Megami Tensei (Japanese:女神転生, often abbreviated as MegaTen) is a Japanese console role-playing game series that began from the Digital Devil Story novels by Aya Nishitani, and is one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A console role-playing game is a video game genre that has its origin rooted in Video game consoles and includes game mechanics and frequently settings derived The games are published by Atlus, with the exception of the Famicom games, which were published by Namco. is a Japanese Computer and video game developer and publisher. The Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated as NES or simply Nintendo) is an 8-bit Video game console that was released by is an amusement company based in Japan, best known overseas for Video games development
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Series overview
The Megami Tensei series is unique among Japanese RPGs because it generally eschews the pseudo-Medieval settings and swords-and-sorcery trappings of most games in the genre. A console role-playing game is a video game genre that has its origin rooted in Video game consoles and includes game mechanics and frequently settings derived Sword and sorcery ( S&S) is a fantasy subgenre generally characterized by swashbuckling heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts Megaten games typically take place in modern or near-future Japan and mix occult and cyberpunk elements.
The enemies that appear are called Akuma (悪魔(devil, demon)), as compared to the "monster" used in other RPGs. The Devil is the The player can recruit the Akuma to his side so it becomes a Nakama (仲魔(friendly demon, homophone of 仲間, comrade)). It is also possible to fuse multiple Nakama to create another Nakama and also new weapons by fusing Akuma and weapons.
The player is often asked to make moral or philosophical choices that affect the game's storyline and ending. A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event
Megaten games are full of mythological references: gods and creatures from Norse, Celtic, Judeo-Christian, Egyptian, Chinese, Hindu and Japanese mythologies are featured, to be battled or recruited by the player. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland Celtic mythology is the Mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the Religion of the Iron Age Celts Like other Iron Age Judeo-Christian (or Judaeo-Christian, sometimes written as Judæo-Christian) is a term used to describe the body of concepts and values which are thought to be held Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the various religious beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Egypt from the predynastic period until the adoption of Christianity Chinese mythology is a collection of Cultural history, Folktales, and Religions that have been passed down in oral or written form Hindu mythology is the large body of Mythology related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculture-based Folk religion.
Meanings behind the title
Megami Tensei translates to "Reincarnation of the Goddess", or more accurately, "Goddess Metempsychosis". Reincarnation Metempsychosis is a philosophical term in the Greek language referring to the belief of Transmigration of the soul, especially its Reincarnation The heroine of the first game was actually an incarnation of the Shinto goddess Izanami. In Japanese mythology, is a Goddess of both creation and death as well as the former wife of the god Izanagi. This story feature does not occur in the other games, despite having the same name, although there are always characters who could be considered to be said Goddess. The first game was based after the novel "Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei" written by Aya Nishitani.
Shin Megami Tensei (真・女神転生) is often translated as "Reincarnation of the True Goddess" the Shin in the case being a pun on the shin (新 "new") used in the titles of many SNES games the same way Super is in English. is a Console role playing game by Atlus that was released on October 30 1992 on several platforms
Majin Tensei (魔神転生) (one of the spinoffs) can be translated as "Reincarnation of the Demon God". is a Tactical role-playing game spin-off series from another Altus series Megami Tensei.
Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei (the Super Famicom remake of the original two MegaTen games) translates to "The Old Testament Resurrection of the Goddess". In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon.
It should be noted that "Reincarnation" is a simplified version of what "Tensei" actually refers to. The Buddhist term that the word refers to is "Rinne", while a satisfactory Western (specifically, Greek) equivalent, "Metempsychosis", has been used in some English-language media. Reincarnation Metempsychosis is a philosophical term in the Greek language referring to the belief of Transmigration of the soul, especially its Reincarnation Both words mean the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation found in some Eastern religions.
Games
List of games by release date
The date (month/day) is the release date of first version of the game. The console names after the first are the consoles the game is later ported to.
Console index: FC = Famicom, SFC = Super Famicom, PCE = PC Engine, MD = Mega Drive, GB = Game Boy, GBA = Game Boy Advance, GG = Game Gear, SS = Sega Saturn, PS = Playstation, PS2 = Playstation 2, PSP = PlayStation Portable, PS3 = PlayStation 3, Xbox = Xbox, VC = Virtual Console, PC98 = PC-9800 series, WIN = Microsoft Windows
1987
- 09/11 : Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (FC, MSX, Mobile phone)
1990
- 04/06 : Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II (FC, Mobile phone)
1992
- 10/30 : Shin Megami Tensei (SFC, PCE, MD, PS, GBA, VC)
- 12/23 : Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible (GB, GBC, GG)
1993
- 11/19 : Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible II (GB, GBC)
1994
- 01/28 : Majin Tensei (SFC, Win2000)
- 03/18 : Shin Megami Tensei II (SFC, PS, GBA)
- 10/28 : Shin Megami Tensei if... (SFC, PS)
1995
- 02/19 : Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis (SFC)
- 03/04 : Last Bible III (SFC)
- 03/04 : Another Bible (GB)
- 03/24 : Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special (GG)
- 03/31 : Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei (SFC)
- 12/25 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (SS, PSP)
1996
- 04/26 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner ~Akuma Compendium~ (SS)
- 09/20 : Megami Ibunroku Persona (PS)
1997
- 04/04 : Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku (PC98, Win 95/98)
- 10/30 : Ronde (SS)
- 11/13 : Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (SS, PS)
- 12/23 : Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Akuma Compendium Second Episode (SS, PS)
1999
- 06/24 : Persona 2: Tsumi (PS)
2000
- 06/29 : Persona 2: Batsu (PS)
- 11/17 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Black Book/Red Book (GB)
2001
- 07/27 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children White Book (GB)
- 07/27 : Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner (GB)
2002
- 03/28 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Chidren Black Book・Red Book (PS)
- 11/25 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Chidren Book of Light/Book of Dark (GBA)
- 12/05 : Shin Megami Tensei: NINE Standalone version (Xbox)
2003
- 02/20 : Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (PS2)
- 07/25 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Chidren Puzzle de Call! (GBA)
- 09/12 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Chidren Fire Book/Ice Book (GBA)
2004
- 01/29 : Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax (PS2)
- 05/26 : Shin Megami Tensei if. The Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated as NES or simply Nintendo) is an 8-bit Video game console that was released by The Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super NES (also called SNES and Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit Video game console that was The, known as TurboGrafx-16 in the USA is a Video game console developed by the Nippon Electric Company (NEC and released in Japan on October The is a 16-bit Video game console released by Sega in Japan in 1988 North America in 1989 and the PAL region in 1990 The is a handheld video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo. The Sega Game Gear is a Handheld game console which was Sega 's response to Nintendo 's Game Boy. The is a 32-bit Video game console that was first released on November 22 1994 in Japan, May 11 1995 in North America The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console The PlayStation Portable (officially abbreviated PSP) is a Handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. Virtual Console, sometimes abbreviated as VC, is a specialized section of the Wii Shop Channel, an online service that allows players to purchase and download The NEC PC-9801 (or the PC-98 for short is a Japanese Microcomputer manufactured by NEC. Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. is the first in the popular Megami Tensei series of RPG games MSX was the name of a standardized Home computer architecture in the 1980s is the sequel to Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei on the Famicom. is a Console role playing game by Atlus that was released on October 30 1992 on several platforms The series is a side-story of Megami Tensei that is told through handheld games The series is a side-story of Megami Tensei that is told through handheld games is a Tactical role-playing game spin-off series from another Altus series Megami Tensei. is a Video game and direct Sequel to Shin Megami Tensei for the Super Famicom released on March 18 1994 in Japan is a Japanese Console role-playing game for the Super Famicom. is a Tactical role-playing game spin-off series from another Altus series Megami Tensei. The series is a side-story of Megami Tensei that is told through handheld games The series is a side-story of Megami Tensei that is told through handheld games The series is a side-story of Megami Tensei that is told through handheld games Revelations Persona, known in Japan as, is the first in a series of role-playing games for PlayStation consoles – one of several Spin-off is a Japanese console RPG that was originally released for the Sega Saturn in 1997 and later released in a slightly enhanced version for the Sony PlayStation in 1999 is a Duology of Console role-playing games for the Sony PlayStation, developed by Atlus. is a Duology of Console role-playing games for the Sony PlayStation, developed by Atlus. is a spin-off from Atlus ' own RPG series Shin Megami Tensei. is a spin-off from Atlus ' own RPG series Shin Megami Tensei. is a spin-off from Atlus ' own RPG series Shin Megami Tensei. is a spin-off from Atlus ' own RPG series Shin Megami Tensei. is a Megami Tensei game released for the Xbox, released only in Japan is a spin-off from Atlus ' own RPG series Shin Megami Tensei. is a spin-off from Atlus ' own RPG series Shin Megami Tensei. . . : Hazama chapter (Mobile phone)
- 07/15 : Digital Devil Saga: Avater Tuner (PS2)
- 08/26 : Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX (Mobile phone)
- 11/04 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Chidren Messiah Riser (GBA)
2005
- 01/27 : Digital Devil Saga: Avater Tuner 2 (PS2)
2006
- 03/02 : Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidou tai Chouriki Heidan (PS2)
- 03/03 : Shin Megami Tensei Pinball: Judgement (Mobile phone)
- 06/01 : Persona 3: The Night Before (WIN)
- 07/13 : Persona 3 (PS2)
- 12/01 : Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikuu no Tou Hen (Mobile phone)
- 12/07 : Digital Devil Saga: Avater Tuner A's TEST Server (Mobile phone)
2007
- 03/30 : Megami Tensei IMAGINE (WinXP)
- 04/19 : Persona 3 FES (PS2)
- 04/27 : Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem (Mobile phone)
- 04/27 : Megami Tensei QIX: Persona 3 (Mobile phone)
- 05/15 : Megami Tensei CHANGING SOUL: Persona 3 (Mobile phone)
- 05/28 : Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX (Mobile phone)
- 07/11 : Majin Tensei blind thinker (Mobile phone)
- 08/30 : Devil Summoner Soul Hackers Intruder (Mobile phone)
2008
- 07/10 : Persona 4 (PS2)
Upcoming
- Shin Megami Tensei DS (working title) (DS)
- Persona (working title) (PSP)
- Shin Megami Tensei series (PS3)
Spin-offs
Numerous sub-series in different genres have been created over the years. is a PlayStation 2 role-playing game. It is a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series of video games the main difference between Digital is a spin-off from Atlus ' own RPG series Shin Megami Tensei. is a direct sequel to the video game Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga, directly continuing the story where it left off is an Action role-playing game in the Megami Tensei franchise published by Atlus for the PlayStation 2 in 2006 is the third Video game in the Persona console RPG series The game was developed and published by Atlus for the Sony PlayStation 2 is a Massively multiplayer online roleplaying game based in the Megami Tensei universe is the third Video game in the Persona console RPG series The game was developed and published by Atlus for the Sony PlayStation 2 Shin Megami Tensei (Working Title is a PlayStation 3 role-playing game They are:
- Devil Summoner
- Persona
- Megami Tensei Gaiden
- Majin Tensei
- Giten Megami Tensei Mokushiroku
- Devil Children
- Digital Devil Saga
- Jack Bros.
Stateside releases
The Megaten series started in 1987 in Japan, but the games' prominent use of religious and occult symbols and themes (content that had long been taboo in the Western videogame industry) prevented them from crossing over to America and Europe until the mid 1990s. is a Video game released for the Virtual Boy console in 1995; its pre-production name was Devil Busters, which was soon changed Persona 2: Innocent Sin was not brought to the West due to its references to Hitler and the Nazis, even though its sister game, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, was translated and released.
| Release date | Console | US title | Japanese title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 10/20 | VB | Jack Bros. | Jack Brothers no Meiro de hiihoo! (ジャック・ブラザースの迷路でヒーホー！) |
| 1996 | PS | Revelations: Persona | Megami Ibunroku Persona (女神異聞録ペルソナ) |
| 1999 | GBC | Revelations: The Demon Slayer | Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible (女神転生外伝 ラストバイブル) |
| 2000 12/22 | PS | Persona2: Eternal Punishment | Persona 2: Batsu (ペルソナ2 罰) |
| 2003 10/6 | GBA | DemiKids: Light Version | Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children Book of Light (真・女神転生デビルチルドレン 光の書) |
| 2003 10/7 | GBA | DemiKids: Dark Version | Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children Book of Dark (真・女神転生デビルチルドレン 闇の書) |
| 2004 10/12 | PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne | Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax (真・女神転生III-NOCTURNE マニアクス) |
| 2005 4/5 | PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga | Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner (デジタル・デビル・サーガ アバタール・チューナー) |
| 2005 10/11 | PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 | Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2 (デジタル・デビル・サーガ アバタール・チューナー2) |
| 2006 10/10 | PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army |
Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidou tai Chouriki Heidan (デビルサマナー 葛葉ライドウ 対 超力兵団) |
| 2007 8/14 | PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: PERSONA 3 | Persona 3 (ペルソナ3) |
| 2008 4/22 | PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: PERSONA 3 FES | Persona 3 FES (ペルソナ3 FES) |
Anime
There have been two anime OVAs and two anime series released based upon Megami Tensei.
- Digital Devil Saga: Megami Tensei
- Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku / Tokyo Revelation
- Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children
- PERSONA -trinity soul-
Other Merchandise
Merchandise such as collectible figurines, manga, tabletop RPG and trading card games based upon the games in the series have also been released. is a Japanese Anime TV series It is the sequel to the PlayStation 2 game Persona 3, taking place ten years after its events
External links
- Atlus USA, Inc.
- Atlus Japan
- Megaten Wiki
- Megami Tensei Gashapon Collections
- Digital Devil Database General Megaten Site
- Hardcore Gaming 101's article on the series a very extensive analysis of most of the games in the series
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