Shin Megami Tensei IV

The final main entry that I really enjoy after I and II. The setting, atmosphere, and world events are top notch. Exploration of the world filled with NPCs that reflect their environment is a blast. There's just something about the player character who's human, and able to transcend godhood is a totally different hit/vibe compared to 3 and 5.

I never played a SMT until this and I loved it. A scary atmosphere, a difficulty that is hard but fair, a Pokémon-style battle system where you have different monsters that have their own strengths and weaknesses. This adds a fair bit of depth to the game. The music is also really affective.

i liked the atmosphere. i liked the battle system. but the morality. good god. it's so profoundly stupid that it nearly ruins everything else. there are three routes in the game. 'law' means mass mind control and 'chaos' means mass slaughter. you have to kill your best friends and become an unhinged psychopath. and 'neutral'? you inspire the city through grit and determination, filling a chalice with the hopes of the people to save the world from those nasty d&d radicalists. fuck atlus.