Despite international fans after two decades still waiting for an official release of Shin Megami Tensei I and II on any console, ATLUS USA have ploughed ahead and announced their plans to release Shin Megami Tensei IV on the Nintendo 3DS. The game is set to feature powerful new demons, expansive dungeons, epic story arcs with branching plot lines, game-altering decision making, and more…. the staples of any good Megami Tensei game.
Building on the styles of ATLUS’ Persona, Devil Summoner, and Devil Survivor titles, SMTIV is the first true successor to 2004’s Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (Aka. Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer’s Call / Shin Megami Tensei III). The story of SMTIV revolves around the Samurai, the sacred protectors of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. As a newly appointed Samurai, players will struggle with factions that have nefarious designs on the world as they defend their home kingdom from a growing army of demons. Decisions players make throughout the course of the story will have lasting repercussions, as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Some of the promoted features of this release include:
- A World to Discover, A Mystery to Uncover – The life of a Samurai is fraught with peril. Players must leave the safety of the kingdom in order to defend it from the invading demons. There the story unfolds as they become involved in a fierce battle between God and demons.
- Demon Collection and Fusion – The core mechanic of the Shin Megami Tensei series returns with more than 400 demons to recruit, collect, and fuse together. Players will constantly be challenged with balancing the strengths of their demons to ultimately excel in battle.
- Choices and Consequences – Throughout the player’s journey, they must choose their own path. The choices will affect them, other NPCs, and the overall outcome of the story. Branching story paths require careful consideration since the fates of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado and the rest of the world hang in the balance.
- Pressing the Combat Advantage – The Press Turn system requires strategic thinking for every battle. Pinpointing an enemy’s weakness will provide a vital extra turn for players to exploit. But there are dangers as well…reckless attacks against demons cause players to lose their turns and give the enemy an opening to strike back.
After a brief jump to the Playstation consoles with the last numbered instalment, Shin Megami Tensei is returning to the Nintendo platform (At least first off) and rather than release it on a home video game console ATLUS chose to release it on the Nintendo 3DS. The game is set for release this Summer gaming season.
Naoto Hiraoka | President and Chief Executive Officer of Index Digital Media, Inc.
The return of the legendary Shin Megami Tensei series is one of the biggest milestones yet for ATLUS and the 3DS. Since this is the first title from the original SMT series in a decade, we tapped the best developers from many of ATLUS’ acclaimed projects includingNocturne, Strange Journey, Persona, and Soul Hackers to create a premium experience that lives up to our fans’ and our own expectations.
