The Akira Miyamoto Experience 

Finishing this game is bittersweet - it feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders, but at the same time, I really came to love the challenge and atmosphere of it. This is a long video for sure, but I had to make sure I covered everything. Hope you guys check out Akira's route, it's definitely worth the trouble.

Akira being possessed by a demon named Amon it's a Devilman reference. Pretty obvious but I saw no one pointing it out so here you go.

The story for this route still sounds amazing honestly. You and Akira just V-clip into a different game and beat the shit out of everyone until the credits roll.

fun fact! if you die on a full moon, there's a miniscule chance that you'll get the hero from SMT1 as a guardian

You're just wandering the vacant halls of your highschool one evening. You decide to enter the janitor's closet; when suddenly; Nick Fury.

gotta see "the Charlie experience"

Akira miyamoto sounds like the japanese equivalent of john smith

Some things Marsh hasn’t gone over that I found interesting. First, Hazama was originally going to have his own route as a prequel but it was made into a separate game instead. Don’t know what happened since it’s now been lost. Secondly, Charlie has his own dungeon that the others don’t, the World of Wrath, replacing the World of Envy. Third, if you beat all four routes you get approached by Stephen with a proposition for you. Not that rewarding as the game ends right after he asks that question. Fourth is just something I noticed but there is no World of Lust in the game, which I found a bit weird. Fifth is how this game spawned two timelines, the manga and book timeline with the male protagonist with Yumi as his partner and the game timeline with the female protagonist that leads to both Devil Summoner and Persona.

> Akira gets possessed by a demon named Amon. Devilman route? 👀

Marsh becoming a game reviewer what a revolution

I think this style of alternate story was re used in persona 1 given the snow queen quest, having an exclusive character and just having an entirely different story

Wait I just realized. The partner is named Akira and he’s possessed by Amon. It’s Devilman. Akira’s route straight up just turns him into Devilman. I love that.

We need a hack that gives Akira lines of dialogue from the 90s Devilman dub.

"Which SMT character is a half-demon high-schooler with a lotta strength and he climbs a tower to fight a god-like final boss?" C'mon man, the correct answer is All of them

>Akira casts Mudoon! > *Oh no, it was reflected!* Marsh: This is fine.

This kind of content would be reserved for a re-release or port by current Atlus. Crazy how it's hidden away in NG+ for the base game.

Just found your account, fantastic SMT content! loved these two SMT: If vids. keep it up

the spritework in this game looks fantastic

The janitor is also a reskin of your trainer in SMT2.

My first try at Hazama's boss fight on Akira's route he kicked my ass, but on the second try? Ooooooh boy I kicked his ass SO HARD with Orochi's power breath

It's just a shame that the PSX version remains untranslated... The battle theme and especially the Old Enemy battle theme are both incredible for the Akira Volume. (You ever heard "Normal Battle ~Amala Network~" or used the SMT if... costume in Persona 5? Yeah. That song.)

Amazing review. It's sad this kind of content isn't getting that much recognition from the Megaten comunity, but since I suppose that with time it will become more relevant for the large majority of the fanbase who haven't played this game, keep up the great work.

It’s been two years since this video released (somehow), and I still discover new things about the game. If Marsh ever comes back to the game I’d recommend playing the other two routes as upon the completion of all 4 routes Stephen shows up to give the protagonist some mission. I feel like this was a cancelled sequel or a botched translation cause the next time we see the SMT if Protag she is dating one of the Devs of Persona 2:IS and working for the Kuzunoha detective agency. I guess Stephen really cared about Sumarou City?

here is a little something in smt If... int and mag are for defensive stats for the protagonist magic can destroy you and instant death have higher chances to kill you on low int so is not suggestable to midmax in this one since low int and mag characters die a lot in smt if sebek you can just not fight him and have him join you if akira has 12 str and int thot joins you if you have both sebek and hathor with you (he is a god send vs that witch) Hazama in the akira route is actually stronger, in the other routes his level is tops 99 in the akira route hazama is level 125 (he is as strong as stephen in smt4a level wise) is just that rakunda is fucking busted in this game akira actually has a fiend as one of his guardians and he can be debastating early game with if you look for it thats all good luck

Always thought that SMT IF was just a simple precursor to Persona, but it's cool seeing how it had its own charm

I'll let Hathor beat the s**t out of me

I know this is kinda late, but thank you for letting me know about this smt game. I just beat akiras route (with map guide of course) and i fucking love this game, its so simple yet so fun. Every smt fan should try this game out.

Don't mind me, just here to check out the Devilman/Amon/Fudo Akira references I know are in this scenario and feeding the youtube algorithm with interactions!

Never knew that you could recruit those early bosses on Akira's route by being on a particular moon. I kept trying to talk to them on the wrong moon phase and they kept telling me off and fighting me. I ended up grinding massively to beat Sebek and never looked back!

Hope you will continue doing this review type content

So basically Akira is Devilman lmao

The PS1 version is even more interesting. Shame that version, nor any of the SMT PS1 ports are translated, because they are objectively improvements over the originals. I remember asking Tsukasa Masuko about the OSTs and differences of the two versions of if... and he said something along the line of 'I feel sorry for the guy that had to convert my tracks for the PS1 version'. Another interesting factoid was that he said he used General Midi and usually had a Roland SC-55 to compose tracks when it was released. Actually sent me a GM copy of the Jakyou track from the game. I think he did do some stuff for the anniversary of SMT a year or so back that he really wanted to do.

16:36. Gosh this is both funny and sad at the same time seeing him fall just like that. Poor Hazama.......😅😓 Edit: The music really nails it...... And oddly enough, no enemy makes me think harder than zombie students......like really....they're not demons. They're once fearful kids killed or drained of life to be shambling minions with a peculiar thirst for flesh. The ones they once were are gone......i wonder what their zombie selfs feel like.....if they can.....and if they still have memories........have they ever shrieked in agony of what they've become........?

This is just Devilman

she shin on my megami, till i tensei

You're becoming my favourite, megaten vids mixed with your personality is really refreshing!

Man, I had no idea Akira had this route, like you mentioned, not much exists about it, but now I really want to finish SMT If...

akira's route i felt was way harder, but you had more stuff to beat it. at the beginning i got hathor and sebek, but tbh, sebek is kind of a pushover compared to thoth and hathor. the latter 2 really carry you through the end, thoth with Liftoma and Mapper and Hathor with megido and healing. This was the route where I tried to get the strongest guardians, im not sure how i did it, but I don't remember actually trying to grind to get it. It was mostly just me walking up and down back and forth to heal spots as kind of "checkpoints". If i felt like I couldn't keep going on the dungeon, id head back to the heal spot (which probably took longer than getting up). Ultimately it just made me more and more familiar with the dungeon's layout each time I went through. Some of the dungeon layouts I felt were made to be nearly impossible to figure out, since I could never find a map online the time I played. I specifically remember one part on I think was the nomos of heaven where nearly anywhere you went was a teleport tile, and for most of it the COMP was disabled, meaning I had to use the mapper. I ended up just tracking where I'd end up by screenshotting the map before hand and then looking at the map the next tile I was able to look at the map. That way I was able to experiment with different routes, because mind you, everything looks the same so you dont really know each time you go through if the path you take is a new one, especially since the layout is sort of replicated on many different parts, so without the full map you cant really tell where you are. My experience is also probably way different to many people, because I played on an emulator on my phone, rather than on a computer or something. I was also on a trip, so I was pretty much on my phone for 90% of car/bus/airplane rides. I played through SMT 1, 2, and if... on this trip, which by the end took out the whole "patience" challenge, since it was either be bored looking outside or toil through this puzzle. Also Pro-Tip Divine Retribution is an Extra skill that uses up a ton of MP but takes off a huge chunk of a bosses health depending on what alignment they are. The wiki says its 1/8th, I think its a lot more than that though. the caveat is the alignment requirement. It will only hit enemies that are oppositely aligned to the user, meaning neutral demons on your party also get hurt, and if you use it on an enemy boss thats the same alignment then there is no damage dealt. If you want to give it a try get a metatron or something because Hazama's final boss is actually chaos aligned. I never did this myself, but I only put the pieces together after fought Hazama and the 2 other SMTs i played.

05:35 She is so lazy and stuff that she appeared only in 1 of the Megaten games.. LMAO I mean the description tells it clearly. Makes sense ^^

Well, I finally beat it and it feels so, so good. Just one piece of advice and one correction: Final guard is not obtained from the casino, but from regular junk shops which even appear in the 3rd Nomos. Buy View Spheres to use in no-comp zones. It does the same thing as the Mapper spell.

Me when I see 8 monkey things: oh boi time for megido

>Akira >gets possessed by Amon >become debiruman

Thanks for the reviews. You have reviewed many of the more obscure atlus games that have piqued my interests, but not enough for me to get into it myself and play. Seeing and hearing about someone's experience through them is very fun. As someone who started out with the Persona series, and trying out the SMT main line games (and getting my ass kicked by it), I'll definitely keep out for more of your videos, keep up the good works ^^

I am really glad you made these videos because I just started Persona 1 foolishly thinking "This is where the series begins so I should start here" and then realizing "There's no backstory or tutorial... something's wrong. What did I miss?"

Keep coming back to rewatch this video, your video style is absolutely top notch, keep it up man!

So even in this old game there is a NEW whole campaign with completely different things? Damn! Nowadays this would be a paid DLC of course.

Just found your channel and I'm really loving it so far, this is the kind of content the SMT community needed

I only played a few of the megaten games (P2, P3, DS: Raidou Kuzonoha) but these playthrough/review videos are done very well - I love them! I can't get enough of them!

3:28 I'm sure many people have pointed this out to you already, but in order to recruit Sebek you need to have a STR and INT above 13 on one of the main characters. This is incorrectly stated on the gamefaqs map. To get Thoth you just need both of them.

Yeeeeaa man we need more of these, I ate up all your vids. You def earned this subscription

Yo, I love your voice and these vids! Seriously, I needed something like this, thank you!

2:30 oh dear

It's hard to find content about these games, I really like your editing and you have a nice tone in your voice which makes the videos even more enjoyable. Thanks for putting this up :)

2:33 This isn't the jack frost I know and love But I'm sure I can learn to love him also.

There is something special the way he narrates his videos. Its so addicting.

Love this type of vids, plz continue this amazing content!

Your videos are Underated Gems. My man. I loved the If vids that i started playing them right now. Thabk you for your recomendation.

Dude you weren't kidding Bushyasta sucks ass. FInished the fight with Hathor and Archangel's magic sealed and everyone else paralyzed. Got kinda lucky towards the end since the dude already tanked my attack but kept wasting his turns debuffing.

it's pretty cool; and totally understand that they made this New Game Plus only just because they figured out how brutal this would be.

i finally finished the Akira route today and i gotta say it was one hell of a ride, this vid was one big help since it was kind of like a guide, idk if i'll ever play if... again but hey maybe

I ididn't knew anything about the Akira route, I need to try it now, thanks!

So like, you are a really cool youtuber, your insight is pretty good and the content you upload here is pretty amazing. Hope you continue with reviews of other obscure games!

Amazing smt content, def gonna sub and look forward to more of your stuff. Recently got into the series a bit more and its great seeing the passion the community has. Great job!

managed to beat Bushyasta like two days ago and holy shit you werent kidding with it being horrible, i grinded so long and i still had a hard time

Once again : great video. 👍

Awesome video and channel, insta subscribbed. Love that you can hear the game's ost clearly in tha backgrund too.

Another great video!

Watching your reviews made me nostalgic to play the game again so I downloaded it and gave it another go and I finished Reiko's route! I struggle to describe the feel of playing the game a lot more than the gameplay itself, even if the former is why I love it so much. I played SMT I and If... feels very cozy and small in comparison. I can remember every dungeon in If. I can't remember every dungeon in SMT 1. The dungeons felt huge the first time around,but they felt cozy and very familiar by the end. I'm only recently starting the second Nomos but just the Earth Nomos was enough to make me feel cozier than I thought I could in the Reiko route. I'm sure by the end I'll remember the Nomos too. I never thought I'd enjoy the feeling of getting lost in a videogame but If... is just the perfect experience for that feeling of discovery. (Also I found Bushyasta today and walked into her boss room without knowing that was it so like, 4 mp Akira fight LETS GOOO)

Well this was interesting, as someone who never played the games, I learned a lot from this, especially about how to better scale an enemy in these games.

As of now I've started to play this game taking Reiko's route. I'm prepared for the sins and countless retries. Thank you for showing me this game, Mash!

I appreciate you, I appreciate SMT.

I'm so glad i found this channel. You've got a awesome personality dude 👍 love the smt vids

I used to think SMT4 had a mean early game. I then played Akira's route in SMT If... Thanks, Marshal.

The worst part about the Akira route is that you can't rename Akira. I would've so loved to call him 'Marsh' in-game.

Plug is inserted. Ready to go 🫠 Love your videos Marsh!

Great video

New here, saw your two if videos and it looks quite fun Gonna try if out after I finish IV, thank you

Another banger. Ngl, a remake would be crazy. Might just have to bit the bullet and play this thing

Demi fiend more like tiny peened

Akira and Amon... Wait a minute...

>Character named Akira >Becomes possessed by a Demon >Demon in question is named Amon *Me, A DevilMan Fan:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BLXq9D0RuGw.html

I wonder if we will ever get another game where it has multiple routes like IF and P1. Not the no turning back law/chaos/neutral route half way or so in the game but at the start.

Personally, I felt great with this route. Only because I didn't have to deal with emotions and just go full balls to the walls battle mode. Though that tidbit about the rooms is new to me, I sort of want to jump back in and take that challenging tower again with this new knowledge.

Apparently there was a Java Cell Phone prequel game where you play as the main bad guy...wondered if you considered checking that out like you did with the cell phone port of the first megaten game?

I don't know what is this game . I don't know how I got here. I have no idea but this is nice to watch even if I will not play the game.

im watching and rewatching your four smt videos while i play genshin impact, very nice and chill review/guide, reminds me of mandalore's videos in tone and presentation, keep it up, only thing that i think lacks is a list with timestamps to the music you use. ps. sorry for any english errors :p

This is the best video intro ever made

This game intrigues me after watching this video. I was a big fan of Persona 1 and Persona 2 Enternal Punishment for PS1 and Innocent Sin for PSP so this seems like another step for me since I’m not a huge fan of the more modern cartoon like Persona games

Being a Megaten fan is suffering Good review tho, I like your content, will be sure to follow more of your stuff

I finished the Akira route yesterday, but not without a lot of help from Gamefaqs, the Megami Tensei fandom Wikia, and this vid (yep, you helped a lot, Marsh, so thanks for that). I played it on an emulator too, and even with save states, the game was still really hard. My guess: Atlus knew one day there'd be something like guides and emulators to make the Akira route somewhat easier. So they made it even harder than ever, even with these tools. The final 2 dungeons and most boss fights were still a pain. I did like the rearranged music and the story behind Akira's route though.

Ah yis, SMT If, the game where DevilMan and Ashita No Joe are a thing in this game world (Akira being posessed by a demon named Amon and the Janitor being a reference to Danpei from ashita no joe)

keep up the amazing shitpost and reviews marsh loving it to death

Beat this today. Very fun.

13:24 What are you talking about? Mappara was part of the game and had been in the series for a while at that point, the only map related emulator "feature" that exists is the map hotkey patch for SMT 1.

Devilman lives baby!

2:30 Jack... What?

Akira became Devilman

Oh shit, it's Devilman

I genuinely believe the first 10 seconds of this video is the offical quote of this channel XD

Akira... Amon... Ok. I see what they did there.