After what feels like an eternity, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster is finally about to come out, bringing the classic PlayStation 2 era JRPG to the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Steam. The main changes to the original game are aesthetic upgrades by virtue of its being an HD remaster, with additional voice acting being added as well.
The reviews are in for the Atlus title and, as expected, they're mostly positive. The pros stem from the game retaining its original charm and all of the features that first made it so great. The criticisms, on the other hand, remark that not much has been added to the nearly 20-year-old game, especially given its asking price. CBR's own review agreed with this sentiment while noting that the game still provides a satisfying trip down memory lane.
Mitch Vogel, Nintendo Life: "Shin Megami Tensei III HD Remaster is indisputably the best way to play this RPG classic, but it's also rather clear that this nearly two-decade-old game is showing its age. An interesting story, enjoyable combat system, and engaging demon recruitment and fusion mechanics make Shin Megami Tensei III well worth your time, but the dated visuals, poor quality music, and occasionally unforgiving mechanics are hold it back from being excellent. We'd give this a recommendation to both longtime fans and newcomers, but with the caveat that you might want to wait for a sale before snapping this up."
Chris Carter, Destructoid: "Straight up, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster could have used more technical improvements. The subtle mechanical changes make it a better game without fundamentally changing it -- which is a great thing because Nocturne never needed to be changed. I just wish the 'remaster' part had a little more oomph to sway people who might find it dated. If you can get over that aspect and want a JRPG with a ton of personality, this is one of the greatest of all time on that front."
Robert Ramsey, PushSquare: "Nocturne subscribes to the old school RPG formula of talking to absolutely every NPC until you have some vague idea of what you're supposed to be doing and where you're supposed to be. As such, it's surprisingly easy to become lost or stuck, unsure of what needs to be done in order to advance the story. We played through Nocturne a few times back in the day, and we still had to scan a couple of old GameFAQs walkthroughs just to progress in HD Remaster. Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster offers something a bit different here in 2021. By today's standards, it's a very hardcore, old school RPG; an adventure that's both unwelcoming and uniquely intriguing -- even engrossing once you're invested. But it's also a cult classic that deserves more than this barebones remaster, which does very little to enhance the overall experience -- especially for its price tag at release."
Josh Torres, RPGSite: "Despite some glaring flaws around the edges, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is still a decently updated release of one of my favorite RPGs of all time. Much of that is attributed to the strength of the original core game experience, though. In the context of 2021, Nocturne HD Remaster almost feels like the student that does the bare minimum in class to get a passing grade. When I look around and see these great re-releases of SaGa Frontier Remastered, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, and the work put in for the first Mass Effect in the very recent Legendary Edition, I wish that this re-release of Nocturne was able to finally rectify some of its long-standing problems -- especially the audio compression during combat. I also think about the outstanding work Atlus put in for last year's Steam release of Persona 4 Golden and how this feels lackluster even compared to that. I still quite enjoyed my time with Nocturne HD Remaster, but it is great because the core game is already phenomenal; aside from adding skill inheritance to demon fusions, most of the updates in this remaster aren't all that remarkable."
Scott Baird, ScreenRant: "SMT III Nocturne HD is one of the hardest games in the Shin Megami Tensei series, which is no small boast, considering how challenging the other entries can be. The remaster could have been improved with some extra QoL features to make the game less frustrating, but the core experience is still great on its own. Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is difficult but rewarding, and its strategic combat system, legions of demon allies, engaging story, and its unique world make it worth coming back to after all of these years."
Jamie Lovett, ComicBook.com: "Merciful mode is one of a handful of quality of life upgrades in the remaster. Another is the ability to create a suspend-save at any point outside of combat. The remaster also gives a considerable boost to the game's presentation, including the HD graphical refit, which brings out the cel-shaded graphics' Satanic Tron-like aesthetic brilliantly, and the excellent, brand-new voice performances for the main characters. Together, these enhancements help break down barriers to entry and give the game the sheen modern players expect. Considering how much ground the Shin Megami Tensei franchise has gained in its efforts to court fans in North America since Nocturne first released, the game, in retrospect, feels like a harbinger of things to come that went unheeded. Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster pushes the game to new levels in terms of quality and accessibility, allowing fans the chance to fully appreciate its heady, post-apocalyptic, coming-of-age story on their terms. That's an opportunity they should not miss."