DDS1 or Nocturne?

[ProudClod]

I know that it's hard to answer this with a simple "x is better", but I need some input. Which did you enjoy more? Which one would you recommend more than the other? I have money to buy one, but I really want both.

[dungeon_man]

Well, unless you already have DDS2, but Nocturne. Otherwise, you'll get an incomplete experience. I also think Nocturne is better, but don't feel like explaining it right now.

However, if character interactions are important in your RPGs, get DDS instead as Nocturne is quite lonely.

[chito]

Nocturne is a better game, but Digital Devil Saga has a deeper story.

[syl]

Nocturne really gives the player a sense of freedom and power to change the world, b/c of the sparse story and large importance on interactions with the other characters.
While DDS1's story is basically linear, it perfectly suits the characters' situation as well as the plot revealations in the requiste DDS2.
Btw, why does the situation have to be or the other?
Come on, get both!

[SomethingDifferent]

Originally Posted by syl

Nocturne really gives the player a sense of freedom and power to change the world, b/c of the sparse story and large importance on interactions with the other characters.

"Interactions with other characters" doesn't describe it well. It's more like the importance of accepting this or that character's beliefs. The characters themselves barely interact with one another or with the protagonist.

Also, I don't think the experience in DDS1 is incomplete. Sure, anyone who played DDS2 will think so, but there aren't many mysteries that are left unsolved in DDS1, really. Not to mention DDS2 is a terrible game. I don't think knowing how the story ends is enough to compensate for the awful soundtrack, the bland dungeons, the screwed up Mantra system and the countless WTF moments when someone/something important to the plot appears from out of nowhere and starts a battle without saying a single word. But that's just a personal rant, don't mind me. The thread isn't about DDS2 anyway.

[ProudClod]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ordered a factory sealed copy of Nocturne. I'm really excited

There's an Anime/Video Game expo in Toronto in August. A lot of rare games will be up for sale. Hopefully I'll find DDS1 and 2 Then, my PS2 era Megaten collection will be complete!

[Deidara]

I' ve not played neither (I'll buy them soon), but it seems to me DDS is more fashinating because of the plot...

Forgive me for the language... ^^ I' m Italian...

[Zacewing]

@SomethingDifferent: I thought DDS2 was fine. The Mantra Grid was better, imo, cause it gave you a little bit more freedom. The WTF moments I can somewhat agree on, though. And I find both games had bland dungeons. I liked DDS2's soundtrack way better than DDS1 too. When I first heard the battle themes from DDS1 I was like "Shoji Meguro, the '80s called and they want their music back."

But I'd say DDS1 over Nocturne. I like both, but I just don't get as much fun out of Nocturne as I do in DDS.

[Soushi_Grapple]

Originally Posted by chito

Nocturne is a better game, but Digital Devil Saga has a deeper story.

I totally agree, and I didn't even play Nocturne (my gf is stuck on Trumpeter ;__; ) but I am at the final dungeon on DDS2. From what I've seen Nocturne seems more open on customization and such, so if you're more for that, I'd go with Nocturne. If you're like me and care more about deep characters and story I'd go with DDS.

^What I would've said before you got Nocturne. Good choice.

Also, I agree that the dungeons in both were bland, but that seems staple for SMT AND Persona. I just wish DDS had gotten guidebooks... =(

[ProudClod]

I can't wait to experience DDS. Everyone is mentioning just how much better the story is than Nocturne's... Which is astounding, since I absolutely adored Nocturne's story.

[Kakizaki]

I personally didn't find Digital Devil Saga's story that deep -- especially compared to Nocturne's.

Yes DDS does have much more dialog, but I didn't think the ideas presented gave any more depth to the story or characters.

This is something that kind of frustrates me a little today. I felt Nocturne was able to establish very compelling and interesting characters with a minimal amount of fluff. I wish the trend today wasn't to stray away from this model.

[four_black_hearts]

I agree. I mean I love the DDSes, but I don't think more is necessarily better in this case

[Juanblue85]

I wanted to drop by to say that my DDS1 Deluxe Edition just went up in price I just managed to find the rare controller sticker that some Deluxe Editions didn't have. So now I can say my Deluxe Edition is truly complete. Sweet.

[djmdma02]

Originally Posted by Juanblue85

I wanted to drop by to say that my DDS1 Deluxe Edition just went up in price I just managed to find the rare controller sticker that some Deluxe Editions didn't have. So now I can say my Deluxe Edition is truly complete. Sweet.

I still need to find that sticker... as I understand it, the sticker was one of those preorders that the game store (I'm looking at you gamestop) "did not" give the customer...

[Blackwing Dragon]

Nocturne : YOU WILL DIE. YOU WILL DIE OFTEN. AND HARD.
DDS : You wil die often and hard, but you can avoid it.
Nocturne is piss hard right away, whereas DDS lets you avoid it somewhat by the fact that the cheap instakill spell spamming monsters don'T have to JUST kill 1 character then you lose .
haven't played through Nocturne yet (Ps 2 broken, emulator being sketchy -_-;.) but it's very very difficult..

[Juanblue85]

Originally Posted by djmdma02

I still need to find that sticker... as I understand it, the sticker was one of those preorders that the game store (I'm looking at you gamestop) "did not" give the customer...

Gamestop was supposed to give it to you? I thought it was inside of the Deluxe Edition. I mean its pictured on the box too.

[DrJonAngus]

I like both a lot, but DDS is way more accessible than Nocturne. I'm playing DDS quite a lot right now and I like it, but I'm still really looking forward to finally beating Nocturne. I just want to make sure I get the Good karma ending, not the Demon Ending. Any pointers?

[Guni]

I like both games, but I like DDS more than Nocturne.

[MomoChan]

DDS was a bit daunting because I'm not used to assigning skills to party members. It took me a while to learn it all the way up to the sequel.

Nocturne is more in my element, since I'm used to forcing skills into demons by fusing.

[Kenji]

Both Nocturne and DDS are pretty damn cool, and both should be played... but whether you like one over the other is entirely based on personal preference. I happen to like both, but Nocturne comes out on top (though DDS2 features harder battles and that earns special mention in my book).

I also reject the notion that DDS has a "deeper" plot than Nocturne simply because there's more talking, or that Nocturne's characters are cardboard cutouts simply because they aren't prone to dramatic monologues about themselves or their true motivations. That said, I do like DDS's story and characters... especially Cielo.

[DrJonAngus]

I will say one thing that I disliked about DDS since I've beaten it, maxing out the mantra grids for all characters takes forever! I thought the worse part was grinding for Macca in the Titania Hallway because it took considerably longer than mastering the Mantras. I would cast Megidola I believe, used the hunt skill that devours all enemies on the Titanias, and bam, maxed out the Mantra. It almost feels like it's not worth it unless you really feel it is necessary though. I did it for the +5 to all stats in DDS2, but I felt disappointed after all my hard work. It is nice though for when you fight a boss with a weakness because you can continually exploit it with all characters. It also does make the game considerably easier because I null everything besides Almighty. Huang Long is so damn hard still.

This may have mostly sounded like a complaint, but the game is very good if you don't focus entirely on maxing out Mantras. The way I played the game was 1.Stop 2.Grind 3.Grind some more 4. Continue on. I wouldn't say it completely ruined the experience, but I almost gave up on the game entirely right around the Karma Temple at the end. The universe of DDS is definitely unique and the game is all around enjoyable, so I'd highly recommend it. I heard DDS2 is much better though because DDS1 is kind of just building up into a huge story and acts as an introduction to said story. As for Nocturne, still have yet to sit down and beat it, but I definitely dig the whole atmosphere of the game. Nocturne is also probably the hardest RPG I have played or will ever play by the way. I can't imagine how could it must feel to beat it though. Please excuse the length of this post by the way.

[vanessakudu]

It's all about taste, really.

Nocturne's game play depresses me. Perhaps bc Hitoshura is all alone lol. I would slit my wrist if I were him lmao.

For me, DDS is like light shines on the heaven :B.

[wackoramaco87]

As everyone else has said, both are quite good. Personally, I find DDS 1 and 2 a bit easier to play then Nocturne- but then again I've yet to beat the game! =D

[deuxhero]

Nocturne. DDS is a neat spinoff, but Fusion and negotiation have always made the series stand out.

[tekaramity]

Late to the party but I'll chip in. =/

Nocturne and DDS1 are my two favorite Atlus games. I would vouch for Nocturne over DDS1.

DDS1 is a fantastic game with a fascinating location (the Junkyard) and premise (taken both by itself and alongside the reveals in DDS2). Building up the Mantras was never dull, and I never found reason to step aside to take a break with another game.

Now, acknowledging all that...

Nocturne is my favorite game on the PlayStation 2 and one of my favorite RPGs - and video games in general - to this day. It really starts with the Vortex World, the light of Kagutsuchi, the devious and multi-faceted supporting cast, and the blatant awesomeness that is the Demi-Fiend. As noted above, without speaking often, the game nevertheless said so much. The bosses (and random encounters!) kept me thinking and strategizing my demonic team's substance throughout the Hitoshura's journey, and the payoff at the TDE was worth anything the game could have thrown at me. Hard mode even *doubled* the bonus.

Cannot go wrong with either Nocturne or Digital Devil Saga. Really just can not go wrong with them. Still, I do cherish Nocturne above the rest of my Atlus collection...a bounty of media that has in my view become the pinnacle of my gaming experiences thus far. Kudos~

[Solomon]

I have not played DDS a long time, in fact i only played it five hours, but im planning to play it again.

I beat Nocturne and it was freaking great, i have played persona 3 fes and 4 (i finished p4 today for the first time) and nocturne is my favorite. It just has so much style, and the story is quite good, even if it is not that deep its awesome and the labyrinth of amala is great.

[Nimbus]

Wow, I'm so glad I found this topic! I've mostly only played the Persona series and I've been looking to pick up either Nocturne or DDS. Of course I eventually want to get both games, but I can only afford one for the time being.

I think for now I'm gonna get DDS. It sounds like the safer option, and a bit more my style. XD

[Rednal]

Keep in mind that Digital Devil Saga is a two-part series... so, in effect, you'll be buying two games. They are very good, however, and if you've got the guts to challenge the Ultimate Bosses... ^^

[felixrush]

DDS1-2's story didn't feel all that deep to me after playing through them. The characters in Nocturne seemed consistent and made sense.

DDS's? Can anyone honestly say they knew what Angel's motivation was for what she did? Who was Jinana or the rest of the characters in DDS1 outside of Colonel Beck and the main cast?

Nocturne's plot, characters, and... everything felt far deeper than anything in the DDS series. Everyone's mindset and thinking gets so well explained.

Compare that to Cielo. Who was Cielo and why was he part of the party? You're pretty much left in the dark about him completely. He was really only there for gameplay purposes.

[ddsfan2]

A good summary would be:

- If you don't like a lot of dialogue, want a lot of party+character customization, and want a very challenging game, then Nocturne.

- If you want detailed character development, a grandiose story, and very balanced but challenging combat, then DDS 1+2. Either way, I'd recommend all three games, since they are too good to miss out on playing.

A more detailed comparison would be:

DDS vs Nocturne:

- In the DDS games, there isn't much grinding (Maybe I just got lucky with which skills and characters I developed, but I didn't need to grind until a certain boss at the end of DDS2) in DDS 1 or 2, and they are still challenging.

- I personally find DDS to have more balanced and strategic combat. It is rarely unfair, and since you don't have as much customization as Nocturne, you can't come up with overly strong (or absurdly weak) parties as you can in Nocturne. Nocturne is generally difficult enough that you need to grind, regardless of your strategy, and tends to push you to the limit more, although most boss fights in the DDS games require very tight strategy.

- In Nocturne, I haven't seen much of any dialogue out of any of the characters, (although they have cool music and lighting effects that are very impressive) I think the reason why people regard them so highly in Nocturne is because they really have no development at all. (I imagine this changes further in the game, but so far I'm wanting to see a lot more character development) By contrast, in DDS 1+2 the writers are not afraid to have imperfect writing by establishing a highly detailed narrative, and explaining the characters' motivations.

Someone complained about about the limited role of Jinana or the Colonel in DDS, but I can't really explain their purpose without giving big spoilers. Also, the purpose/role of most of the characters in the first should be obvious to anyone who beat the game.

Finally, Cielo is a comic relief character. I don't see the problem with having one extraneous character; (I'm a huge fan of the cast of Final Fantasy VI, which has at least a dozen non-crucial characters) I found his lines humorous and often a refreshing break from the very serious tone of the rest of the game. As one poster mentioned, he is primarily used for gameplay purposes, although his role in the 2nd entry is fairly significant.

- In DDS 1 and 2, the plot is more grandiose to me, although I actually really like the overall plot of Nocturne as well. I like the world concept and atmosphere of DDS 1 and 2 more than any other game. DDS has a lot more [very well done] cutscenes, which I prefer. Both have a very dark atmosphere and tone, although there are a two things in Nocturne which I find a bit corny: One is the high school club, and two is the presence of a Devil May Cry character. I still really like the atmosphere of Nocturne, though. While DDS 1+2 are not perfect, the story is the most ambitious I've seen in an RPG to date, and likely won't be outclassed due to the lack of emphasis on story in JRPGs after the PS2 era.

- I'd give the edge on the dungeons to Nocturne, although I really like the dungeons in DDS 1+2 as well.

- I really like the art style of both DDS and Nocturne, some might prefer one or the other.

- I like linear games better, so DDS 1+2 were a good fit for me. Nocturne allows for a lot of freedom (it is non-linear) and has several endings.

- Nocturne has far more party customization, whereas with DDS you have to make do with the characters that you have. I prefer the DDS approach, but I find Nocturne's approach to be interesting as well.

- Both have a high encounter rate, but the battle systems in DDS 1/2 and Nocturne are very well designed, so it never bothered me in any of the games.

- Nocturne offers a very different party/character system approach from most JRPGs, so it is fairly unique, outside of comparisons to mainline Megaten games. The DDS games are unique in the sense that there aren't many RPGs with in depth stories that are as well written.

DDS vs Persona:

- I like the battle systems of DDS 1/2 and Nocturne far more than any of the Persona games. I loathe the combat in Persona 2, for example, and the combat in Persona 3 is bad because you only control one party member.

- The story and atmosphere is much more developed in the DDS games than in Persona 3 or 4. Persona 2 is the closest that I've played, but isn't as developed, and although very well written, has quite a few corny parts, although I love the wackiness of the Persona 2 games in general.

- I find the dungeons in the DDS games to be vastly better than the dungeons in Persona 3, 4 or 2.

DDS1 vs DDS2:

- I didn't like the music in DDS 1 very much; I thought it was vastly improved in the sequel.

- DDS2 has a lot more character development than the first one. Some might not be happy with it, but I really liked the characters in both games, even in the middle of DDS2, which seems to be the main point of contention among fans.

- I found the final dungeon of DDS2 to be very frustrating, because I mastered the wrong skills. I think this was an intentional design decision by Atlus, however. If you don't fully utilize the games systems (especially devouring), you will waste a lot of time in that area.

- DDS 1 is more subtle about its themes than in DDS 2. DDS 1 is the question, whereas DDS 2 is the answer.

- I would not recommend playing one DDS without the other though, so play them in order if you do play them.