Not all F2P games are cheap rip-offs, and SMT: Imagine proves that.
Well, the game turned out being really good. Actually, it turned out becoming one of the best MMOs I've ever played. I'll tell you why:
1. The concept.
This is not your standard RPG. Yes, it does have levels, equipment, and some grinding but the game revolves around something else, which is obtaining demons. Demons are creatures, mainly inspired from mythologies from all around the (real) world, which can fight alongside your character. It should be noted that like your character, they do have an alignment ("Law", "Neutral" or "Chaos"), and they may or may not like you depending on the way you treat them. This has a deep impact on their combat performance.
In order to "contract" one -that is the term used in SMT- you first need not only to find the one you're looking for, but also engage him/her/it in a conversation, which with a bit of luck will end with the demon joining your ranks. Yes, a conversation, you may be kind and "greet" them, or "threaten" them, or even "taunt" them, and they will react differently depending on their personality. They can be also mixed together to create more powerful -or simply different- beings, and they are so many, and so unique, that you just... you just... gotta catch 'em all. Wait... wha? The classes system for your actual character is also very interesting although not entirely new: you start off classless, then decide which categories you want your alter ego to specialize in while he/she gains experience. The main ones being "spells" (of different elements, plus healing and support spells), guns (rifles, shotguns, pistols mainly, with different characteristics each), and melee. The system is fairly more complicated than that, but this gives you a rough sketch of how advancing works in SMT:I. A pretty complex crafting system was also included recently, and you will need to dedicate some time to it as if it was one of your main combat skills in order to become a proper, recognized crafter.
2. The community. It lives.
The game is alive. There is always someone around, always someone to chat with, always someone willing to go into a dungeon with you and your demons, and there are many, many clans willing to recruit both newbies and more seasoned players into their ranks. Of course, the community does not equal the one of much bigger and older games -Yeah, WoW- but it's large enough to make you think "hey, that's lotsa people!"
3. The graphics, oh the graphics.
If you're into the Japanese way of doing art, you'll definitely enjoy the quality of this game's graphics. I recall more than one area that has left my jaw dropping. The mixture of high-tech modern cities with natural environments gives this game a truly unique touch. Also, equipment and demons look both amazing and drastically different from one another, and that's a huge motivation that alone just makes you want to get out of the city to "hunt" MORE demons and gear.
4. Catchy music, catchy music, catchy music... dan dan dun dan dun...
The music is something you'll remember for a long time, and that's not because it has the quality of a professional Opera (it has not, really) but because it's catchy. After beta, I had left the game for about one year, and even after that much time, I remembered all the tunes by heart. And that's what made me go back in the first place -then I simply stayed due to the large improvements the game had made-. It's definitely something good when you're out killing beasts for hours to have something to hum.
But of course, this game also has flaws. I think there are several but they can be pretty much summed up in a single section.
1. This game has grinding.
2. Quests outside the main storyline are rare
3. The main storyline is short and definitely doesn't bring your character top-level.
Yup, you'll have to grind. There's no way to avoid that. And at first you'll often find yourself wondering "what the heck am I supposed to do now" just because you weren't given any particular quest and you're not high enough to continue your main storyline, or you have just finished it. That's because you're supposed to go out, explore, do dungeons, and most of all, find demons. Like it, or hate it. Plus, while there is a tutorial, you're often left finding things out on your own. I think they could have improved that part of the game a bit more before releasing it, but it is fine when you get used to it. The fact that I'm giving this game a 7.5 doesn't mean that's an "objectively" good game (no game is, but this one in particular, due to its unique concepts and Japanese art), but the fact that it is completely free to download makes me suggest you all online RPGs fans to at least give it a try. Please do.
Like me, you may get pleasantly surprised.
Enjoy, thanks for reading.
-BM