Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest!

For this review, I am only taking the elements of this particular version into account, meaning to say that no aspects of the game's other version, Birthright, will not be taken into consideration with a few exceptions. 

Without further ado, let's get started.

Title: Fire Emblem Fates Conquest
Date Released: June 25, 2015 (Japan), February 19, 2016 (US)
Company: Nintendo (developed by Intelligent Systems)
Genre: Strategy RPG
Platform: Nintendo 3DS family of handhelds
ESRB Rating: Teen


Brief Background: This game (along with its other version, Birthright) was previously released in Japan a year ago, where it gain monumental acclaim similar to that of Awakening. With the same people who developed Awakening, these games have the same amount of content as seen in Awakening. The games have received an international release in February 19, 2016, while third path of Fates, Revelation, was released in a later date. Like in Japan, the game received critical acclaim from Western reviewers and gamers.

What do you do here?
You fill in the shoes of a young Avatar (with the default name being Corrin) as you choose a side between Hoshido (your home by birthright) or Nohr (your home you've grown with) and to unravel the secrets behind the war that is lingering the land. However, choosing a side means betraying the other. From there, you will be forced to fight your other family while providing tactical strategies to survive impending doom.

What makes the game interesting?
For those who have played the old Fire Emblem games, they will feel at home with this game. This is considered to be more difficult of the two versions (the other being Birthright) with pre-determined goals and unique map layouts. Additionally, the game has a very high difficulty spike (while sticking to the tradition of Fire Emblem games being really difficult) which will force you to make careful choices with your tactics while allowing you the freedom to choose your strategies and allies wisely and grasp that victory. Also, should the game was found too difficult in your taste, then you are free to lower the difficulty of the game at any given time. There are three difficulty curves: Normal, Hard, and Lunatic, while it doesn't affect the ending, the game will prove to be rewarding for surpassing the game nonetheless. The series is known for a particular feature known as "Permadeath" where the time an ally dies, that ally stays dead for the rest of the play-through. However, that particular feature can be tweaked in two ways: Casual Mode (where defeated allies can be used again on the next map) or the newly-introduced Phoenix Mode (where defeated allies are revived on the next turn). Another notable feature of this version is that the player can only get a limited amount of resources (such as gold and experience points) which again, really encourages careful planning and critical thinking. There is also a feature known as "My Castle" which acts similarly to that of the Barracks where you buy items, participate in Arena matches, and frolic around with your allies as you unravel their hobbies and stuff. Also, you can get married in this game, among other things. This also the first 3DS Fire Emblem title to feature online multiplayer, as opposed to the local-only play found in Awakening.

What are the flaws I found in this game?
Basically, while it's a given that there are limited resources that you can gather at Conquest, the game is extremely straightforward, meaning that replay value is nearly nil (unless you bought the software version of the other paths and start a new game from those paths). What you can do, however, is to visit the Dragon's Gate, where you play bonus maps and get some awesome goodies, but there is a catch. You have to buy these bonus maps with real currency, which is total hogwash. While it is very awesome and rewarding to get these, they can get really repetitive. Also, I think that the matchmaking system in online mode can be extremely cheap at times, despite the balancing tweaks that you can utilize before battle. Also, while the difficulty can be rewarding for most fans, it is also punishingly tricky for new players of the series (which was alleviated by Phoenix Mode). Additionally, the tutorial system for Fates could have been more thoroughly explained; it is not saying that it is bad, but seriously, they can do better.

Did you ever bothered playing a Fire Emblem game before Fates?
Why yes! Upon being fascinated by Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones on the GBA, it made me think of something: I wonder what makes this series so good? As I thoroughly play the game, I can see the frustrating and rewarding game-play of smart and careful planning of your troops. It is like playing chess but without the unnecessary movement limitations found in the latter; allowing you to create a solid strategy as you proceed through a gauntlet of challenging maps and fearsome foes.

Can you recommend this game?
Absolutely! With an endless amount of strategic possibilities and challenges, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest is a sure-fire way to practice your critical thinking skills as well as your patience; a fearsome yet awesome waiting game of sorts.

Overall rating: 9.1/10
A fantastic strategy game for series fans and fans of the SRPG genre, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest delivers a great story while wrecks your face with great challenges and some nerve-wracking victory conditions. The game also antes up in terms of character development and decent mechanics that makes the title stand out.

--END OF REVIEW--

First glances about Final Fantasy Explorers

It has been a while since Final Fantasy Explorers have been released outside of Japan, and I can see that a lot of people are so excited with the game, and I am just one of those people. In fact, this is actually the first game that I've ever bought during the day it launched!

So I've played the game a little bit, and I can say that even with the repetitive gameplay (which is a problem in some cases), I can see that it has promise to be a very decent game. I have fun with it, and I am going to invest time on it to make a final verdict. Here are some of the things that I've observed:

1. The game's formula does look like Monster Hunter, but with several tweaks.
While it does to imitate some elements in Monster Hunter, they heavily re-worked on them to ensure that they don't end up like a sorry clone of the latter. The quest system, for example, allows you to receive pre-determined rewards, while also allowing you to get multiple rewards along the way by killing monsters.

2. Each locations are interconnected with each other
The hunting areas in the game are all part of the entire world map, making the environments very organic while offering some decent challenge in the process.

3. The combat is flashy and full of power!
Unlike Monster Hunter where it requires you to hit monsters with extreme precision, Final Fantasy Explorers gives you a selection of movements and skills to make sure that you defeat enemies in any desire you wish. Whether you hack-and-slash all day or go gung-ho with your barrage of spells, Explorers has a lot of ways for you destroy your adversaries.

4. It is not as punishing as it seems to be... I guess.
However, it is up to you whether you make it such. There are certain self-imposed challenges that you can use to make the game tougher. I honestly still don't know on how relevant this system is, but I think it is just to pump up the already challenging missions to a certain degree... and for masochists who always crave for a deliciously good time!

5. Monsters are predictable yet menacing.
The eidolons (which are equivalent to Monster Hunter's large monsters such as the Rathalos and Zinogre) moves pretty much like their RPG counterparts; their move sets, design, and even it's battle structure are all well animated and they offer a decent challenge. However, this also means that their moves can also be easily predicted by word boxes; a common staple in the franchise.

There are many other things that I would like to discuss about this game, however, it is best to find out more on yourself. Besides, self-discovery is far more fulfilling than relying on walkthroughs. Right?! Right! :)

Final Fantasy Explorers has been released in January 26, 2016 in the United States.

Thoughts about Final Fantasy Explorers

Only a few days left and Final Fantasy Explorers will get its stateside release. As a guy living in the Philippines, we usually follow the North American release timeline, since most of the games here are US-based. But I can't help but to wonder; will Explorers ever live up to the people's expectations?

To be honest, upon seeing a lot of things about the game, it really does kind of remind me of another popular hunting game, which makes me a bit worried about things. I tend to ignore every news and reviews about the game so that I could be able to make a fresh perspective about the game. This is to ensure that my excitement for the game is never spoiled. That being said, there are so much things to go for with this particular franchise and I am not lying to tell you this; Square Enix must have been doing a lot of research, and I commend them for that.



To give you guys a little background, Final Fantasy was originally meant to be Hironobu Sakaguchi's (the series' creator) final game; serving as a last resort for Squaresoft's (name of the company prior to their merge with Enix) struggling predicament at the time. Unbeknownst to them, however, the game became a massive hit, allowing Square to survive, make partnership with Enix, and become one of the most profitable video game companies that we all know today.

The overall gameplay of the Final Fantasy franchise has evolved throughout many years of its development; from a single player turn-based RPG, it became a flexible mix of dungeon exploration, action, adventure, as well as becoming an MMORPG. And who would thought that Square would not embrace innovation?

I am pretty sure I am not the only one who is hyped on this games release. Japan got this game like 2 years ago and I am honestly have no idea on how popular the game has become at some point, although I will also assume that it was also not Monster Hunter popular, but who cares?

Final Fantasy Explorers will be released in the United States on January 26.

An ominous turn - Shin Megami Tensei IV Reader's Review

I have to admit myself, I like role-playing games, especially those with a lot of replay-ability and character customization such as the likes of Pokemon, Etrian Odyssey, and a whole lot recently, Monster Hunter. However, none of these (except Monster Hunter, lolz) pale in comparison to that of the very obscure series known as Shin Megami Tensei. Practically, I am not somehow fond of the many elements found in the game (such as the heavy use of religious elements and the fact that God is the antagonist of the majority of its installments, which can be considered VEEEERY offensive towards certain people), but nevertheless, the game mechanics are very well-established.

However, instead of complaining about its negative impact towards people, I will make a Reader's Review about it...

...... In case you're wondering. :)

That being said, here's my Reader's Review of Shin Megami Tensei IV.

Title: Shin Megami Tensei IV
Date Released: May 13,2013 (Japan), July 16, 2013 (US), October 30, 2014 (Europe)
Company: Atlus
Genre: RPG
Platform: Nintendo 3DS family of handhelds
ESRB Rating: Mature



Brief Background: Originally released in Japanese waters in May 2013, it was considered to be the fifth installment of the Shin Megami Tensei metaseries (I am saying metaseries because that the series has spawned numerous spin-offs in the process). The development of the game itself took place after the development of another Shin Megami Tensei title; Strange Journey for the DS. The latter was dubbed to be the original "Shin Megami Tensei IV" but was changed due to probable confusion for the Western market, but despite this, the success of the previous games became the strong basis for another SMT title to be released on the West. The game is also known for its extensive character customization, great replay-value, and grueling difficulty.

What do you do here?
You take the role of a young Samurai (the default name being Flynn) as you are chosen to shape the destiny of mankind while defending the medieval-like Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. From there, you are introduced to certain key characters such as Jonathan the gentle Luxuror Samurai, Walter, a cool yet brash Casualry, and Isabeau, a self-assertive and quite Samurai; all of them which affect the ideals and choices that you make as the story progresses. Also, certain decisions that you make in-game will affect the fates of these individuals and overall, mankind. Along the way, you can encounter monsters throughout dungeons underneath Mikado which will force yourself to ally with as you unravel the secrets of Mikado's depths.

What makes the game interesting?
The series itself is known for the aforementioned awesome amounts of replay-value and the amount of freedom that you do in this game. While the game focuses on a more linear type of story progression, there are some hefty amount of side-quests that you can do throughout the game; all of which can be accessed at any time throughout. Some side-quests can be accessed via in-app purchases, which contains a very nice amount of content, such as additional boss battles and bonus equipment. The series itself is known for having multiple endings depending on the choices that you make, which is very engaging and a very interesting way to revisit the game multiple times to experiment a different set of choices; all of which are very interesting at some point. Another series' staple that I like is the way that you talk to "demons", being considered to be an integral part of the game. You can talk to these monsters to either give you money, heal your party, or convince them to join your cause. The catch though is that ALL of these monsters have interesting personalities; which may clash towards your ideals and choices, affecting the overall impact of a negotiation; do it right and you got yourself in a very favorable situation, do it wrong and... well you get the idea.

What are the flaws that I found in this game?
The only thing I could consider a major flaw in this game is the VERY TOUGH difficulty curve of the game, which starts from the very beginning of the game! The feeling is like "ready to take the game on? Well TOO BAD! Because we're sending a barrage of enemies that will instantly destroy you and make you walk away from the game for good!". It feels that you've been cheated at some point, giving you little to no chance of fighting back, which leads to my next point, and that being the enemy AI being aggressive... too aggressive. The enemy always feels intimidating in every way, unleashing a barrage of attacks that comes to a point where it's starting to become cheap and unfair. Heck, even simple grunt enemies will destroy you in a couple of hits (unless you have the Fellow Difficulty on). This makes the game very fulfilling to complete, however, as the challenges themselves have its own rewards... if only you survive, that is.

How controversial this game had become throughout the years?
There are countless controversies regarding the series itself as a whole, especially the aforementioned religious references seen in the monster designs as well as their real-life references, which is a VERY sensitive topic both in and out of the gaming community. As a fan of the series, I kind of find it unsettling that such issues have gone out of hand for Atlus, and while the impact itself is not that large, the lasting effect towards gamers' morality may cause some severe long-term damage on their perspective towards everything spiritual. While I understand the risks of playing these kinds of games, it doesn't change the fact that it has subsequently became a hit for RPG enthusiasts due to its deep combat system, interesting concepts of enemy negotiation and recruitment, and an interactive story; making it one of the greatest RPG franchises ever created. On another note, don't get me started with the whole "Shin Megami Tensei copies Pokemon" thing. It's a discussion that I DON'T want to tackle.

Can you recommend this game?
RPG fans? This is a no-brainer. Playing at least a single Shin Megami Tensei title is a starting point for appreciating the series' awesome ideas. However, if you're not a fan of games of gruesome difficulty and you're not used on seeing religious references and imagery on video games, then I suggest you stay away and find something else... Pokemon, I guess?

Overall rating: 8.8/10
Solid gameplay mechanics and unique approach to the formula lead its way to become a competent title against Pokemon, a different game with the same framework of monster collecting. However, without the hassle of having separate versions, the collecting aspect of this particular series is more spot-on and more intuitive than the Pokemon games, but it doesn't have the same rewarding experience as that of the aforementioned title. Nevertheless, this and Pokemon are two different games and comparing these two games do not make any more sense. If you want a game that is NOT Pokemon, but has that same feel and aspect, then Shin Megami Tensei IV may scratch that monster collecting itch.

--END OF REVIEW--