Shin Megami Tensei IV Starter Guide: Cathedral Of The Shadows

After a long wait from the previous game in the series, Shin Megami Tensei IV is finally available on the Nintendo 3DS. This marks the first time a main entry of the series gets released on a portable console, but that doesn’t mean that the game has been toned down or made any easier. SMTIV has enough content to keep you occupied for a long time.

Shin Megami Tensei IV comes with all the features that players have come to expect from the series and more. The menu system has been tweaked, with the exploration and battle system having also been improved. Returning fans will  be treated to new gameplay options, and cool new extras which utilize the unique 3DS capabilities.

The Karma system from previous entries of the series has also returned: depending on your alignment, Neutral, Chaos, or Law, you’ll slightly change the story of the game.

Demon recruiting and fusing is also available once again. While demon recruiting has been in the series pretty much since the beginning, demon fusion is a more recent gameplay feature that has now become a staple of the series. Through demon fusion, you’ll be able to acquire new demons that cannot be obtained in any other way. During the fusion process, you’ll also be able to make the new demon inherit some of the skills of the demons used in the fusion. You’ll not only get a new demon, but a demon that is even better than the ones that can be recruited on the field.

Feeling confused yet? Well, prepare yourself, as this is just the beginning!  Shin Megami Tensei IV features several different gameplay mechanics for a new comer to get lost in. First time players, while hungry for some new role playing, will be completely unaware of the dangers the Shin Megami series is known for. The difficulty level certainly doesn’t help to ease first time players into its many mechanics, and may leave you ultimately feeling lost and frustrated.

This is where we come in. We will be helping you get through the game, by explaining the games basic, as well as some of the more advanced systems found in Shin Megami Tensei IV.

• Cathedral Of The Shadows

The Cathedral Of The Shadows is the place where you’ll be able to Fuse Demons and use the Demon Compendium. You’ll be able to access this app during the main quest. To My Fellow Samurai: you’ll also need 2 App points to make the option appear on the main menu.

During Demon Fusion you will be able to use a few different options: Recommended Fusions are some suggested fusions with the demons currently in your possession. Demon Search will allow you to select a number of traits for a resulting Demon based on the Demons you currently have with you: this is quite useful if you need a Demon with a high DEF stat, or any other stat for that matter. Special Fusions are fusions that require specific demons to be performed: you don’t have to have both demons in your party at the same time, having registered them in the compendium is enough.