strange journey strange journey japanese strange journey role playing video game developed nintendo published japan north_america fourth entry series forms core franchise story follows special task force sent united_nations investigate spatial distortion appears antarctica threatens world players control unnamed protagonist navigating environments person combat involves player recruited demons fighting enemies protagonist having option talking recruiting enemies game originated team wish develop large scale role playing game main staff worked previous titles capacity including producer designer director writer composer setting antarctica chosen appeal overseas audience alongside new setting game featured multiple science fiction elements new series taking inspiration films thing music musical styles previous works incorporating choir music special synthesizer reception game generally positive story gameplay disliked person navigation gameplay strange journey role playing game players control main protagonist named player environments seen person perspective environment displayed screen nintendo map displayed screen explored environments automatically mapped highlights placed containers environments contain traps including pits shifting floors floor tiles damage protagonist stepped alongside main story quests human non playable characters demons unlock quests yielded rewards completion game protagonist suit upgraded open new pathways enabling entry new areas story progression new parts previously explored areas exploration player enters battle story based boss battles random encounters standard enemies combat turn based enemies facing member party protagonist chosen demons combat governed derivative press turn system strange journey relevant system called demon system group hits opponent critical attack strikes weak point allied demon attacker follow attack deals high damage fighting demons protagonist negotiate variety ways demons scared away recruited depending responses given conversation recruited different demons fused create new demons new demon skills parents demons obtained fusion game includes demons inspiration world including welsh egyptian norse christian main govern way demons approached represents light neutral dark representing law neutral chaos choices story effect demons respond player commands remain loyal earlier titles divided segments demons behave moon demons refuse talk fused demons shared players thirty character generated new demon fused traded different players synopsis setting characters setting events unrelated entry series game set early 21st century continent antarctica game opening massive atomic collapse occurs causing creation german black world black void touches threatens earth space occupied spaces representing humanity acting critique main bases special amphibious vehicles red protagonist vehicle gigantic central cast special task force created united_nations investigate players control member task force japanese original american localization alongside main protagonist main crew members commander gore crew leader experienced american soldier seeks rewards work russian scientist characters include arthur computer angel represents forces god mother goddess controls demons avatar watches protagonist actions plot expansion threatening destroy earth united_nations send multiple teams led gore investigate phenomenon attempt enter ships destroyed missions crew helped arthur gradually knowledge developers personality early mission gore killed protagonist members crew explore regions slowly uncover truth existence ancient times humans controlled forces god rule broken mother goddess destroyed breaking hold earth residing saw humans earth environment consequently dimension determined remove humans responsible corruption return world ancient state remaining forces god mainly represented intend use spread influence world removing free create united key items cosmic eggs objects created world combined core respectively law chaos resurrected gore neutral depending choices game protagonist choice law chaos following neutral route continuing original mission sides law protagonist defeat use cosmic eggs create world law channel god humanity forced surrender free sides chaos help defeat eggs fulfill original purpose create world humans demons live world strong survive law chaos routes arthur chooses destroy new personality save protagonist damaged gore protagonist rejects law chaos gore necessary information destruction truly dying defeating protagonist surviving crew escape arthur sacrifices ensure destruction chance humanity continues abuse earth development strange journey originated talks staff creating large scale role playing game small development team suggested game nintendo main reasons developing game platform felt portable design fitted gameplay fellow role playing game odyssey commercial success biggest install base target audience nature portable game meant people concentrate game knowing end play session ease game title originally going game setting decided subtitle original inspiration event horizon associated black holes early subtitle strange horizon previous unspecified video game setting watched amazing journey story agreed title strange journey despite lacking mainline entry series game developed developers odyssey series strange journey ran modified version engine original staff veterans series producer character demon designer debut director chief designer scenario main writer worked gameplay kept firmly traditions series evolving changing example fusion system designed game fast paced restrictions skill inheritance encourage experimentation contrast ability fine tune main character stats removed battle system design programming handled battle system designed provide ease player aspects demon alignment directly tied game moral alignment system suit tied game systems designed concept included crucial software new demons visible new areas explored multiplayer feature originally conceived players having contests demons decided fit game atmosphere instead concept demon exchanges designed chosen functions exchanges internet forums easier outset game designed overseas release mind early ideas created title set new_york_city inspired film escape new_york vetoed offer variety cast enable international cast decided set game antarctica choice setting depict danger posed worldwide scale setting differed greatly previous games taken place tokyo chosen widespread making impractical setting developing character drama team took inspiration film carpenter thing moral alignment system staple earlier entries reintroduced strange journey help players experience game themes central cast acted humanity representation game setting characters members group opposed previous protagonists average people game includes larger presence science fiction elements previous games elements game inspired science fiction movies inspired main vehicle film equipment inspired film aliens characters firearms modeled real life guns science fiction elements complemented clashed mystical elements stated felt series elements genres merging commenting people saw web like magical referencing quote technology advanced looked like magic music music composed arranged previous work series included revelations persona contrast previous work persona series use contemporary musical elements instead created mature experience reflect game story setting achieve orchestration choir choir sounds created quantum leap symphonic choir synthesizer simulate choir exception sorrow theme primarily piano melody game chaos theme musical elements similar music possible game cartridge compression strange journey original released november single release catalog number published bonus soundtrack containing music game included launch copies game north_america game release discovered bonus disc manufacturing defect issue raised manufacturing partner moved enable players receive free replacements reviews original soundtrack release positive reviewers noting change style compared previous games release strange journey released october japan march north_america information new title series appeared form teaser site created july japanese website depicting earth large hole page source code locating unused graphic game title strange journey confirmed title week later officially announced game clearing rumor fans title entry persona series game north american release release window announced november release rated game mature game tenth game nintendo game earn rating alongside bonus revealed mini poster exclusive customers purchased game street stores online release gave away exclusive demon fans unlock inaccessible demons gameplay localization handled led project editor project lead translation team mixed experience translating names names williams easy names demon based scandinavian forest spirit proved challenge required specific research origins localization choices team knowledge enthusiasm western culture needed create varied speaking styles demons modern vernacular proved time consuming process reception strange journey sold units week japan coming japanese sales charts wii fit plus ultimately game sold lower expected expected game sell copies actual sales november reached copies game positive reception earning scores respectively aggregate sites gamerankings metacritic famitsu gave game score points noted ign highest score given magazine game time review famitsu praised game consistent balancing present game commenting player having fun exploring constant tension praised demon combination system saying greatest asset game better results use allowed battles remain fresh new famitsu noted helpful mission goals clear lost ign called game plot interesting developed concluding surprising personality game review commented game story narrative fans come expect fans miss voice acting persona games gamespot agreed calling plot excessively game informer said game numerous means highlighting tension technology nature writing gamepro called thoughtful experience compared japanese rpg plots easily offended eurogamer called story isn particularly original nonetheless absorbing speaking gameplay called combination noting sense exploration plot pulling called dungeon exploration exciting found lack help demon fusion experience edwards generally positive battle system called easy understand turn based set anderson found gameplay dated particularly citing dungeon design negotiation system citing repetitive interesting called combat standard praised demon fusion negotiation mechanics said demon attack system game previous series found exploration tedious
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey