Shin Megami Tensei
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[edit] Shin Megami Tensei
Title:
- 真・女神転生
- Shin Megami Tensei
Systems & Dates:
- Super Famicom - 1992.10.30
- NEC PC-Engine Super CD-ROM - 1993.12.25
- Sega Mega-CD - 1994.02.25
- PSX - 2001.05.31
- GBA - 2003.03.28
- GBA - 2004.11.26 - Best Price
[edit] About
The first game to carry the Shin/真 moniker. It is about a young boy whose world changes greatly shortly into the game and must decide between law, neutral, or chaos for the world. You fight random battles and gather demons you control.
[edit] Plot
The setting: Tokyo, 199X. Demons from the nether-realm of Makai have found their way back to Earth, and as such have upset the balance of power. A charismatic Japanese leader attempts a coup-d'etat using these demons as a potent military force, forcing America to intervene with its military. The player, as the Hero, becomes involved when sent a Devil Summoning Program via email which allows him to converse with and recruit demons to fight for him, storing them as digital data on his computer.
In the aftermath of the ensuing destruction, the Hero must decide what kind of world should be created on its ruins. Will he side with the angels and create a kingdom of absolute order that would last for a thousand years, or will he side with the demons and bring about an eternal anarchy? Or will he choose neither, and destroy everyone who opposes him?
[edit] Gameplay
Shin Megami Tensei is a first-person RPG, like many early computer/video game RPGs such as The Bard's Tale. The player navigates through dungeons with a party of six characters. The combat is turn-based.
The game features two types of characters: Humans and Demons. A key facet of gameplay involves collecting demons. The human Hero acquires these demons via negotiation, bribing and coercion. Once acquired, they can be stored in the party's portable computer and summoned for a small amount of money to be used in battle, and a constant feed of Magnetite (a secondary currency in the game)to be maintained outside of combat.
The most notable aspect of the game is that you can combine two or three demons and create a more powerful demon. This system is called "Akuma Gattai" which can be translated as "Demon Fusion." This system has been passed on from the first game of the series, Digital Devil Saga: Megami Tensei
[edit] Humans
Human characters can equip firearms with special ammo, melee weapons, and multiple pieces of armor from helmet to boots, although certain weapons can only be wielded by a character of a specific alignment. Humans are also the only ones capable of leveling up and have their Stats upgraded at the discretion of the player.
Arguably, this makes human characters considerably stronger than the majority of demons, particularly since the guns' power and number of attacks per turn, in conjunction with ailments provided by the bullets, could decimate whole groups of enemies in a few turns.
[edit] Demons
There are a wide variety of demons from various mythologies in Shin Megami Tensei; each has its own unique statistics, and a skillset of up to three abilities or spells. These abilities are permanent (unlike the ability system in Shin Megami Tensei II or Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne) and cannot be changed. Also, each demon has unique resistances and weaknesses to certain attacks. As such, strategies revolve around having the right demon summoned for the right job, and keeping the ones too susceptible in the party's computer.
Note that the term "Demon" (akuma) in the Megaten games is a catch-all term; in contrast to the more traditional, malevolent demons, anything from a folktale creature (such as a Pixie) to an ideal Judeo-Christian Angel (such as Michael) is referred to as a demon. This is due to the idea that these mythical creatures will bring harm to human beings in one way or another, ranging from devouring by ghouls to punishment by the heavenly gods.
[edit] Alignments
The alignment of a demon is measured by two attributes:
Light - Neutral - Dark
Law - Neutral - Chaos
[edit] Law
This alignment is associated with God, order and peace. In the game it is represented by the Messian religion, and the colours blue and white. The Law alignment promotes order and safety, but taken to an extreme it leads to dictatorship and elitism. The main goal of the Law factions in the game is to establish the Thousand Year Kingdom, a paradise on Earth ruled over by God. The truth is that only a select few who are judged worthy would be allowed to live in the Thousand Year Kingdom, while everyone else would be killed. Those who do live in the Thousand Year Kingdom would be subjected to its strict, absolute laws.
[edit] Chaos
The alignment is associated with Lucifer, freedom and war. In the game it is represented by the Gaian religion, and the colours red and black. This alignment promotes freedom of choice, thought and action above all else in stark contrast to the controlling nature of the Law alignment. However, this freedom can lead to a vast amount of suffering and anarchy, leading the world into a primal state of unsuppressed vice and survival of the fittest. The main goal of the Chaos factions is to crush the Messian forces opposing them and attain complete and total power over Tokyo.
[edit] Neutral
Also known as "Balance", this alignment accepts the need for laws to govern the world but not at the cost of personal freedom. It rejects the concept of relying on Lawful or Chaotic powers to focus instead on personal empowerment, individuality and the inherent strength of Mankind. Although the most idealistic alignment, it is also the hardest alignment to attain because of its isolationist nature and requires the person to make enemies of both the Law and Chaos factions, destroying everything to gain everything.
In total, there are nine possible alignments a demon can have:
Light-Law
Light-Neutral
Light-Chaos
Neutral-Law
Neutral-Neutral
Neutral-Chaos
Dark-Law
Dark-Neutral
Dark-Chaos
Human characters also possess alignments. There are certain items that can only be equipped to a character of the correct alignment, and the Messian (Law) or Gaia (Chaos) churches will charge more money if the Hero is of an opposing alignment. Demons will also refuse to join the Hero if his alignment directly opposes theirs.
The alignment of the Hero is determined by a number of factors. During the course of the game he is asked several philosophical questions (eg: "Your mother has been possessed by a demon and pleads with you to end her suffering. Do you kill her?"), the answers to which affect his alignment. Summoning demons will alter the Hero's alignment slightly towards the alignment of the demon summoned. Most importantly, the Hero will be given tasks by both the Law and Chaos factions in the game. Completing one of these tasks will heavily alter the Hero's alignment in favour of the respective faction, while completing both will keep him on the Neutral alignment. The alignment of the Hero directly affects the ending of the game.
[edit] Characters
- Hero: The Hero starts with no default name. He has a crush on the girl next door. Some how he gets sucked into action by receiving the Devil Summoning Program on his computer. He can summon demon party members but cannont use magic. He is given the name Kazuya in Steven Report I.
- Law Hero: He also starts with no default name. His girlfriend is the girl next door. He is good looking but the "by the rules" kind of guy. He will be in and out of your party during the game. He is given the name Yuji in Steven Report I.
- Chaos Hero: Also no default name to start with. He was being picked on by Ozawa and his gang when you first meet him. He searches for power so he can defeat those in his way. He will also be in and out of your party though the game. He is given the name Takeshi in Steven Report I.
- Heroine (SMT I): Once again she starts with no default name. You must rescue her but once you do she will remain a member of your party. She has the same name as the girl next door. She is given the name Yuka in Steven Report I.
- Dr. Steven: Is the man who created the Demon Summoning program. You will run into him a few times during the game in which he will help you out in some way.
- Yuriko: A Mysterious woman who seems to want to help you.
- Ozawa: A punk kid who runs a gang, he may not seem like much now but in the future he will be big trouble.
- Goto: A military man who has plans for the world.
- Thorman: A UN ambassador with a secret.
- Mom: The Hero's mother. She is always worried about you.
- Pascal: The Hero's dog. He is a great buddy and will come in handy.
 PC Engine |
 Mega CD |
 Gameboy Advanced |
