As in 2004's Nocturne entry, most enemies have an elemental affiliation, and exploiting these to stun them is the key to excelling in battle. Stunned enemies are vulnerable to critical hits, and can also be captured with a bit of luck and button-mashing. Afterwards, they're yours to command and raise, or even combine with other demons to create new creatures. Having a well-rounded menagerie of supernatural beasties definitely has its advantages.
Despite the addition of action to the formula, Devil Summoner is still a Megaten game and, therefore, very handsome to look at. The signature character designs (think soft but moody cel shading) translate beautifully to 3D and 1920s Tokyo makes for a vibrant and stylish backdrop. In an interesting twist, all of the backgrounds are pre-rendered, ala the early Resident Evil games. This aesthetic choice works surprisingly well and allows for great detail in both the 3D characters and the 2D backgrounds. Good call, artist dudes.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner's due out on October 10th, so be on the lookout for our review in a few weeks.
