Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha Vs. King Abadon Packaging and Battle Elements

9/16/2008

As Devil Summoner’s release date draws closer in Japan, more details are constantly emerging. The first and probably most exciting for MegaTen fans is the packaging for the game, as well as the special “Plus” edition:

Standard Packaging

Plus Packaging

As you can see, the cover to the plus packaging features the nameless Demi-Fiend from Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne in heated battle with Raidou. The plus version comes with a special edition of Nocturne which allows the main character to recruit Raidou. Special editions like this, while awesome, rarely make it to the states. I still cry every night over Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix+…

Some new elements of the game’s battle system have also been revealed. It appears that Raidou is not limited to only his katana and pistol. He is now also able to equip spears and large axes. There may even be more weapons he can wear…

Equipping these different weapons provides different advantages, but also alters special attacks that Raido can perform. The image above shows Raidou performing a special attack equipped with an axe. I believe it may be the very same special as in the video I posted here, although that one is performed using a katana.

Every MegaTen game rewards the player for locating and exploiting your enemies weakness. The newest Devil Summoner title is no different. The name for the new weakness-exploitation system is MAG Scheduling Battle. Weird name, I know.

The system basically allows the player to steal Magnatite from an enemy after repeatedly striking it’s weakness. Doing so grants the player an unlimited supply of MP to continue attacking that weakness. Since attacking a weakness also stuns the enemy, there is very little an affected enemy can do. Let’s hope the system doesn’t work both ways…

The more I learn about this game, the more I think it will redeem itself from the previous title. The added depth of battle definitely earns it some points in my book. I sure wish we’d be getting the Plus edition, but I guess playing through Nocturne again would suck up a lot of time.