Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Director Talks About the Original Game’s Harsh Reception

With Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster announced for PS4 and Switch, director Kazuyuki Yamai looked back at the original’s game’s initial reception in the latest issue of Famitsu. [Thanks, Ryokutya2089.]

Here are some highlights from the interview with Kazuyuki Yamai:

• Kazuyuki Yamai, Director: “When the original game released, it was a big change from Shin Megami Tensei II in terms of content and settings. However, after seeing it get absolutely trashed with harsh criticism on a certain popular imageboard at the time, the staff was collectively very shocked.”
• Kazuyuki Yamai: “A short time later, we began seeing more positive reviews from those who were able to take their time and play. After the release of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax, people started appraising it a god-tier game. It was really something [laughs].”
• Kazuyuki Yamai: “We’re also subtly improving the visuals, but just enough to not get noticed.”
• Kazuyuki Yamai: “When it comes to remastering games, more than anything, we focus on the respect to the original work. In any case, we strongly felt that we shouldn’t do anything unnecessary.”
• Kazuyuki Yamai: “Thanks to character voicing, the lines will leave more of an impression and the drama feels more amplified than expected. The scenario hasn’t been touched one bit. You can also turn it off (the voicing).”
• Kazuyuki Yamai: “The Merciful difficulty is truly a merciful setting that allows you to button mash your way around even tough enemies. We will offer this as a free DLC.”

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster will release for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan on October 29, 2020. The game will release worldwide in Spring 2021. In case you missed it, watch the Matador fight here. You can also check out the first trailer here and the latest trailer here.