Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD Remaster has just arrived on PC, Nintendo Switch, and the PlayStation 4. This old-school JRPG title may be different from the Persona series that modern SMT fans are familiar with. However, there is a lot of common ground that can make Persona fans try out this remaster. But SMT3 Nocturne is as old-school as old-school can get, and bringing the game to a modern audience is a daunting task. Did the new quality-of-life improvements help the game more palatable to new fans, or is its old-school gameplay too off-putting? Find out here as we round up SMT3 Nocturne HD Remaster review scores.
SMT3 – Shin Megami Tensei 3 Nocturne HD Remaster Review Scores
SMT3 Nocturne HD Remaster‘s Metacritic review scores end up on the upper end. The game received good review scores across all three platforms, with the Switch version scoring the highest. SMT3 Nocturne HD Remaster aggregate score from Metacritic averaged at 82 for the Nintendo Switch, 78 for PC, and 77 for PS4.
Across all the reviews, a couple of ideas echoed. The praise that the game's story-telling and divergent plot were universal. Its fantastic and unique world-building and lore immersed reviewers. “Although not everyone will take to abstract storytelling,” says Cubed3‘s Renan Fuentes, “it's hard not to get swept up in the atmosphere of it all.”
Reviewers loved how fun negotiating with demons is. ” Negotiating with demons and forging them into the perfect team is fun,” says iMore‘s Samantha Nelson, “but too much of the rest of Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster feels dated.”
Likewise, a couple of issues also popped up again and again in different reviews. The game's dated gameplay and dungeon exploration have been heavily criticized. The lack of visual and audio improvements didn't sit well with many of the reviewers. “Shin Megami Tensei III certainly looks the best it ever has,” says Nintendo Life‘s Mitch Vogel, “but there’s also no mistaking this game for something that initially saw a release eighteen years ago.”
Finally, Atlus' decision to lock away content behind a digital deluxe edition turned off some reviewers. “Bonus maps, music, difficulty modes and Devil May Cry’s Dante are all only available if you take the plunge on the more expensive edition,” notes God is a Geek‘s Lyle Carr, “and I’d expect to always get the definitive version of a game when buying a remaster 17 years later.”
Should you buy SMT3 Nocturne HD Remaster?
Regardless of all of these, most reviewers believe that this version is the definitive way to play SMT3 Nocturne. However, it's not a game for everyone. Those who have the patience to walk through the old-school and slow-paced gameplay will enjoy a masterfully crafted story. But to get there, you'll have to be forgiving of a game that has not been properly remastered for the modern day.
For a full-priced game though, you might have to stay your wallet for a bit. Atlus's decision to keep content locked behind the digital deluxe edition keeps the game from becoming a definitive edition. Furthermore, the very few improvements when it comes to the graphical and audio departments really are off-putting, making the age of this game very obvious. Wait for a sale, and you'll have a great game to sink your teeth into during summer vacation.
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