Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner

Gamers outside of Japan might be surprised to find out that the Megaten series of RPGs didn't start with Shin Megami Tensai: Nocturne (Lucifer's Call in Europe). In fact, the series has been around since the days of the SNES. While there are currently only three "main" games in the series there have been multiple spin-off games. One such game was Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner, released for the Sega Saturn in 1995 and rereleased for the PSP in 2005.

SMT: Devil Summoner follows the adventures of a rather mundane college student who is attacked by demons while on a date with his girlfriend. The student (you) are saved by a demon hunter named Kenji, who is found murdered a few days later. Shortly after his body is discovered you are kidnapped and murdered only to awaken and find yourself in the body of Kenji with your girlfriend inhabiting the body of his female partner Rei. The object of the game from that point forward is to research the reasons for the appearance of demons and get everyone's soul back into his/her own body.

Gameplay should be familiar to anyone who has played SMT: Nocturne. The player can move to various locations using an over world map and dungeons are presented in a first person, 3D format. Much like SMT:Nocturne you can talk to demons and recruit them into your party. However, you must pay attention to the demon's happiness. You won't be able to directly control a demon that becomes unhappy and they will eventually leave your party altogether. Demons cannot be fused to create other demons in this game. Battles are turn based but lack the excitement and strategy of previous Megaten games.

This is an almost direct port of a Sega Saturn game and it shows. Graphics aren't as detailed as many PSP games and movement in the first person perspective is choppy. In comparison to other PSP RPG offerings the graphics and gameplay of SMT: Devil Summoner are unpolished.

SMT: Devil Summoner makes for a less than ideal import, even for fans of the Megaten series. Aside from the questionable gameplay, a working knowledge of Japanese is needed to play this text-heavy game. Kanji is used extensively and there are no subtitles for cutscenes. That being said, the game will never make it outside of Japan so the only way to play it is to import it. Atlus as shown an interest in localizing the game but Sony America would not allow it because it does not contain enough new material when compared to the Saturn Version.

Overall 2/5

Oct 2, 2007 - 11:33 am | 2 comments
Mark Everhart