Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Ah, the search for something different. Sometimes even I get tired of fantasy-themed games that pit elves against trolls. Even I get tired of harnessing elemental magics to fight off hordes of marauding orcs. My craving for a game that uses a different mythos creates a problem; I have to be careful to not confuse different with good. Plain and simple, a man who's starving for something new can eat a saltine and believe it's a Ritz. Eddie Murphy knows what I mean (NOT SAFE FOR WORK).

Fight demons Summon demons to fight for you. Even mount demons!

Early in the history of this Top Ten list, I gave attention to Age of Armor and NeoSteam. The former places gamers in control of giant mechs that can transform, differing from the norm by far. As Eric "Dalmarus" Campbell tell readers in his Age of Armor review, different does not equal fantastic. Meanwhile, NeoSteam introduces steam-powered airships and a more modernized civilization than we usually see in MMOGs. I was impressed by NeoSteam early, but my infatuation wore off like the high school quarterback's obsession for the cheerleader after that magical third date. Both of these games are different, but they aren't good enough.

A New Hope That Does Not Involve Almost-Incestuous Siblings
I see a new hope on the horizon for me. Ever hear of Shin Megami Tensei? How about the American title for it, Persona? For those of you who play console games, you have to have heard of the demon-summoning Shin Megami Tensei series (called Megaten for short), a kid who is truly doing his own thing. The story of Megaten games always starts with a fracture in the fragile boundary between the demon world and our earth. The games are set in urban areas in contemporary times, or close to it, and feature high school teenagers who must unravel the mysterious appearance of demons.

Along the way in Megaten games, players work a lot on social skills. They chat with the other school children in a kind of dating sim, their bonds being reflected in combat bonuses. They can even befriend some of the demons they encounter to bolster their arsenal, which already includes guns and explosions (yippie ki-yay--NOT SAFE FOR WORK).

And now Megaten is going MMOG with Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine.

You'll find yourself battling demons in modern locations like subways and museums.

The World Would be Very Different if MLK Had This Dream
Aeria Games & Entertainment is localizing Imagine for the English-speaking audience even though Atlus USA normally handles US publishing of Megaten games. Aeria is very experienced in the realm of MMOGs, so the decision seems solid. In keeping with the Aeria tradition, the game is slated to be F2P. It looks to have all the features Megaten fans love: battling demons, befriending demons, fusing demons, and summoning demons.

Imagine is in Closed Beta now, but several videos can be found on YouTube. I gotta say: these videos have me excited like a squirrel trapped in a Planters factory. The first video is the Shibuya dungeon boss battle. The second is the Suginami dungeon boss battle. Both videos start with some excellent guitar riffs that get the heart hopping like a frog trapped in a shoe box. Then each has a short cinematic element for both dramatic effect and to provide some exposition.

In the Shibuya battle, we see a female character with a shotgun. Shooting demons with a shotgun is second only to shooting zombies with a shotgun in my book! Accompanying the shotgun-toting female is a male with a sword. Each player has a demon summoned to help in the battle. The Shibuya dungeon has high-polished floors and strong stone architecture that could be found in a government building like a museum or library.

The Suginami battle seems to take place is some weird techno-basement that could host the local fight club. The video features only a female with a gun and her demon. The enemy AI looks very sluggish here, but the music is still rocking, and the action is decidedly different. It's enough to make me as giddy as the school girls I'll no doubt be hitting on in the game.

A Devilishly Good Time
Aeria did a great job with the translation for DOMO, which is one of my favorite F2P games. They did not do such a great job with Shaiya Online, so I have some cause for concern about what will happen with Imagine. In the end, I'm just stoked to know that Megaten is getting a MMOG, and I am sure I will enjoy Imagine.

Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Ten Ton Hammer network or staff.

The Top Ten
Continue to page two to see Ralsu's latest Top Ten list.