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Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux

Players who embark on this supernatural sci-fi tale will find a serious, thought-provoking narrative intermixed with challenging dungeon-crawling gameplay and an addictive demon collecting and demon fusion mechanic.

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• 🇪🇺 Deep Silver

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is exactly what is advertised: a strange, phenomenal journey into the unknown. Players who embark on this supernatural sci-fi tale will find a serious, thought-provoking narrative intermixed with challenging dungeon-crawling gameplay and an addictive demon collecting and demon fusion mechanic.

Set sometime in the Earth’s near future, a mysterious dimensional phenomenon known as the Schwarzwelt appears in Antarctica and threatens to very quickly engulf the entire world. An international investigation team comprised of the best and brightest is sent to investigate the Schwarzwelt from the inside. They end up finding angels and demons waging war on one another for the fate of both the world and the humans who reside there. In true Shin Megami Tensei (SMT) fashion, the crucial decision of who to side with falls on you, the player, as a nameless member of the investigation team. Will you ultimately pick a route with either the more lawful-minded angels, the chaotic demons, or have humanity solve their own problems?

The narrative in SMT: Strange Journey Redux is a thrilling, intense one about extremes. The idea that humanity brought the Schwarzwelt on themselves through their tendency towards self-destructive actions was compelling, and I found it especially relevant given so many of the more troubling headlines we see today. Personally, I loved the science fiction undertones intermixed with the supernatural, though I know that is certainly a bit different from the norm as far as SMT storylines go. Another thing that is unique is that the crew all consists of older, more mature characters, which I felt fit the general tone of the game’s storyline really well.

Because this game is so focused on extremes, all of your decisions and the endings tend to never be that simple or easy. As such, the characters represent philosophical ideals instead of feeling like actual people. I found them to be likable, but also hard to approach. Zelenin and Jimenez both have moments when they stand out, but I often found those moments to be when their actions almost went counter to the routes they represented (Law and Chaos, specifically); for example, Jimenez’s fondness for Bugaboo and the main character’s friendship, despite the “only the strong survive” mentality he so often took. Gore is an even more extreme example of this philosophical modeling, given his otherworldly connections later on in the plot. Even Alex, who seems to represent humanity’s selfishness even in the face of extreme change and danger, can sometimes suffer from this. I came to like the characters all in their own ways and I was truthfully torn when it came to having to decide their fates, but it is in a different sort of manner to how you might grow attached to, say, the Persona characters (to name another SMT spinoff). The only characters that truly seem to be “real” in a sense are the crew members of the Red Sprite, and they’re pretty minor in the plot’s grand scheme.

Dungeon-crawling and demon fusion are the staples behind SMT: Strange Journey Redux’s challenging gameplay. This is best exemplified in the plot itself, as the player’s character wears a special suit of armor called a Demonica. This suit gives the player access to the Demon Summoning Program, thus giving them the ability to summon and control demons to fight in the party. Having a strong set of demons at your side is invaluable in the trials that await gamers over the course of SMT: Strange Journey Redux. Demons are acquired by one of three ways: talking to a particular demon during a battle in a demon negotiation; fusing existing demons in your roster together in order to create a new demon that inherits the skills of its predecessors; or generating passwords that summon demons you can then put into your party lineup. Players can even share these passwords with fellow gamers, so others may call forth your tailored demons during their own playthrough if they desire. Demon negotiations are quite a bit of work as every demon has its own distinct personality. Winning a demon over during a negotiation is no easy feat, but it is definitely worth trying if you wish to use acquired demons in the fusion process since you can create some truly powerful allies! You can spend a great deal of time fusing demons together, especially if you’re looking for a future demon to inherit a particularly useful skill or ability. I found the demon collecting and fusion mechanics to be highly addictive, and I put quite a bit of thought and strategy behind my reasoning for fusing certain demons together since I always needed to be mindful of which skills or statistics would work best in a particular dungeon or boss fight. While I didn’t take full advantage of the demon password system until the final portion of the game, I truly appreciated its implementation during some very challenging boss fights.

Dungeon-crawling in SMT: Strange Journey Redux can be a time-consuming affair as every new map is complex and often features more pathways and puzzles than one can shake a stick at. Adding to the nuances already in play in these puzzle-laden expeditions is the fact that the player’s character is tasked with retrieving Forma, a special item that is either found lying around the various dungeon areas or that is being held by hostile demons. Forma allows you to gain access to new items and equipment, which is vitally important as the only way your character’s abilities and skillsets improve or alter is through upgrading your Demonica and weaponry. Some of these upgrades include special Apps for the Demonica that gives the player entry to areas of dungeons that otherwise would be completely blocked off. These dungeon altering special Apps may simply unlock doors or deactivate traps, or they may shift the layout of an entire area so that you gain access to new terrain.

It is easy to look at the sheer amount of things to do in SMT: Strange Journey Redux and feel overwhelmed, but every new puzzle blocking the way has a cleverly crafted solution waiting to be uncovered. I often found myself getting overly frustrated with a dungeon’s design or the tediousness associated with level-grinding, and had to shut off my 3DS for a while to avoid throwing it against a wall. Then when I’d go back a little while later, I was in sheer awe when I figured out what I needed to do in order to actually advance. There are certain areas that are much more frustrating than others (looking at you, Eridanus), but the sense of accomplishment and relief I experienced when I surpassed those challenges made me feel downright giddy. Thankfully, while there are more traditional save points populating the dungeons, the game allows for a quicksave feature when you’re out on the field, which is great for those with only a limited amount of time to play. I found that to be a very handheld-friendly feature, especially since you will no doubt be spending quite a bit of time level-grinding in each new area.

As Strange Journey Redux is an enhanced 3DS port of a 2009 DS title, there is new content to be had: new demons were added to the existing roster, Japanese voice acting was included, and the character designs were revamped. The in-game graphics are serviceable and haven’t been altered much from the original Nintendo DS release, but the updated character artwork and illustrated scenes are quite gorgeous. The musical score, both tracks from the original release and the new route pieces, are well-done and add to the atmosphere of the game wonderfully. Naturally, the biggest addition is the extra story content as the game’s total endings are brought up from the original three (Law, Chaos, Neutral) to six (New Law, New Chaos, and New Neutral). Because the storyline is built upon moral and philosophical extremes, the new story content expands on that notion to make further commentary on the original game’s narrative and endings. In a way, it’s a creative approach to the additional plotlines, though it isn’t without its fair share of weaknesses either.

Perhaps the biggest of these weaknesses is the fact that the Redux content is largely unconnected to the main game. Newcomer Alex does in fact show up in the original story a few times, but most of her scenes are entirely skippable if one opts to not do the Womb of Grief dungeon, easily Redux’s biggest addition. The Womb of Grief has levels that can only be advanced depending on where the player is in the main story and what Apps are available to you, but going back to it time and again feels as though it takes you out of the main plot. The Womb of Grief also has several dungeon features found throughout the main quest’s dungeons, such as warp puzzles and invisible floors, though very rarely do they feel as well-implemented as they do in the main game’s areas. I often felt like taking the time to traverse this lengthy optional dungeon was a chore, at least up until the later portions when everything comes together in both the main plot and Alex’s quest.

That being said, partaking in SMT: Strange Journey Redux’s new content is the only way to access the new endings, so it is worthwhile it if you wish to see them instead of any of the previous ones. As with the old endings, the new ones are sure to garner mixed reactions from gamers. I reached the New Neutral Ending myself on a blind playthrough, though I apparently teetered quite a bit between Law and Chaos with my decisions. I knew the New Neutral Ending wasn’t quite as well-liked by some compared to the previous Neutral ending, but I rather enjoyed the realistic way it covered the final story moments of the game and the way it approached my character’s moral neutrality. Someone might not like the new routes at all, or vice-versa. The endings are purely up to one’s interpretation, however the fact that there are now six endings is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Special mention should also be made of the new final boss, whom I came to have quite a few feelings for as a result of several lengthy and difficult first attempts. Eventually, I devised a strategy that worked well against them, but I certainly felt I’d earned that New Neutral Ending when all was said and done!

All in all, I really enjoyed the time I spent with SMT: Strange Journey Redux. The plot and characters really make you think about philosophy and morality and, as a result, I became addicted to playing just a “little more” every time I saw another story scene. It’s a game that stayed with me well after having finished it, and the sense of accomplishment that I felt at surpassing the many challenges that awaited me during my playthrough was incredible. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux isn’t a game for everyone, but those with the patience and resolve to trek into the Schwarzwelt will find a journey well worth taking.

Excellent choice-based philosophical narrative, well-implemented strategic gameplay, overcoming challenging dungeons is rewarding, addicting demon collecting and fusing.

New story content not seamlessly intermixed, perception of endings might be hit or miss, challenges can be daunting, tedious level-grinding.

Bottom Line

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux's challenging gameplay might not be for everyone, but those it does appeal to will find a well-crafted dungeon-crawling experience with a thought-provoking narrative.

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Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux - Changes and additions in the re-release

Next week, another Atlus re-release lands on Nintendo 3DS with  Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux getting the do-over treatment this time around. As is now commonplace with Atlus, this port is an enhanced re-release which features both new content and other tweaks not present in the original 2010 game. Additionally, much like with Radiant Historia earlier in the year, this is also the first time Strange Journey will see an official release in Europe thanks to the publishing team at Deep Silver.

I've had some time with the game ahead of launch, and I wanted to break down what additions and changes you can expect in the new version:

Alex & The Womb of Grief

In terms of 'new content' in Strange Journey Redux , it all revolves around a new character Alex and a new dungeon area called the 'Womb of Grief'.  

While playing through the main storyline, you'll inevitably encounter Alex as she tries to murder the protagonist. At this point in the game, a new dungeon is unlocked for exploration, accessed independently from the game's original dungeon areas. Additional floors of the Womb of Grief periodically become available as you progress through the main game.

These new floors offer a slight bump in challenge from the original dungeon mazes, both in enemy strength and dungeon design. Progressing through the Womb of Grief will not only shed more light on Alex and her goals, but will also reward the player with some new demons and new Sub-Apps not found in the original release. 

The Womb of Grief also holds a handful of new Ex Mission side quests. Many of these are 'challenge battles', which place a limitation on the player as you are tasked to defeat a certain enemy group.

Three New Endings

The original Strange Journey had three separate ending you could see, depending on the player's alignment before a key moment near the end of the game. These endings are still available in Strange Journey Redux , but three new endings can also be seen if the player finishes the Womb of Grief.

Without getting into spoiler details, these new endings are still aligned the same way as before, but now you can ultimately choose between the old or new version of the ending of your final alignment - as long as you have completed the Womb of Grief. That means there are six endings in total to see.

New Sub-Apps and Commander Skills

App mechanics have been in several recent SMT titles such as Shin Megami Tensei IV and Apocalypse . Sub-Apps offer a variety of bonuses to the player such as HP regeneration or lowering the encounter rate. In the original release of Strange Journey , the player had a limit on the number of Sub-Apps that could be equipped at any one time.

This limitation is removed in Strange Journey Redux , and now you can simultaneously equip as many Sub-Apps as you'd like  (with the exception of Apps that do opposite effects, such as raising or lowering enemy encounter rate). Additionally, Sub-Apps can be equipped or unequipped anywhere on the field, whereas this had to be done at Terminal locations in the original release.

There are several new Sub-Apps with new bonuses, many of which are obtained through the new Womb of Grief dungeon. One such new Sub-App is 'March to Death', which prevents the Game Over screen when the Main Character is KOed, as long as one demon in the battle party is still alive. Several other new Sub-Apps improve the versatility of the game's Demon Co-op mechanics. There is also a Sub-App that prevents encounters with low-level enemies, and another Sub-App that shows you where teleporters will take you.

Commander Skills

Some of the new Sub-Apps unlock a new mechanic known as Commander Skills. These are battle abilities that the protagonist character can use in combat, with various effects. One such commander skill is 'Assailment', which increases the attack potency of the rest of the team for one turn. There are also some Auto Commander Skills that activate randomly during any given turn. One such Auto Commander Skill is 'Blitzkrieg', which allows the full player party to attack before the enemy party.

Presentation

As expected in re-releasing on 3DS, the game has a noticeable jump in visual design, especially when it comes to the game's user interface. While the character designs were originally drawn by Kazuma Kaneko, these have been slightly updated by Masayuki Doi, who also designed the newcomer Alex. Character portraits are also a little more animated, featuring various facial expressions during dialogue.

A handful of event scenes have been added to key story moments in the game. These aren't fully animated cutscenes, but rather still art with some dynamic effects.

Dialogue is also fully voiced this time around with Japanese voiceovers. A handful of new musical tracks are also found in the re-release, mostly centering around the new content.

Finally, the game has a new animated opening for the re-release. Note, while this is the opening to the game, it does in fact contain some spoilers. The opening is also subtitled in the English release.

Other Changes

Several other changes are also made to the game's numerous systems. Note that some of these changes are significant and others are fairly minor mechanical tweaks.

• The original Strange Journey only held two total save slots on the DS cart, and saves could only be made either at the home-base Command Room or various Terminals scattered among the game maps. Strange Journey Redux has 20 normal save slots in addition to a single field save slot that allows you to save anywhere on any map.
• Three different difficulty options can be selected this time around and can be changed at any time during the playthrough. A fourth 'Impossible' difficulty is available on a second playthrough, which cannot be changed once selected. The original Strange Journey did not have an option to change the default difficulty.
• More demons can be held by the player at one time. By the end of the game, you can hold 18 total demons compared to 12 in the original release.
• When fusing a new demon using a Demon Source, the player can directly choose which skills are transferred to the fused demon.
• When a demon wants to change one of its skills, you can now see what skill it will change to before deciding to allow the skill mutation. 
• When performing a Special Fusion, component demons can be directly added from the Demon Compendium (rather than having all demons in present in the current party).
• ~30* new demons, obtained via the new content. [Note*: Some of the 'new' demons were available in the original release through in-game password only].
• Now sub apps, player level, and map progress can be carried over into new game plus, which was not the case in the original.
• A demon can be changed in the battle party during combat in one turn instead of two.
• When retreating from battle, a chance of success is given as a percentage.
• You can heal your party at the home base for free, rather than at a macca cost.
• The thumb-pad can be set to either move the player or slide the lower screen map via the config menu.
• You can browse maps of other floors, rather than just the one you are currently on.
• Battle animations can be set to Default speed, Double speed, or Skipped entirely.
• You can 'dash' in the dungeon in the forward direction.
• You can set a toggle to have a final check before starting the selected battle actions.
• You can set a toggle to have doors automatically open with a forward movement, rather than having to press A.
• If there is an open slot in the four-person battle party when a demon is recruited, they will automatically join the battle party rather than going directly to the reserve.
• When a demon in your stock reaches Analysis Level 3, they will offer their Demon Source in the same battle, rather than at the next level-up.
• If a demon's weakness is found before Analysis Level 2, it will be remembered in the Demonica's memory (in the original release you had to get the Analysis Level to 2 to see weaknesses at all.)
• A handful of text/localization tweaks throughout.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux releases on May 15 in North America and May 18 in Europe for Nintendo 3DS.

In the near future, an unexplained phenomenon manifests in the South Pole.

The Earth is now home to over 7 billion people, pollution has eroded what's left of the ecosystem, the disparity between rich and poor has never been wider, and as a result, mankind suffers from environmental catastrophes, geopolitical conflict, wars, chaos and disorder.

All of this destruction manifests itself as the Schwarzwelt - a subspace anomaly that suddenly appears in the South Pole and begins rapidly growing in size, obliterating all that it touches. In response to this new and mysterious threat, the United Nations create a secret elite team tasked with making sense of and handling a situation beyond human understanding. Humanity's last hope, the "Schwarzwelt Investigation Team," couldn’t have imagined what was waiting for them. In order to prevent the extinction of humanity, the Investigation Team must risk their lives and press on into the danger of the unknown. They discover what some would call "Angels" and "Demons", creatures only heard of in myths. Are they friend or foe?

During their investigation, a mysterious girl appears in front of you, wearing unfamiliar equipment who travels the Land of Ruin by herself, then she suddenly becomes hostile. What is her objective? Ultimately, your choices and decisions will affect the fate of humanity.

Shin Megami Tensei® Strange Journey Redux Nintendo 3DS™ Release Date: 05.15.2018 (NA) Release Date: 05.18.2018 (EU) Genre: RPG Players: 1 ESRB: Mature

• Featured Content / Reviews

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Review

by Mike Moehnke · Published July 19, 2018 · Updated November 18, 2018

Age of Extinction

Every few years I get in the mood to tackle something else from the massive Megami Tensei line of titles, and that synced conveniently with the release of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux . The word from this game’s original edition warned that it would be a considerable timesink, and that is most definitely still the case. Strange Journey in its Redux form actually manages to be even more of a timesink due to the addition of a mammoth new dungeon to explore, but at least this is not a complete waste of the many hours required to persevere. My urge to play anything else in the series has been successfully quashed for another year or two.

A baffling phenomenon in Antarctica called the Schwarzwelt has aroused the intense interest of decision-makers around the world. This phenomenon is slowly expanding from the South Pole and placing all land inside within a black border that is impenetrable to all scanning efforts. No drones sent into the Schwarzwelt have survived to return, and the images they managed to broadcast before contact was lost only produce more questions instead of answers. Four ships crewed with the most talented people possible are about to set out into the Schwarzwelt, in order to hopefully learn what is happening. Upon entering the area matters within quickly diverge from what was planned, and an already-dangerous mission sees its odds of success decrease further. The player takes the on role of a soldier recruited in the event that combat prowess is needed inside, something that quickly proves to be a helpful skill set to aid survival once the demons inside the Schwarzwelt appear.

Strange Journey Redux has an enormously ambitious narrative that attempts to detail a series of events through which a demonic takeover of the Earth could occur, while avoiding any obvious insertions of unbelievable methods to advance the plot. It has a fairly large cast of characters with some depth to their motivations. The personalities at play are not as complex as they could be, since certain key players are locked into paths regardless of what the player might choose. Such ambition is worthy of praise even when not everything the narrative attempts is a success, and Atlus USA’s typically strong localization ensures that what transpires remains gripping. This is an involving tale that manages to keep coming up with interesting developments throughout, and avoids treating the player like a dullard when doing so. Having three potential endings in the original game along with new material including additional endings for the Redux version ensures that plenty of time can be spent with this setting if desired.

Please be more specific. Who are they? If I knew, maybe it would mean something.

Efforts to give the player input into morality are where the narrative does not come off best, primarily thanks to the limited options available. Three morality tracks provide the options for responses in numerous scenarios, but often none of the available responses convey what the player would prefer to do. These segments definitely offer more shades of gray and realistic portrayals of humanity than will be found in most RPGs, but not nearly enough to represent the gamut of possibilities found in the real world.

Armed with a specialized suit that allows him to manipulate his surroundings, the protagonist wanders the multiple dungeons of Strange Journey while encountering plentiful demons along the way. In the vein of many other titles in this series, conversation with just about all battle participants is possible and often encouraged. Demons come with a sizable variety of personality traits, from old fogeys to creatures incapable of uttering more than guttural grunts. Conversation will frequently net rewards, and many demons are perfectly willing to join the player’s stable of party members if the right incentives are submitted. The chance also exists that the player will manage to infuriate instead of ingratiate, but the plentiful options for talking things through are both interesting and worthwhile.

Many demons cannot be convinced to join the player and must be created through fusion. All defeated bosses and numerous scarce beings not regularly encountered can be created via the combination of demons extant in the current stock, which is an absorbing process that will divert a substantial amount of time. As in other games from the series, what can be created is strictly limited by the protagonist’s current level, which at least provides an excellent reason to seek out additional combat. Fused demons can also inherit certain valuable abilities from previously-acquired party members, giving more incentives to spend time with this system.

Demonee-Ho will treat you like dirt, and you will like it, soldier!

Combat itself is a relatively straightforward turn-based affair in which the player and up to three companion demons duke it out against adversaries. Due to the presence of various elemental affinities and weaknesses, there is no such thing as a character optimal for every situation. Some enemies absorb or reflect attacks of specific types, and status ailments work regularly if the recipient is not immune. An important battle component is the automatic supporting attacks unleashed when an enemy’s weakness is hit, something that is most helpful against defensively-powerful opponents. Bosses require attention to be paid, as some of their abilities can destroy an unsuspecting player on even the lowest difficulty.

Navigation of the dungeons is often no less a task than prevailing in altercations, as these are sizable places with many devious tricks to tax the player. One-way doors and poisonous floor tiles are just the beginning — soon enough other nasty elements such as holes in the ground and teleporter mazes add to the bedlam. Patience and the presence of an automap on the lower screen aid in unraveling these tricky places, which are addictive to explore even as they befuddle. Strange Journey oddly locks off certain parts of dungeons until New Game Plus mode is achieved, and it is bothersome to see such locations appear on the map without any way to explore them, especially when the game already requires around eighty hours to complete.  That time can be lowered a bit by attempting to plow through the game without stopping to look around, but a great number of optional missions that usually ask for thorough navigation of the dungeons also exist to contribute still more content.

Redux adds a number of options to the mix, starting with the ability to choose a difficulty upon beginning the game. Casual challenge is not a cakewalk but does make things more manageable. The major addition to Redux is a new character’s appearance in the second dungeon which opens the Womb of Grief, a completely new area which itself takes at least twenty hours to explore. Going through the Womb of Grief is optional but yields extremely helpful abilities that can tailor random encounter rates to the player’s liking and make dungeon navigation much easier. Among the very helpful things to be gained in the Womb of Grief is a function that shows where a teleporter will take the party, something that otherwise is dependent entirely upon memory. Unless one waits until near the end of the game, it is impossible to explore the Womb of Grief in one trek, since its lower portions can only be unlocked once various abilities to open multiple types of sealed areas in the main storyline are achieved. Each new floor represents a completely different undertaking and exploring the place is a worthwhile endeavor. Going through it also broadens the game’s conclusion options.

Want to make your life easier? Get these and turn them on.

Inventory arrangement is not one of this game’s strong suits due to the sheer amount of time it can take. Each specific item has an individual maximum amount that can be in the player’s possession, which at least eliminates the need to constantly return to home base in order to dump surplus supplies. Most new creations of the home base crew available for purchase require very distinct components that enemies and environments won’t consistently produce, and this can lead to many occasions where a tempting thing is inaccessible until the player tediously acquires its constituent ingredients. Just sifting through the huge mass of acquired materials in order to sell what is unnecessary also takes a very long time when several hundred possibilities are present. In most other ways the interface is functional, but this tediousness is difficult to overlook.

Strange Journey Redux betrays its DS origins through the visuals that mostly date from its original iteration, though the result is not so much unpleasant as unremarkable. Dungeon layouts make the various areas distinct from each other but also have these places look pretty much the same within each location. An impressive variety of demon images will be found within, but they don’t move much and numerous designs will have been seen before in other Megami Tensei titles. First-person dungeon exploration rarely attracts much attention through its astounding good looks, and Strange Journey Redux does not break this trend. There are a few cinematic sequences which look nice but take up a very small portion of the time spent playing.

Redux adds voiced dialogue to all the plot developments, something that can help give a little more character to the personalities. Its Japanese cast is workmanlike throughout but does not achieve such a stellar quality of performance as to entice all players to listen, especially when numerous demons have short vocal clips that will be heard many times during the proceedings. The music has some good compositions but really needed more variety, especially in its dungeon themes. Too many areas use male choral effects that sound similar, and later areas get reused compositions from earlier. Certain tracks are indeed very pleasant to the ear, particularly those heard when confronting bosses, but they aren’t heard often enough.

I enjoyed my time with Strange Journey Redux , and the many things its dungeons offered will stick with me. Its narrative is also interesting and should be applauded for what it attempts, even if the story’s reach is not quite what it can attain. I was also ready to be done by the time the credits rolled and uninterested in starting the whole thing again to see another ending or reach the heretofore-forbidden areas, which keeps Redux from being among the crowning achievements in my RPG experience. It was a worthwhile title to encounter though, and should at least be tried by anyone curious.

Redux content is nice

Interesting and alluring setting

Plenty of things to do

Time-consuming inventory management

Dungeon themes don't vary much

Tags: 3DS Atlus Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey Redux

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I’m not sure when I’ll be playing this, seeing as I hadn’t even gotten around to getting the other endings in the original DS release. Still, I think I will enjoy taking this strange journey again.

Thanks for this, Mike. After 150ish hours of Backtrack listened to in 2018, hear your voice reading this in my head (is that weird?). Looks like a pretty decent time sink ahead for me once I clear a few others from the backlog!

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Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

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An enhanced port to the Nintendo 3DS , Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux , was released on May 15, 2018. The game includes new artwork for the characters, voice acting, animation, new demons, and three new endings. 350 demons are fusable in-game.

• 2 Characters
• 3.2 Demon Analysis
• 3.3 Co-Op Attacks
• 3.4 Demon Sources
• 3.6 Password System
• 3.7 Miscellaneous
• 4 Reception
• 7 References
• 8 External links

A mysterious black hole has appeared on the region of the South Pole and is expanding day by day. Concerned about this event, the United Nations sent a collection of elites from around the world to investigate the area called Schwarzwelt (シュバルツバース, Shubarutsubāsu , Schwarz-verse ). Inside, the U.N. Schwarzwelt Investigational Team finds that the area has been infested with supernatural beings known as demons that threaten to cross into the human world. As the team delves further into the Schwarzwelt, they find strange and repulsive callbacks to human society.

The player assumes control of an unnamed soldier from America (or Japan in the Japanese version), who will be working with three other crew members assigned by the Joint Project. The crew dons Demonica suits , which enables access to special abilities as well as regulating the player to the conditions within the Schwarzwelt.

Characters [ ]

From left to right: Zelenin, the protagonist, Commander Gore, Jimenez

The major characters of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey are:

• The protagonist - A USMC officer who underwent intense combat and command training between tours of duty. He was transferred to the Schwarzwelt Investigation Team by U.N. request. As a member of the Strike Team, his duties include off-ship missions and providing security for the expedition. He is on the crew roster for ship one, the Red Sprite .
• Commander Gore - The overall commander of the Schwarzwelt Investigation Team. He was originally a military officer serving a large country; the leadership abilities he displayed during his service earned him the top position on the team that now holds the fate of mankind. He commands the Red Sprite directly in addition to overseeing operations on the other three ships.
• Jimenez - Another member of the expedition with an American military background, Jimenez began his career as an enlisted man and is now a private contractor, attracted to the expedition by the promise of a financial gain. He serves on ship two, the Blue Jet , as a member of the Strike Team.
• Zelenin - A Russian scientist recognized for her research on the Schwarzwelt. Her position as the First Lieutenant of the Monitor Team was one of the first appointments made. Her chief duty is to research the Schwarzwelt's true nature along with her crewmates on ship three, the Elve .
• Arthur - The command unit for the Red Sprite , installed with an administrative pseudopersonality. From his vantage point tied into all the ship's systems, he extrapolates and proposes missions for the team. He is named after real life writer Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote the science fiction novel 2001: A Space Odyssey .
• Bugaboo - Deep inside the Schwarzwelt, the Schwarzwelt Investigation Team finds Bugaboo, a demon that has undergone torture at the hands of other demons. Scanning Bugaboo shows that it is only 75% demon.
• Mastema - A mysterious entity that appears before the Schwarzwelt Investigation Team, resembling an angel with black wings. He is skilled in mystical arts and has the power to break the demons' barriers, but his countenance is more sinister than divine. He claims to have come to the Schwarzwelt on God 's orders. In the Japanese release, he was called Mansemat .
• Strange Girl - An enigmatic girl who speaks of demons and humans, but seems content to witness the proceedings rather than take an active hand. Her name is Louisa Ferre in the US version.
• Alex : A new character introduced in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux . She is hunting down the protagonist for unspecified reasons.

Gameplay [ ]

Strange Journey returns to the original Shin Megami Tensei style of dungeon crawling with a first person perspective, and uses animated sprites instead of 3D models. Additionally, there is no world map; each major area is completely isolated and can only be accessed through a hub area.

The inclusion of the Demonica ( DEMO untable N ext I ntegrated C apability A rmor) allows the protagonist to upgrade his abilities through the use of "Apps". Apps include both combat and exploration abilities, such as the ability to unlock doors. The number of apps the player can have active is limited in the original Strange Journey , but not in the Redux rerelease.

Among other features, apps automate the effects of Estoma , Liftoma , and Riberama , so those skills are no longer present.

Demon Analysis [ ]

Unlike in other games, demons initially hide their appearance when first encountered, appearing as a sprite that looks like white noise, and all statistics for the demon will be displayed as "??". Attempting to negotiate with an unknown demon results in unintelligible text, and though the player can respond, the effects of the negotiation are completely random.

After defeating a demon once, the Demonica will advance its analysis level to 1, revealing the demon's name and appearance for all future encounters. Defeating demons, using them in your party, and including them in Co-Op attacks will advance their analysis level further. At level 2, the demon's elemental affinities will be revealed, and at level 3, all information about the demon will be revealed. Fusing or recruiting a demon will also immediately upgrade its analysis to level 2.

Co-Op Attacks [ ]

The Co-Op system replaces the Press Turn system from the previous game . If the protagonist or any of the player's demons hit an elemental weakness, all allies of the same alignment (Law, Chaos, or Neutral) will perform a Co-Op attack. Co-Op attacks will only ever manifest as a single hit, but they will be stronger if more allies contribute to the attack. Co-Op attacks are non-elemental and cannot be resisted or negated. Additionally, Co-Op attacks significantly increase the analyze rate of the participating demons.

Unlike the Press Turn system, this mechanic is exclusive to the player, and enemies cannot benefit from Co-Op attacks.

Demon Sources [ ]

When an allied demon's analysis level is maxed out, it will grant the player a Demon Source or D-Source, which can be added to any fusion to grant fused demons additional skills. D-Sources contain up to three fixed skills, as well as a bonus skill randomly selected from the demon's own learned skills. The player can only hold one of each D-Source at a time, and may rarely regain D-Sources from their respective demons as level-up gifts.

In addition to Macca, purchasing items now also consumes a resource known as Forma. Forma is obtained from demons (either by defeat or negotiation), with every demon having its own Forma, and from the overworld, with every Sector having its own Forma. Items are crafted through recipes requiring specific Forma.

Password System [ ]

By using an up to 32 digit code in the Demon Compendium, players can trade passwords to unlock demons from each other. Certain demons can only be obtained in this way, and Atlus revealed certain passwords to give players access. It was decided that this system was easier to use than connecting through Wi-Fi, as passwords can be posted anywhere and used at anytime.

Miscellaneous [ ]

Additional mechanics include:

• Gun attacks have returned after their absence in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne .
• Gun weapons now provide up to three skills when equipped by the protagonist. Each gun has a unique skill list. These skills often cost MP and mimic the effect of offensive spells.
• Stats use the same scale as Digital Devil Saga : Stats go up to 99 and characters gain 3 stat points on level up.
• Unlike in previous games, the player does not choose how to allocate the protagonist's stat points on level up; instead, the protagonist has one of several stat growth patterns based on the player's answer to a personality questionnaire at the start of the game.

Reception [ ]

Strange Journey was well received by critics. IGN gave it 4 stars (8.5 on a scale of 10), saying that "though the game's turn-based combat system is standard stuff, fusing demons, launching co-op attacks, and exploring the environments keeps things interesting." It received a score of 36/40 from Famitsu, which was the highest score given by the Japanese magazine to an Atlus game at the time.

Gallery [ ]

• The American release was accompanied by a soundtrack CD as well as a collectible outer box with all launch copies of the game. Music is done by long-time composer Shoji Meguro .
• A poster was available with the pre-order of the game from GameStop . It is located behind the box art.
• In 2009, a forum thread claimed that the game was developed as Shin Megami Tensei IV according to an interview with Kazuma Kaneko , but since the game's setting does not take place in Tokyo, it is apparently not named as such. [1] However, a new interview with director Eiji Ishida contradicts this. Ishida says that Strange Journey was conceived as a spinoff from the very beginning, but the promotional staff and Kazuma Kaneko thought that its quality was high enough to be called Shin Megami Tensei IV . Ishida ultimately refused to market it as such. Ishida also makes no mention of its setting not being in Tokyo becoming a factor. [2]  
• To date, Strange Journey has the fewest playable characters out of any Shin Megami Tensei game excluding fusible demons.
• The vehicles used to explore the Schwarzwelt are based on the Landmasters from a post-apocalyptic science fiction movie called Damnation Alley .

References [ ]

• ↑ Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey is technically SMT4, says producer GoNintendo. (RawmeatCowboy; September 30, 2009)
• ↑ Embarking on a Strange Journey, redux Retronauts (Parish, Jeremy; July 19, 2018)

External links [ ]

• Official Japanese Site
• Official North America Site
• (Atlus U.S.A. Forums) Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Forum
• (Atlus U.S.A. Forums) Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Demon Password Forum
• (Atlus U.S.A. Forums) PRODUCTION DIARY: "Use Your Allusion" by Lead Editor Nich Maragos
• (Atlus U.S.A. YouTube Account) English Trailer / Gameplay Trailer
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Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey – Guides and FAQs

Full game guides.

• Guide and Walkthrough by  Devhatesyou v.1.02, 930KB, 2010 *Most Recommended* *FAQ of the Month Winner: May 2010*

In-Depth Guides

• Forma/Password Guide (Incomplete) by  Roto_Arel v.1.0, 97KB, 2010
• Demon Alignment FAQ by  Roto_Arel v.1.2, 195KB, 2011
• Demon Skill List by  NARFNra HTML 20KB, 2014
• Demon Source Compendium by  Bitbyte v.1.0, 41KB, 2010
• Game Mechanics/Demon Database by  Zeruel v.1.83, 713KB, 2010

Maps and Charts

• Basic Fusion Chart by  Battle_Cry v.1.0, 2018
• Fusion Chart by  Zandio v.1.0, 2010
• Jack's Squad HQ Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Antlia 1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Antlia B1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Antlia B2F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Bootes 1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Bootes 2F - 5F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Bootes 6F - 8F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Carina 1F - B1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Carina 2F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Carina 3F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Carina 4F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Delphinus 1F - 2F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Delphinus 3F - 4F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Delphinus 5F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Delphinus 6F - 9F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Eridanus 1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Eridanus 2F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Eridanus 3F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Eridanus TOP Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Fornax 1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Fornax B1F - B2F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Fornax B3F - B5F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Fornax B6F - B7F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Grus 1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2018
• Sector Grus 1F Phase Shift Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Grus B1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Grus B2F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Grus B3F - B4F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Horologium 1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Horologium B1F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Horologium B2F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Horologium B3F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Horologium B4F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Horologium B5F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010
• Sector Horologium B6F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Horologium B7F - B8F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010 *Highest Rated*
• Sector Horologium B9F Dungeon Map by  zelos71 2010

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Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Guide — Bonding With Demons

Probably one of the biggest features of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux , outside of the choices your protagonist makes, are the demons. Actually, the demons might be a tad more important. They are, after all, the sidekicks you would die without. In the realm of Schwarzwelt, demons are the majority, and they hold most of the power, so it only makes sense to use some of that power for yourself.

In the beginning of the game, you are given a series of questions to help figure out your alignment. At the time, the questions might not seem to be important, but your alignment affects your interactions with demons . Keep that in mind.

Let’s talk about how to get demons to be our friends and, ultimately, our weapons of mass destruction.

My Best Friend Pixie

In the first sector, Antlia, after you are given brief knowledge on basic game functions from a fellow Strike member, head north through the door. You will immediately enter a battle. Don’t panic! This battle is where you get the opportunity to meet your first demon companion, the Fairy Pixie.

Image courtesy of Megami Tensei Wiki

The Fairy Pixie finds you interesting and takes it upon herself to explain how you can get other demons to join your party. She tells you a little about alignments, what things demons may ask for when you’re negotiating, and the uncertainty that lies in negotiating with unknown demons. Pay attention!

Once she gives you the rundown, she’ll ask to be your demon. Honestly, you’re not going to lose anything by accepting her offer, and you need the extra help . This will be one of the easiest demon exchanges within the game.

Demon Talk: Time of Conversation and Negotiation  

As Fairy Pixie explained, when you enter a battle, you will notice the option to  Talk pops up. Instead of choosing Combat , click on Talk . This opens the lines of communication between you and a potential party member. Once you’ve begun talking, you cannot back out, so be sure you’re chatting with a demon you really want .

If you’ve never spoken to that species of demon before, there will be a small note to let you know that you’ve never heard that demon talk. It’s nothing to worry about, so you don’t have to pay too much attention to it — other than to realize you’ve never tried to negotiate with that demon species and will likely not know what questions will be asked.

Immediately, alignment will be mentioned as the conversation starts. If your alignments match with the demon, they will let you know. They’ll be interested in you and willing to chat. However, if your alignments don’t match, the demon will show hesitation and reluctance.

Why does it matter if your alignments match or don’t match?

Well, if you’re talking to a demon with the same alignments, the conversation is more likely to go well, and you can successfully keep from offending a demon. However, if the alignments don’t match, you have a higher chance of offending the demon, which will result in the demon simply getting angry or suddenly attacking you .

There are a few demons that don’t care about alignments, but you still have to be careful of the choices you make. If you come across a demon that doesn’t speak and only grunts or growls, you have the option to make random noises or keep quiet — and both options can lead to an attack , depending on the creature. Also, where some demons don’t mind you saying you’re not afraid of them, others might find you reckless and stupid.

Depending on the demon, some being more generous and forgiving than others, even if you offend the demon, they may decide to forgive you and keep the conversation going.

If you successfully manage to get past the questioning, you will find yourself faced with two choices. You can either try negotiating , or you can stay quiet . If you choose the latter, the demon will either randomly do a nice thing, such as heal you, give you an item, or give you Macca (the currency), or the demon may insist on negotiating.

If the demon is agreeable to negotiating, you get the options to ask the demon to join your party, ask the demon for an item, ask the demon for Macca, or say you want nothing. Now, if you choose an item or Macca, you have no control over what the demon gives or how much the demon gives.

Having a demon join your party is costly. It’s worth it, but it’s still costly. Sometimes, the demon may ask for your life (bye bye, HP), your energy (there goes the MP), an item (hope it’s not your last heal item), Macca (your poor funds), or an outrageous item they know you won’t have. Some demons are more considerate than others, so it doesn’t take them long to decide they’ve gotten enough from you, and they will join your party. Other demons might suck you dry if they can.

You are able to refuse the demons’ requests, but if you refuse them too many times, they’re going to get angry .

If you manage to successfully complete negotiations with the demon of choice, you have yourself a new party member!

But beware, if your level isn’t higher than the demon you’ve been negotiating with, the demon will switch up on you, tell you thanks but no thanks, and leave without returning all of the wonderful things you’ve given .

Now, occasionally, you might come across a demon that forces its way into your party . There’s no way to stop this demon from barging into your party. Just be glad you didn’t have to spend resources, and consider it a freebie.

Leveling Up and Fusing Demons

With 350 fusable demons, it’s important to level up. As the game progresses, the number of demons you can get will also increase, but you only fight with three at a time . Of course, you can switch them out during the battle. Even the demons who aren’t active in the fight still get experience, so the game wants you to level up those demons.

As you level up, sometimes the demons will give you an item. These items can include expendable items — like medicine or chakra drops — or forma, pieces of this and that which help you make expendable items, sub apps, or weapons. One of the most important things the demon may give you, however, is a demon source .

Demon sources are valuable when it comes to fusion. When you use fusion, you pick several demons to fuse together to make a stronger demon. You cannot make a demon that will surpass your own level . If successful, you’ll have a stronger demon to help you win battles!

Now, the demon source takes skills from the parent demon and gives you the option to add those elements to your new demon.

For instance, if you use the Slime Source, you have the option to allow your new demon to use Poison Claw. So, sometimes, if you’re worried about losing specific attacks, check out the sources and see what skills come with them . Not all the skills you like will be able to transfer over, and there is no getting back a demon you’ve used for fusing. So, make sure you are using demons you’re willing to part with, skills and all!

The demons are such an essential part of the game. As you progress, more demons become available to choose from, you receive the choice of using special fusion, and you ideally become a step closer to having an unstoppable team!

Did this Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux guide help you better deal with demons? Drop a comment below to talk about some of the challenges you’ve faced, and check out our other Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux guides for even more helpful information.