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    Shin Megami Tensei

    Game » consists of 12 releases. Released Oct 30, 1992

    The inaugural entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series and successor to Megami Tensei I and II on the Famicom. It follows a young man who must prove himself a hero after the opening of a demonic gate in Tokyo and the city's subsequent nuclear destruction.

    Short summary describing this game.

    Shin Megami Tensei last edited by reverendhunt on 07/07/20 08:18PM View full history

    Overview

    Shin Megami Tensei ("True Goddess Reincarnation") is a first-person dungeon crawler originally for the Super Famicom and part of Atlus' venerable Megami Tensei series of supernatural RPGs, following from 1990's Megami Tensei II for the Famicom (and other systems). Subsequent "core" Megami Tensei games would continue to use the "Shin" prefix for sequels, leading to Shin Megami Tensei II (for SFC and other systems), Shin Megami Tensei III (a.k.a. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne or Luficer's Call, for PS2) and Shin Megami Tensei IV (for 3DS). The extended name is also used for various SMT spin-offs, such as Shin Megami Tensei: Persona and Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner.

    As with other games in the series, players take the role of a nameless high-school student who attempts to defend Tokyo from an invasion of demons that threaten to turn the city into the next battlefield for the endless struggle between the forces of Law and Chaos. They proceed through areas by moving in cardinal directions in a first-person mode while taking part in mostly random turn-based battles, similar to Wizardry. Players can negotiate with and recruit demons to help their chances of survival; this is core to the series, as is understanding the relationships between demon types and their elemental strengths and weaknesses.

    Story

    From the Mega CD intro
    From the Mega CD intro

    There are a variety of demons based on several religious mythologies, and each family has its own racial alignment. Players will develop a Lawful, Chaotic or Neutral alignment over the course of the story, depending on the actions they take and the demons they befriend or fight. Different alignments will result in entirely different endings for the game, all of them equally valid - although the sequel assumes the player completed the Neutral ending.

    The story begins, after a strange dream sequence, with the discovery of a computer program e-mailed to the protagonist by a mysterious ally, allowing him to communicate with demons and summon ones allied with him via his hand-held computer, or COMP. Shortly afterward, missing persons are reported, fellow students go missing, and the protagonist is attacked by the demons which he so conveniently now has the capability of conversing with and summoning. Attempting to unravel the reasons behind all of this (and save Tokyo) is what makes up a majority of the story.

    Gameplay

    The game's first-person dungeon crawling.
    The game's first-person dungeon crawling.

    Movement is split into two areas. When outdoors, the game presents an overhead view of a map of the local area, and the player can move the icon representing the protagonist around the streets and into buildings. Random encounters with demons begin to hinder movement here after an early plot point. When indoors, all movement takes place in a first-person view reminiscent of old PC RPGs like Eye of the Beholder.

    Encounters with demons begin with an opportunity to attempt to talk before fighting. Depending on what the player says, the demons may decide to fight, run away, offer a bribe, or join the player's party and become an ally. What demons players battle and ally with will partially influence their alignment, which will affect how other demons react to them in the future. Demons whose alignment oppose the player will never join their party. Alignment can also affect what items can be equipped and what bosses are fought.

    A pixie appears!
    A pixie appears!

    Once combat is initiated, the player selects actions for each party member to take. Turns occur simultaneously for both sides, with each combatant taking their action in the order of initiative as determined by their speed and other similar factors. The protagonist cannot use any spells, but most of the other characters and demons have some form of magic at their disposal. Killing a demon nets some experience and money, and each time the player character gains enough experience to increase their level, the player can select a character stat to increase. Although spells are specific to each character, all other statistics are determined by the player during the dream sequence, which means they can decide whether their team consists of glass cannon wizards or melee bruisers as they like. Players should take note, however, that this is an Atlus RPG and hence isn't very forgiving.

    There are also some stores in the city where the player character can purchase weapons, armor, or usable items as needed. A bit into the game, they can purchase some additional items with more useful traits, although they are very expensive.

    Demon Compendium

    Demons are ordered from highest level to lowest. Races are organized by affinity (Light-Neutral-Dark) and alignment (Law-Neutral-Chaos). Demons marked with (MCD) only appear in the Mega CD version of the game.

    Deity (L-L)
    Megami (L-L)
    Seraph (L-L)
    Divine (L-L)
    Avian (L-L)
    Holy (L-L)
    Avatar (L-N)
    Element (L-N)
    Omega (L-C)
    Kishin (L-C)
    Dragon (L-C)
    Yoma (N-L)
    Flight (N-L)
    Jirae (N-L)
    Messian (N-L)
    • 53 Scanner
    • 37 Magus
    • 22 Temple Knight
    • 18 Adept
    Fairy (N-N)
    Beast (N-N)
    Touki (N-N)
    Lycan (N-N)
    Femme (N-C)
    Night (N-C)
    Fallen (N-C)
    Snake (N-C)
    Brute (N-C)
    Gaean (N-C)
    • 56 Assassin
    • 52 Yamihoushi
    • 40 Onijorou
    • 27 Hakaisou
    • 20 Shokei Rider
    • 15 Tokkoutai
    Vile (D-L)
    Raptor (D-L)
    Jaki (D-L)
    Mech (D-L)
    • 32 T95D
    • 25 T95C/P
    • 21 T93G
    • 15 Bitball
    • 11 Bigfoot
    • 2 Dummy
    Wilder (D-N)
    Dead (D-N)
    Tyrant (D-C)
    Drake (D-C)
    Haunt (D-C)
    Spirit (D-C)
    Foul (D-C)
    • 44 Backbeard
    • 32 Black Ooze
    • 13 Slime
    • 4 Mouryou
    • 2 Yakuza
    • 1 Thug
    Fiend
    Boss (1)
    Boss (2)
    Boss (3)

    Translation into English

    The full translation patch for Shin Megami Tensei was released by Aeon Genesis on June 30th of 2002. It includes a translation of the game manual which is virtually necessary to play the game.

    References

    1. http://www.atlus.com/smt/history.html
    2. http://agtp.romhack.net/project.php?id=smt
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