Summary

• Release Year: 1987
• Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
• Platforms: Family Computer, Sharp X1
• Developers: Atlus
• Publishers: Namcot

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (1987)

Introduction

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei is a post-apocalyptic role-playing video game developed by Atlus and published by Namco for the Family Computer in Japan in 1987. It is the first game in the Megami Tensei series, which has since become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed JRPG franchises of all time.

Plot

The game is set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo that has been ravaged by a nuclear war. The player takes on the role of a high school student who is transported to a parallel world called the Netherworld, a dangerous and demon-infested realm. The player must navigate the Netherworld, recruit demons to fight for them, and ultimately defeat the evil god Lucifer to save both the human world and the Netherworld.

Gameplay

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei is a traditional turn-based JRPG with a focus on dungeon crawling and demon recruitment. The player explores dungeons, fights enemies, and solves puzzles in order to progress through the game. The game’s combat system is unique in that the player can recruit demons to fight alongside them. Demons can be recruited by talking to them and negotiating with them, or by defeating them in battle. Once recruited, demons can be used to fight in the player’s party, and they can also be fused together to create new, more powerful demons.

Development

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei was developed by a team led by Kouji Okada, who would later go on to direct several other Megami Tensei games. The game was based on the novel of the same name by Aya Nishitani, and it was originally intended to be a straightforward adaptation of the novel. However, during development, the team decided to make significant changes to the story and gameplay, and the final product is quite different from the novel.

Release

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei was released in Japan on September 11, 1987. The game was a commercial success, selling over 400,000 copies in Japan. It was later ported to the PlayStation in 1995 and to the Nintendo DS in 2008. The game has also been released on the Wii Virtual Console and the PlayStation Network.

Reception

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei was critically acclaimed upon release. Critics praised the game’s dark and atmospheric setting, its challenging gameplay, and its innovative demon recruitment system. The game has since been ranked among the greatest JRPGs of all time by several publications, including IGN and GameSpot.

Legacy

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei is a landmark game in the JRPG genre. It was one of the first games to feature a dark and post-apocalyptic setting, and it introduced several innovative gameplay mechanics, such as the demon recruitment system. The game has had a major influence on subsequent JRPGs, including the Final Fantasy series and the Dragon Quest series.

Conclusion

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei is a classic JRPG that is still enjoyed by fans today. Its dark and atmospheric setting, challenging gameplay, and innovative demon recruitment system make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

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