I have foolishly gone on another shopping spree and came across SMT: Nocturne for a fair price;as well as a few others. While looking up the series on Wikipedia I discovered that this is actually the 3rd game in the SMT series, and I was wondering if I will need to play 1&2 to understand 3, or if it's more of a stand alone thing? I really don't want to pick it up if it's something I will need to play the first two to understand characters and plot.

No.

There are allusions to SMT2 in Nocturne revolving around one character, but they are inconsequential to the main narrative and will not impede your understanding of the story.

god no

@Hailinel said:

There are allusions to SMT2 in Nocturne revolving around one character, but they are inconsequential to the main narrative and will not impede your understanding of the story.

So each of the games have their own self contained story? I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure out the SMT series naming and story structure and so far I mostly just have a head ache.

No. But you really should play them anyway. In SMT II, God is a boss.

@crusader8463 said:

@Hailinel said:

There are allusions to SMT2 in Nocturne revolving around one character, but they are inconsequential to the main narrative and will not impede your understanding of the story.

So each of the games have their own self contained story? I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure out the SMT series naming and story structure and so far I mostly just have a head ache.

basically. only devil summoner 1 and 2 and digital devil saga 1 and 2 are straight sequels

@Hailinel said:

There are allusions to SMT2 in Nocturne revolving around one character, but they are inconsequential to the main narrative and will not impede your understanding of the story.

So each of the games have their own self contained story? I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure out the SMT series naming and story structure and so far I mostly just have a head ache.

@crusader8463

@Hailinel said:

There are allusions to SMT2 in Nocturne revolving around one character, but they are inconsequential to the main narrative and will not impede your understanding of the story.

So each of the games have their own self contained story? I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure out the SMT series naming and story structure and so far I mostly just have a head ache.

The stories are self-contained, yes.

@MikeGosot said:

@Hailinel said:

@crusader8463

@Hailinel said:

There are allusions to SMT2 in Nocturne revolving around one character, but they are inconsequential to the main narrative and will not impede your understanding of the story.

So each of the games have their own self contained story? I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure out the SMT series naming and story structure and so far I mostly just have a head ache.

The stories are self-contained, yes.

I believe I & II are not self-contained, are they?

they take place in the same world, but it's not like you need to play the first one to figure out the second

@Hailinel said:

@crusader8463

@Hailinel said:

There are allusions to SMT2 in Nocturne revolving around one character, but they are inconsequential to the main narrative and will not impede your understanding of the story.

So each of the games have their own self contained story? I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure out the SMT series naming and story structure and so far I mostly just have a head ache.

The stories are self-contained, yes.

I believe I & II are not self-contained, are they?