It's hard to review Digital Devil Saga as a standalone because even if the gameplay is a refined mix of persona's static party along with the customization of the standalone games. Most of it's content is in essence a opening for it's sequel. The story revolves around a battle royale between squads for leadership, and a chance to get to nirvana. However. the game leads you to believe everything they do is pointless, and it's unclear whether the relationships are important either. Does this game make me want to play the sequel? Absolutely, but unless you're told or know already. This could definitely feel like an incomplete game. The game has a great soundtrack, even if it's not as innovative as Shoji Meguro's later pieces, and the gameplay is solid. The only issue with the gameplay is with the Karma system feeling unforgiving at times. I originally played this game in the 2000's and have attempted to play through it a couple of times, only to be blockade in particular by two later bosses, and finding trouble moving to a suitable setup due to not only the high grind for later mantra's but even costs of the mantras. Overall, I still recommend the game, but I feel like I would have already finished this game and it's sequel years ago, if I just had a karma guide to stop me from being stupid and trying to use every character or always attempting to push forward in my mantra choices without knowledge of upcoming bosses.