Shin Megami Tensei: Ideal

[ngaurhoth1]

Sorry to disappoint but no there is not a game being made called Shin Megami Tensei: Ideal; but what if there were?

Were there to be an ideal Megami Tensei game what would you like it to be? What kind of characters would you want? In what direction would the plot go? Gameplay? Which Megami Tensei branch would it be a part of?

Clearly Megami Tensei games have the trademark of using extensive amounts of mythology from a diverse number of cultures, but is there one you ever wish was focused on a bit more? Are there any Gods, Goddess, Demons and the in-between you would like to see or have more focus? Maybe focusing on different philosophical elements?

What about gameplay concepts you think might work well? Are there any mechanics you would like to see implemented?


My Shin Megami Tensei: Ideal would go a bit like this, now mind you it's not fleshed out at all.
-I would want the gameplay to be similar Devil Survivor but with an added twist to the actual battles. In battle I would have it set up that you could do combination attacks with two demons, but at the price of a turn. Combining attacks would allow you to create stronger moves, and in a special twist weaker moves. Clearly if one were to mix Bufu and Agi the resulting move would be as good as a splash of warm-water in the face.

-I would love to the concept of Nirvana played with, I really haven't seen it used in a Megami Tensei game myself. It's a platform I could even see Lucifer utilizing.

-A few more Lovecraftian demons might be nice, as well as some native American gods. Maybe even C.S Lewis' Screwtape would make a nice addition?

-A Celtic myth base might not be too bad, of course that would just be the core story.

-Actually fighting YHWH

-I love Norse Mythology, some touches of it would be what I would want. Loki is a bit over-used, but I don't care~ Hugin and Munin could be cool.

-A forum would be an interesting plot element, a fairly high level of interactivity would be nice.

[Chiyo Mihama]

Nirvana's a pretty prominent concept in DDS.

What I'd really like to see is Pistis Sophia in a SMT game, who would most likely be the most powerful being of all, being the mother of YHVH himself, since SJ confirms the YHVH's true form is the Demiurge. I'd honestly like her as a neutral figure of some kind, regretting allowing her son to think himself "creator of all, unparalleled by any".

Also, gender select option. Shouldn't affect the story much at all, but demon negotiation will go slightly differently.

[Noctre]

Something more along the lines of the first SMT.

The shattering of normalcy and ensuing apocalypse I found enthralling.

The post-apocalyptic thing just doesn't do it for me. SMT2 I played just because I loved SMT1 so much.

Lovecraftian Gods (Cthulhu Mythos) would be pretty cool, but they aren't actual deities, whereas all SMT demons follow some actual god or myth. Plus I may crap myself if a hound of Tindalos manifests to eat my ass.

Due to religious reasons, I have a hard time getting onboard with the slaying of the almighty, or that he would be such a dick to deserve slaying in the first place. I'd imagine him, honestly and perhaps most surprisingly, as following the neutral path, seeing as how we were given free will and all.

I'd like (and I may get flamed out of the forum for this) an action RPG element to the game. Turn based games I only really play for the story, honestly.
Always been more of a Zelda and YS guys over FF.

Imagine showed an interesting attempt at pseudo-action-rpg, though I feel it's a bit clunky (as of the last time I played, over 2 years ago).

But looking at the "Elder Scrolls" series of games, I think an action RPG with a good story and intriguing characters that remains faithful to the original DDS/SMT legacy is entirely possible...

And honestly, who doesn't get ****ing annoyed at random battles after awhile? Any turn based RPG I play, I usually only play for the story, because random battles were, at the time of NES/SNES, a necessary evil.

As for plot, I think that being japanese games, traditional japanese mythology should be at least somewhat followed. Sub plots involving other belief systems (Celtic, Nordic, etc...) would be cool (aside from the part where you bitch slap god and he sticks his almighty **** in your pooper for all eternity with his last breath), though I agree Loki needs to take a break.