you know what game is very flawed, maybe even bad, but absolutely deserves a remake? SMT2

[LightningmanEXE]

Honestly? after playing SMT 2, I realized 2 things...
this is honestly both one of the best, and the worst RPGs I have ever played in my life.

this game has such a unique aesthetic, amazing atmosphere, a radical plot, really fun characters...
terrible execution of ideas, tedium, insanely low difficulty if you know what to do, and some of the worst and most headache inducing design I've ever had the displeasure of experiencing.

I'd love to see this game fleshed the hell out, mostly just changing the flow and gameplay into a better paced and more balanced experience. I am so mixed on this... certain plot elements are just absolutely insane, I've never seen anything quite like this game.

I am so happy I played it all the way through, and to be honest if I was in charge of a remake, it would probably shock you on what I would and wouldn't keep. honestly, I am so grateful I stuck through this game, I never want to replay it and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I absolutely adore it!

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Honestly? after playing SMT 2, I realized 2 things...
this is honestly both one of the best, and the worst RPGs I have ever played in my life.

this game has such a unique aesthetic, amazing atmosphere, a radical plot, really fun characters...
terrible execution of ideas, tedium, insanely low difficulty if you know what to do, and some of the worst and most headache inducing design I've ever had the displeasure of experiencing.

I'd love to see this game fleshed the hell out, mostly just changing the flow and gameplay into a better paced and more balanced experience. I am so mixed on this... certain plot elements are just absolutely insane, I've never seen anything quite like this game.

I am so happy I played it all the way through, and to be honest if I was in charge of a remake, it would probably shock you on what I would and wouldn't keep. honestly, I am so grateful I stuck through this game, I never want to replay it and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I absolutely adore it!

View attachment 22212

Also mediocre music. It's a massive downgrade to its predecessor with the only tracks of note being the normal battle theme, a later remix of 3D Center, Neutral, and Disco. Only mainline SMT where I will not listen to at least 5 songs often on my own time

 

[PurpleShoes]

Oh I second this HARD! Back in the 3DS day, I was really hoping they'd remake 1 and 2 in the IV:A engine, but no such thing came to fruition. That being said, it would be a hard give and take, because you don't wanna dilute the game's originality in the quest to make it more accessible, and certainly some of its more avante-garde flow is an artistic choice.
I think every series' black sheep deserves one good remake!!

 

[Zachery2112]

In my opinion, Shin Megami Tensei II is the best game in the series when it comes to concept. It is mainly limited by the fact it is on the Super Famicom. They did not have the technology nor techniques to really let the world thrive.

Spoiler

It is set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo in which a theocracy has established itself as the one government. You play as a genetic clone of Jesus created by the church as a face for its organization and to continue its prophecy. The church is doing some heinous crimes that they trick you into committing. Eventually, you break free from the church's power and begin your own journey to stop the plans of God. You go through Hell, stop a simulated utopia, rescue your mother/lover, and eventually kill God in a satellite. It is 100% insanity from start to finish.

The game struggles because it never feels like it is set in overcrowded cities, churches, secret labs, occult grounds, or Hell because it could never visually do that. Due to the first-person dungeon crawling, the environments are limited and the same as the last. In order to differentiate places and to add challenge, the game was built with complex maps to get lost in. This is a problem that several SMT games have had though, not just II. But it serves more to annoy players than anything else.

Devil Summoner proved that the dungeons don't need to be a maze to be original and Strange Journey showed that even complex labyrinths can be fun if created right. SMT II is hampered by its designers not caring about interesting maze design if anything.

If it is remade, it should follow the third-person style of SMT III through V. Not just for modernity but to fix all the other problems with it. The level design could be more original, the aesthetics would improve, and players will feel less claustrophobic. Hey, they could even keep the idea of maze dungeons if they are willing to create unique visuals for every maze.

 

[Glaciation]

Yeah, there are certain moments of the game that are amazing storywise. But I hated getting that ultimate weapon, and the backtracking shit.

The visuals really didn't do the idea justice. Kuzuryu etc.

The soundtrack was incredible.

 

[Aziamuth]

I like SMT a lot but the games before Nocturne seem so daunting. I have heard stories of the notorious World of Sloth in If...

 

[The Missing Link]

I want to get into playing these games.

 

[DunkeyKong]

Maybe that would be…

 

[dropsmegamega]

I don't think I mind that much the visual minimalism and the dungeons, what is SMT without its mazes? But it definitely needed some rebalancing, the boss design was awesome, but they are so easy. I wonder if the PS1 version fixes this. And I agree all the backtracking midgame was awful too...

 

[otogirisou]

SMT2 is literally peak SMT

 

[UnDubious]

I agree, but I'll throw in SMT 1 as well, and probably ...If, which should get a proper remake too since it's basically Persona's predecessor. This was a problem with all the SNES-era SMT games, great atmosphere, story, and aesthetics, as you said, but the gameplay was just too basic and got extremely tedious. I got sick of the first a while before the end because I just slaughtered everything, and it happened much faster with the second. A remake would have to completely change the battle system, balancing, and dungeon design, but retain the atmosphere and aesthetic. Also Majin Tensei 2, the SRPG. Same qualities as SMT 2, but horribly slow gameplay.

 

[LightningmanEXE]

Oh I second this HARD! Back in the 3DS day, I was really hoping they'd remake 1 and 2 in the IV:A engine, but no such thing came to fruition. That being said, it would be a hard give and take, because you don't wanna dilute the game's originality in the quest to make it more accessible, and certainly some of its more avante-garde flow is an artistic choice.
I think every series' black sheep deserves one good remake!!

Oh wow! that would have been amazing. IV:A had a great combat system, and IV itself was weirdly close in tone to the first two games, I would have loved to see that too. but yes, it would be a fine balance to retain the feel of the original.

 

[jiyuuboyetsvi]

God, I fucking LOVED this game's plot when I played it years ago on an emulator. I even own the PS1 version. The absolute lunacy of everything that happens in the story in this game blew my mind.

I will concede though, the dungeon design is headache inducing.

 

[LightningmanEXE]

so... I've gone for chaos. I've

Spoiler: chaos route

enlisted the help of lucifer himself, the world will end if I cannot stop satan and the angels from destroying the world. I am prepared for one final confrontation for all of man, mutant, and demonkind...

TIME TO NAVIGATE THE CENTER TUNNEL FOR THE 80TH TIME

 

[jiyuuboyetsvi]

so... I've gone for chaos. I've

Spoiler: chaos route

enlisted the help of lucifer himself, the world will end if I cannot stop satan and the angels from destroying the world. I am prepared for one final confrontation for all of man, mutant, and demonkind...

TIME TO NAVIGATE THE CENTER TUNNEL FOR THE 80TH TIME

The Law ending is where it's at