Shin Megami Tensei IV *SPOILERS ABOUND*

Ehh... Chaos has been the lesser of two evils for a while now, really. The Nice Guy/A World Half Full alignment is Neutral, easily.

edited 21st Jul '13 10:32:45 PM by Pulse

Yes and no. From what I've seen, while when it comes to big ethical issues Law usually is depicted harshly and Chaos positively, the choices that amount to "being a decent human being" are either Law or Neutral. (for example, in SMTI, showing sympathy to your fellow man is considered a Law action.)

But this is by no means universal, and does depend on the game. I do like that even from the first game to use the Law/Chaos alignments, they at least tried to show that both have their ups and downs, and that neither of them are the absolute "bad guy". ...This doesn't always work, but hey.

edited 21st Jul '13 10:36:53 PM by Otherarrow

It's like that in this game too. Mercy is consider Lawful.

I just got to the decision point, and I honestly feel that both sides don't give the best of arguments, for different reasons. Johnathan's basically advocating blind acceptance, while Walter's talk of the world needing to be changed doesn't come off as strongly as it could because in my eyes the story so far hasn't done that great a job of showcasing its rot from his perspective. Basically, Law comes off as weak 'cause character flaw, Chaos comes off as weak 'cause narrative flaw. I guess I'll decide which way to go with a coin flip.

Also, thirty hours in and I finally discover how useful AOE spells are on hordes. If I had known that earlier so many battles would've been much less stressful.

edited 21st Jul '13 11:15:59 PM by ComicX6

You could just end it all the way the White Men want and take on the easiest final boss in the game.

That wouldn't be very satisfying, though.

And actually, it seems that I'm not at the decision point yet after all. I just encountered the archangels - I have yet to meet the White Men, I realized. Game's trying to trick me.

Honestly, the only reasons I would take the Bad Ending is A). For completion's sake, and B). To get New Game Plus so I can face Mastema, Demiurge and Red Rider.

Hah, I just soloed Aciel with Nebiros. Also discovered that bosses can still use spells even when they have no MP left.

You know, I gotta hand it to Atlus. You know you've successfully made a well written Grey-and-Gray Morality story when the Omnicidal Maniac ending has valid points to it.

Also, as someone who exclusively played the Neutral path in Strange Journey, IV's Law path will be worth it solely because it lets me pound Mastema's smug face in.

That's the bad thing about the Neutral path. Two games in a row, and you still haven't been given the chance to smack Mastema's smug face in.

All enemies can use spells without MP. I routinely drain them dry with Spirit Drain. I've never had it happen to a boss though. That seems like it would suck.

That's another thing I find stupid. It seems that certain demons have skills that they only can use when they're enemies.

Take the Chagrin, for example. As a random encounter, it can use Zio and Needle Shot. But when its in your party, it can only use Needle Shot, or at least my Chagrin could only use that.

They have access to spells that you need to level them up to learn. It's definitely asymmetrical but it doesn't seem that weird to me.

@Some new guy: What are those valid points?

edited 22nd Jul '13 9:06:01 AM by Moth13

From what I've read, the world is an utter Crapsack World, and the White's main argument in favor of it is that they believe its the only true way to protect the world from YHVH.

Hell, I've seen some players refer to it as the "Nihilistic" ending rather then the "Bad" ending.

Just met Hikaru in Shinjuku. Walter had such a perverted look on his face when she said she's interested in them.

Finally started the game. Barely survived the first tutorial battle

Managed to recruit 2 monsters for the tutorials by luck and running away, then ran out of healing items and was used as a floor mop. Fortunately charon was courteous enough to raise me for 11 goddamn playcoins.

Can I get some advice?

edited 22nd Jul '13 7:30:42 PM by stevebat

SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE.

Save like it's going out of style and no matter what avoid letting enemies get a preemptive strike. If they get to go first they can and will wipe out your party.

As an addendum, I just encountered the first enemy with Macca Beam. It's Dormarth. Luckily it doesn't seem to take away as much macca as it did in Strange Journey.

edited 22nd Jul '13 7:41:35 PM by ComicX6

Speaking of which, what the heck is a play coin? I used them all up reviving but now I'm worried that maybe they have some other use I should have been aware of?

They're a form of "currency" used by certain 3DS games. You earn that while walking around with your 3DS while its in sleep mode.

...Or you can put your 3DS into sleep mode and shake it in your hand for a few minutes.

You can only get 10 or 20 play coins per day via the movement/shaking, I can't remember which number.

So I got to Shinjuku National Park while exploring Shinjuku. Didn't realize the Angels kidnapped the ancestors of the people of Mikado when they were kids.

Just started playing this game. It's my first SMT game and it's...different. It's weird because certain parts of it seem kind of archaic but other parts are more modern. I feel like I'm playing a remake of a game from the early 90s, not that that's a bad thing.

I'm not too far in since I just got through the Naraku(speaking of which, isn't that the name of the Buddhist version of hell?) and met the other two on the roof. There was some kind of dialogue choice and based on the result I sided with Jonathan. Judging by the personalities of these two I'm guessing I'll wind up on the law path if I continue doing that.

I probably won't post in this thread much since I want to remain relatively unspoiled. I'll only do so if I have a question or want to comment on something.

edited 22nd Jul '13 10:15:44 PM by Kostya

So, can I just say that giving the Law answers to Lilith in the fight with her is... Kinda amusing?

Seriously, I really like the whole Chaos Cannot Comprehend Law thing her reactions have.

I think Pluto just got the award for most repeats. Vulnera mixed with Sunny Day is just nasty.

Plot-wise, this whole scenario feels like a giant callback to the very first game. I only have preliminary knowledge of that game's plot, but the scenarios seem almost identical.

edited 22nd Jul '13 11:28:41 PM by ComicX6