Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Maten Densetsu: Senritsu no Ooparts offers a deeply strategic RPG experience that fans of Shin Megami Tensei and other Megaten titles will find both familiar and refreshingly unique. The game places you in a first-person perspective throughout, turning dungeon exploration into an immersive, almost claustrophobic experience. You navigate crumbling city blocks and underground passages by moving a cursor over the map, consulting your radar device to uncover hidden paths and secret rooms.

Combat is entirely turn-based and initiated randomly as you explore the shattered districts of Tokyo. Instead of the traditional experience point system, Maten Densetsu employs an energy point mechanic: every enemy defeated earns you energy points that can be freely allocated to attributes such as strength, mental power, defense, agility, and luck. This flexible growth system allows you to craft your protagonist into anything from a hard-hitting melee specialist to a demon-summoning mage.

A hallmark of the Megaten lineage is demon recruitment, and Senritsu no Ooparts continues this tradition with a moral twist. When you encounter certain demons in battle, selecting the correct dialogue options or showing mercy will persuade them to join your party rather than perish. Each demon brings unique skills and affinities, and managing your growing roster—deciding who fights alongside your human hero—adds another layer of tactical depth.

Beyond standard battles and demon negotiations, you’ll also engage with the Self-Defense Forces, who offer special missions and side-quests. These missions might require you to rescue civilians, secure vital ressources, or investigate mysterious “ooparts” artifacts. Balancing main objectives with optional tasks helps keep gameplay fresh and rewarding over the many hours you’ll spend navigating the floating archipelago of post-apocalyptic Japan.

Graphics

Given the game’s 1997 release on the PlayStation, Maten Densetsu’s visuals are impressively atmospheric. The ruined skyscrapers of Akihabara and Shinjuku are rendered in gritty, moody color palettes that perfectly evoke a world on the brink of collapse. Lighting effects in outdoor areas—such as the eerie glow of demon-infested ruins—add an unsettling ambiance that heightens the tension with each step.

The first-person dungeon segments lean into simple but effective 3D corridors, walls textured with decay and ruined signage. While textures may appear blocky by modern standards, they contribute to the sense of urgency and dread—tight corridors and blind corners keep you on edge, never knowing when a group of hostile demons will ambush you.

Character and demon designs show clear inspiration from the Megaten aesthetic but also feature their own distinct flair. Each of the five protagonists has a unique character portrait, and demons range from twisted mechanical abominations to shadowy humanoids, all detailed with bold lines and contrasting shading. The occasional full-screen illustrations—used during critical story moments or demon negotiations—are some of the game’s visual highlights, bringing dramatic flair to key narrative beats.

Menus and HUD elements strike a balance between utility and style. Your radar screen, equipped with a simple grid overlay and blips for nearby points of interest, never feels cluttered. Inventory screens, skill allocation interfaces, and status displays are clean and intuitive, letting you focus on strategy without wrestling with confusing menu layouts.

Story

The narrative of Senritsu no Ooparts unfolds against a strikingly original backdrop: post-apocalyptic Japan floating in the sky, under siege by an onslaught of otherworldly demons. You awaken in a transformed Akihabara, with only shattered neon signs and skeletal steel beams as proof of the city’s former glory. This jarring introduction immediately sets the tone—nothing is as it once was, and every corner of Tokyo hides both danger and intrigue.

Your first goal is simple yet compelling: return to Shinjuku, your home district, to uncover the truth behind the mysterious force attacking Japan. Along the way, you learn of an ancient civilization that left behind out-of-place artifacts—“ooparts”—whose hidden power may hold the key to restoring or destroying the world. This blend of urban ruin, mystic technology, and post-disaster survival gives the story a unique flavor that stands apart from other RPGs of its era.

Character-driven side stories enrich the main plot. When you select one of the five protagonists—Rage, Rai, Hokuto, Seigi, or Daigo—you gain access to personalized narrative threads exploring their backgrounds, moral codes, and motivations. Ally characters you rescue or recruit, both human and demonic, bring additional subplots that delve into themes of redemption, identity, and the nature of power in a shattered society.

Although the pacing can feel deliberate—especially during lengthy dungeon crawls—the payoff is compelling. Midgame reveals about the origin of ooparts and the true purpose of the Self-Defense Forces add layers of mystery and moral ambiguity. By the time you face the final confrontation, you’ll have formed emotional bonds with your companions, making the stakes feel genuinely personal.

Overall Experience

Maten Densetsu: Senritsu no Ooparts stands as a hidden gem in the Megaten lineage, offering an atmospheric, challenging, and richly detailed RPG journey. Its unique twist on demon recruitment, energy point allocation system, and first-person dungeon design provide a fresh take on mechanics that fans of Shin Megami Tensei know and love. Newcomers looking for a darker, more strategic RPG will find plenty to enjoy, provided they’re patient with the game’s slower pacing.

Difficulty is on the tougher side, especially early on when resources are scarce and demon encounters can easily overwhelm an under-leveled party. However, the sense of accomplishment after mastering enemy weaknesses, acquiring powerful ooparts, and forging the perfect party lineup is immensely satisfying. Occasional spikes in difficulty can be mitigated by side-quests and prudent attribute management, so exploration and dialogue choices always pay dividends.

The blend of post-apocalyptic storytelling, moody graphics, and intricate gameplay mechanics makes Senritsu no Ooparts a standout title for RPG aficionados. Its world-building is among its greatest strengths; every ruined street corner hints at untold stories, and the looming mystery of ooparts keeps you invested from start to finish. While some might find the blocky 3D environments dated, the atmosphere they create remains remarkably effective.

For players seeking a challenging RPG that emphasizes strategic depth, narrative complexity, and a distinctive setting, Maten Densetsu: Senritsu no Ooparts delivers a memorable journey. It may require patience and a taste for darker themes, but those who embrace its unique vision will find a richly rewarding adventure that stands the test of time.

Retro Replay Score

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