Shin Megami Tensei 30th Anniversary – Old worlds, new views!
Let’s go back to the first half of the 90s; more precisely to October 30, 1992…
On that day a new kind of RPG appeared on Super Famicom, and it was destined to become a big hit in a very short time; its title was Shin Megami Tensei.
Inspired by the Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei novel trilogy written by Aya Nishitani, Atlus created a sci-fi multiverse strongly imbued with mythology and folklore; in which humans and sacred beings can join forces to defeat the worst personalities on Earth… and beyond…
Featuring a first-person 3Dish gameplay system, this series introduced a huge innovation for those years; the opportunity to catch and fuse enemies to create even more powerful supernatural allies. Also, its cyberpunk aesthetic melted with occult elements making it a truly unique game full of surprises and charm. Thanks to its incredible positive reception, luckily for us, many other installments have been released for a plethora of different systems including Mega-CD, Sega Saturn, Virtual Boy, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and many others. Don’t stop only at the main series, but introducing also several side-stories; Shin Megami Tensei is an actual multiverse enriched by hundreds of unforgettable characters and great memorable stories. Among them, it is necessary to remember Persona, Devil Summoner, Last Bible, Jack Bros., Digital Devil Saga & Raidou Kuzunoha!
I’m on the highway to hell!
But the first quest is never forgotten; since the first installment, the Shin Megami Tensei series describes in various ways how humans can interact with deities and other supernatural beings. In a post-apocalyptic Japan set during the last decade of the twentieth century, we can witness how each of us (this is the main reason behind the traditional “unnamed hero” figure) can turn into a very charismatic person able to communicate with the beings of the underworld.
All of this is possible thanks to a special e-mail that contains the Devil Summoning Program; the detailed instructions about how to summon, discuss, and possibly recruit all of these creatures. One of the greatest features of the original game, which has been wisely kept also in the next chapters, was that players can choose freely the faction. Determining the future of Japan through siding with God and his angels (for absolute order), or with Lucifer and his demons (for total freedom), or even siding with neither to realize a personal vision of society…
Godhood awaits!
Trying to answer complex philosophical questions such as “what’s at the end of the universe?” or “is there an end?”; the Shin Megami Tensei series carries us in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by “Reason”, the world’s natural laws. Following it humans, demons, angels, and all those who are in the middle; live more or less peacefully in the different dimensions of existence. During its 30 years of glorious history, millions of gamers are encouraged to develop and expand their critical thinking questioning the already constituted laws and creating their personal ones who can even let return the world to a pre-apocalyptic condition by exploiting the powers of the Magatama (a sentient parasite who live within the protagonist). Featuring charismatic humans, gods & demons; Shin Megami Tensei is a series that everyone should play at least once in a lifetime.
Words can’t express the greatness of these games, rich in philosophical issues & very well-written mature stories, these ultra-stylish old-school JRPGs are an engaging godsend that mix in such a unique way dangerous demons, deep combat systems, and mythologies from the four corners of the world in one adventure. Rewarding like any other JRPG in this world; it will put humankind against its creators, during the last struggle for its existence… Demons, Gods, Magic, and Technology are the tools to brandish in the name of servitude to a scheming deity; choose your side and the destiny of the whole world… Peace, Chaos, or Neutrality… there are so many paths to take, but one thing is certain, in these 30 years the Shin Megami Tensei series changed the JRPG genre which few others have been able to do!
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