Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Critic Reviews

One of the best games on the 3DS has been bested with Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, and the result is an exciting, smart, and amazingly complex RPG. I can't think of a game I've enjoyed this much in 2016, and I'm already looking forward to diving back into this again in the near future.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse provides more of the series' addictive combination of exploring, demon-collecting and fast-paced battling, all while continuing the delightfully warped narrative of its predecessor. This is pure JRPG bliss.

This is the pinnacle of the franchise in almost every way and a worthy successor to Shin Megami Tensei with fantastic combat, exploration, and story.

Apocalypse is what the original Shin Megami Tensei IV should've been.

We already loved the original SMT IV, and this second campaign is even more solid. The true essence of Japanese RPG beats strongly in Apocalypse: its turn-based battles are the best we've ever played, the story is mature and captivating, and the soundtrack is amazing.

Apocalypse’s brand new story, engaging characters, and deep gameplay systems are more than enough to warrant a playthrough for fans both new and old. If you’re looking for a lengthy, satisfying handheld RPG to play, Apocalypse is a great candidate.

It’s an obvious second try to rectify the problems of the former game, but it is damn fine excellent one.

Apocalypse is a fantastic RPG that goes above and beyond the original Shin Megami Tensei IV to become one of the shining gems of the 3DS library.

As an RPG sequel, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is just about perfect. It lets players revisit a familiar world from a new perspective, keeps what made the original so special, and adds in several small but significant mechanical improvements that make for a smoother, better game throughout. We recommend playing through SMTIV first if possible, both to get the most out of Apocalypse and to experience one of the 3DS' finest JRPGs, but however you arrive at it, this is a game that begs to be played. It's a delightfully dark adventure that's dripping with dystopian charm, and between the personable demons, deeply satisfying combat and killer aesthetic, we couldn't get enough — the end times have never been so good.

While Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse could easily have been a lazy reuse of content from its predecessor slapped together to make a quick buck, a different perspective on the story, a host of improvements, and the return of Shin Megami Tensei IV’s quality gameplay come together for a pseudo-sequel that’s a worthy experience.

Quotation forthcoming.

This episode is one of the best RPGs of the year, a great adventure with a great story every JRPG fan should play.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse offers a rich experience: a complex story, engaging characters and a deep gameplay system. It improves several things seen in Shin Megami Tensei IV while keeping the core gameplay that made its predecessor one the great RPGs for the 3DS.

SMT: Apocalypse is an excellent game with deeper, fluid and solid system combat, great art direction. It's, also, a good sequel. One of the most solid JRPG in terms of gameplay, but misses some opportunities with the new Divine Powers faction and has some inconsistencies at the end of the game.

On one hand, SMT IV is one of the best games on the 3DS and is surely worth a playthrough by every 3DS owner. Apocalypse, however, is more or less a re-skin of the 2013 title with a new story perspective. Those that are looking to dive back into an SMT title with an expanded story and don’t mind retreading familiar ground will surely find a lot of recognizable fun in Apocalypse.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is a rich RPG experience that’s a respectable addition to the franchise, an often twisted turn-based take on things that flies in the face of more sterilized fare. Despite some minor quibbles, it stands out as one of the finest traditional JRPGs available on the 3DS, an easy choice for franchise veterans and a compelling entry point for someone looking to take a dark dip into something strange and striking.

My final score would have been considerably higher had the game ended when it was first given the opportunity.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is somewhere between an expansion pack and a sequel. There's a lot of familiar content bolstered by some fresh content and strong mechanical changes. It's more Shin Megami Tensei IV, so if you enjoyed the previous game, you'll find a lot to like here, even though it can sometimes feel too familiar and repetitive for its own good.

While Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse gave me déjà vu more than once, it has an intriguing story with plenty of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Apocalypse marks an improvement in every way over Shin Megami Tensei IV, that already was one of the best JPRG available on the 3DS family of consoles. The user interface, the map, the companion system, the demon alignment are all welcome changes especially because they come on top of a fascinating setting and a gritty storyline.