Shin Megami Tensei 3 Nocturne HD Remaster is a JRPG developed by Atlus and published by Sega. The game is a gorgeous remaster of a top-quality, difficult RPG from the PS2 era - even if it could use some extra QoL improvements to bring it in line with the modern Shin Megami Tensei & Persona titles.
SMT III Nocturne HD begins at the end of the world. The planet is transformed into the Vortex World, where almost all of humankind has been wiped out and creatures from mythology now walk among the ruins of society. The main character is saved from death by a mysterious child, who implants a parasite in his body that transforms him into the Demi-fiend, giving him the powers of a demon. The Demi-fiend must explore this new world and navigate its different factions, who are each vying for control. On the way, he can forge alliances with monsters and form a party that can take on angels, demons, and the gods themselves.
The combat system in SMT III Nocturne HD will be familiar to those who have played the modern Shin Megami Tensei titles. The player can negotiate with monsters and have them join the party, which can then be fused into more powerful creatures. There is an elemental system at play, with creatures having strengths and weaknesses to different types of damage. The most important aspect of combat is the "Press Turn" system. If a character deals a critical hit or strikes an enemy weakness, then their team gains an additional turn, but if they miss an attack or use an element that the enemy is strong against, then they lose turns for their side.
SMT III Nocturne HD is one of the most punishing games in the entire Shin Megami Tensei series in this regard, as it's possible for enemies to overwhelm the party if they have a good type match-up against its weaknesses. It also doesn't help that the game ends if the Demi-fiend dies, even if there are party members that have revival spells. As such, the early hours of the game can feel frustrating, as they contain some powerful bosses that will wipe the floor with the player if they haven't min-maxed their team. There is also a recurring mechanic involving the moon, where its phases can influence the actions of demons and the strength of certain moves, which can also become annoying to track.
SMT III Nocturne HD is almost the exact same game as the original title on the PS2. The only major QoL improvement is the ability to select a new demon's skills during the fusion process, and even this was a post-launch update. SMT III Nocturne HD would have benefitted from some optional QoL updates, like a speed-up option that isn't tied to auto-battling, the ability to check an enemy's weakness without using an ability, the ability to skip cutscenes, or a way to disable random encounters, especially as the encounter rate is high in later dungeons. People who were introduced to the Shin Megami Tensei series through Persona 5 or the 3DS era Shin Megami Tensei games will find Nocturne HD a bit more frustrating than the games they're used to.
The one way in which SMT III Nocturne HD vastly improves upon the original is in the visuals department. The character sprites and overworld look absolutely gorgeous and are on par with later entries in the series. The exception to this is the FMV sequences, even when letterboxed to fit an HD screen. Fortunately, these rarely come up and don't detract from the overall experience. The soundtrack is still as amazing as it was back on the PS2, especially battle themes, with their heavy metal/rock tunes matching the oppressive feeling of the world. SMT III Nocturne HD now has voice acting for some cutscenes and these are all well-done additions to the game, even if they rarely show up.
SMT III Nocturne HD has also never run better. The major glitches in the launch version of Nocturne HD have all been fixed, and it's more stable than the PSN version, with no crashes encountered during the game. There is one regular visual glitch that causes the screen to sometimes flash black whenever the main menu is closed, but this is extremely minor.
The most prominent highlights of SMT III Nocturne HD remain its setting and its story. The hollow earth concept is something rarely explored this well in games, and the demon & ghost-infested ruins of Tokyo are filled with fascinating characters and powerful enemies. Dante from Devil May Cry might be DLC in Nocturne HD, but that doesn't change the fact that the game has a world that feels unique, even within the Shin Megami Tensei series.
The story of SMT III Nocturne HD is fantastic, with different factions vying for control in the new world. The Demi-fiend has the power to bring victory to any of the sides and it's up to the player to decide the fate of the world, based on ethical and philosophical choices.
SMT III Nocturne HD is one of the hardest games in the Shin Megami Tensei series, which is no small boast, considering how challenging the other entries can be. The remaster could have been improved with some extra QoL features to make the game less frustrating, but the core experience is still great on its own. Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is difficult but rewarding, and its strategic combat system, legions of demon allies, engaging story, and its unique world make it worth coming back to after all of these years.
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster will be released for Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Steam on May 25, 2021. Players who pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition can play it on May 21, 2021. Screen Rant was provided with a digital code for the Switch version of the game for the purposes of this review.