Started playing Shin Megami Tensei IV.

[Frogger]

Hiku said:

Well I've been misleading in my explanation. It's not usually an actual Game Over. I should have pointed that out. Not everyone gets wiped out. But getting some of my demons K.O.'d before I have a good means of reviving them (as familiar, money is scarce in the beginning) pretty much means the same thing as it leaves me stranded to use my backup demons, who some times are just fusion fodder waiting to be fused later. And if I get surprise attacked again after that... Well, that's why in those situations it's sadly much more time efficient to just reset, and I don't want it to be that way. I also want my main demons to gain exp when I venture out and fight. Not get K.O'd soon after I step into the field because of a mechanic like that. It also seems you can't hit enemies first on the world map, though I can't recall if this means they can act first.

Not sure what mechanics I might be missing, but I have read up on some things before I started. Mainly about builds and general advice. The only new battle mechanic I see so far is Smirk, and the fact that physical abilities now cost MP rather than HP. I really don't think this has anything to do with my lack of knowledge of the game mechanics.
And I could make up teams that together fully cover each elemental resistance, but but one of the main things I like about these games is that there are so many monsters I like to use. Using the demons I like is very important to me. And I don't think this mechanic of all things should impose on your freedom of chosing which demons you should bring with you. If there's a boss with a certain strength or weakness, that's fine. But not something like this.
I'd rather play with my favorite monsters and lower the difficulty if that's what it takes rather than be forced to play with monsters I don't like because of this mechanic.
Though for now I'm enduring it on Normal to see where it goes. I can't say it's a plesant experience to keep saving so often though.

The bolded is your problem. Don't get attached to demons. Seriously. Literally, as soon as you have the money to do it, or the demons, you should be fusing demons away and not caring what you get, as long as it's better than the last. This isn't Pokemon. This isn't the type of game you're describing at all. This isn't a "pick your favorite demons and win" type of game; it's the opposite. It's "pick the best demons for now, and win for now." Even on easy, it's that way. The core battle system doesn't change on easy. I'm pretty sure the only thing that changes is the level, which means nothing because you can still get your team swept by a super effective attack by a demon 10 levels lower than you, and the lower prices. You know, to make it easier to fuse more.

Changing the difficulty won't change that aspect of the game at all. You're literally fighting against the core game design. Monsters don't even learn moves past their first few levels. You're literally intentionally weighing yourself down on all fronts. You're not only making your team worse, but you're making the moves they learn worse. Take my advice and let the demons go.

Also, do what I did and only fuse magic demons. And make sure every done of your main demons has all four of the main attacking types. Really helpful. Like, it makes the game a cakewalk.

Also, as soon as you can, get the moves Makarakarn and Tetrekarn on at least one of your demons. Makes the game even more of a cakewalk. (...until the end.) Those are moves you're just not getting without fusing without regard for "demons you like." Think of it more as "builds you like." You're not keeping the demons, you're keeping their builds, and tranfering them to better demons with hopefully better builds. And use the compendium (consortium?) as soon as you have the money.

And as soon as you can, use your points towards lowering both the compendium prices and raising the demon fusion level cap. Very helpful.