Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor DS Review
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a tactical role-playing video game in the Megami Tensei series developed by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan on January 15, 2009, and in North America on June 23, 2009. An enhanced port for the Nintendo 3DS, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked, was also developed by Atlus and released in 2011 for Japan and North America while in 2013 for Europe.
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Devil Survivor is set in modern-day Tokyo and follows a 17-year-old student and his friends, who see an outbreak of demons with some of them becoming their allies. The Protagonist also finds he has the ability to see a person's remaining lifespan and decides to work to avoid as many deaths as possible.
Devil Survivor is a tactical role-playing video game where the player and computer control a number of squads composed of one leader and two supporting characters. Between combat, the player can explore several districts in Tokyo to either advance the plot by speaking to specific characters, discover new information, or take part in "free battles". The narrative can branch in multiple ways that result in different endings, which depend upon the player's decisions during critical moments throughout the story.
Story and Setting
The game begins with the protagonist receiving an email from his cousin Naoya that contains three modified Nintendo DS units called COMPs. He meets up with his friends Atsuro Kihara and Yuzu Tanikawa at Shibuya to pick up the devices. However, they soon find themselves trapped in Tokyo by a lockdown imposed by the government's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) due to a sudden demon invasion.
The COMPs allow them to summon and control demons using a program called Demon Summoning Program. They also receive mysterious emails from a website called Laplace Mail that foretell their deaths and other events. They decide to use their COMPs to survive the lockdown and find out the truth behind it.
Along the way, they encounter other characters who have different agendas and perspectives on the situation. Some of them are allies who can join their party, while others are enemies who can hinder their progress. The game features multiple routes and endings based on the player's choices and actions.
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The game explores themes such as morality, free will, fate, religion, and human nature. It also references various mythologies and folklore from different cultures.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Combat System
The game combines tactical role-playing and first-person RPG elements in its combat system. The player controls up to four squads of three characters each on a grid-based map. Each squad consists of one human leader and two supporting demons. The human leader can equip different skills and items, while the demons can be customized through fusion.
The battles are turn-based, with each squad having a certain number of movement points (MP) and action points (AP) per turn. The player can move their squads around the map within their MP range and engage enemy squads within their AP range. When two squads clash, the game switches to a first-person view where each character can perform one action per turn. The actions include attacking, defending, using skills, or escaping. The skills can be physical, magical, or passive, and have different effects and costs. The combat is influenced by several factors, such as the alignment of the characters (law, chaos, or neutral), the phases of the moon (full, new, or crescent), and the racial compatibility of the demons (such as dragon, fairy, or beast).
The player can also use a feature called "Extra Turn", which allows them to gain an additional turn if they exploit an enemy's weakness or land a critical hit. However, the same applies to the enemy as well. The player can also lose their turn if they miss an attack or hit an enemy's resistance.
The battles are won by either defeating all enemy squads or fulfilling certain conditions, such as reaching a specific location or protecting a character. The battles are lost by either having all player squads defeated or failing to meet certain conditions.
After each battle, the player receives experience points (EXP), money (Macca), and items. The human characters can level up and increase their stats and skills, while the demons can evolve and learn new skills. The player can also acquire new demons by either negotiating with them during battle or fusing them at the Cathedral of Shadows.
Exploration and Choices
The game has a non-linear structure that allows the player to explore different districts in Tokyo and interact with various characters and events. The game is divided into seven days, each with a fixed amount of time. The player can choose how to spend their time by selecting different locations and activities on the map.
Some locations and activities are mandatory for advancing the plot, while others are optional and can affect the outcome of the story. The player can also receive emails from Laplace Mail that give hints about future events and deaths. The player can try to prevent these deaths by taking certain actions or making certain choices.
The game features multiple branching paths and endings that depend on the player's choices and actions throughout the game. The choices include dialogue options, moral dilemmas, alliances, and battles. The game also has several hidden routes and endings that require specific conditions to be met.
Graphics and Sound
The game has a 2D pixel art style for its graphics, with some 3D effects for the backgrounds and animations. The game features colorful and detailed sprites for the characters and demons, as well as dynamic lighting and shadows for the environments. The game also has some anime-style cutscenes for some key moments in the story.
The game's character design was done by Suzuhito Yasuda, who is known for his work on Durarara!! and Yozakura Quartet. The game's demon design was done by Kazuma Kaneko, who is the main artist of the Megami Tensei series. The game features over 130 different demons from various mythologies and folklore.
The game's music was composed by Takami Asano, who is a former member of the band Godiego. The game's soundtrack consists of rock, electronic, and orchestral tracks that match the mood and atmosphere of the game. The game also has some vocal songs for the opening and ending themes.
The game does not have any voice acting for its characters, except for some grunts and shouts during battle. The game's sound effects are mostly realistic and fitting for the game's setting.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The game has an engaging and immersive story that explores various themes and moral questions.
The game has a challenging and strategic gameplay that combines tactical role-playing and first-person RPG elements.
The game has a high replay value due to its multiple routes and endings that depend on the player's choices and actions.
The game has a colorful and detailed graphics style that suits the game's genre and setting.
The game has a catchy and varied soundtrack that enhances the game's mood and atmosphere.
Cons
The game has a clunky and outdated interface that makes it hard to navigate and manage the menus and options.
The game has a repetitive and tedious gameplay that can become boring after a while due to the lack of variety in the battles and activities.
The game does not have any voice acting for its characters, which makes it less immersive and expressive.
The game has some technical issues such as long loading times, frequent crashes, and glitches.
The game has some difficulty spikes that can make it frustrating and unfair for some players.
Conclusion and Rating
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a tactical role-playing video game that offers a unique and captivating experience for fans of the genre and the series. The game has a rich and complex story that explores various themes and moral questions, as well as a challenging and strategic gameplay that combines tactical role-playing and first-person RPG elements. The game also has a high replay value due to its multiple routes and endings that depend on the player's choices and actions. The game has a colorful and detailed graphics style that suits the game's genre and setting, as well as a catchy and varied soundtrack that enhances the game's mood and atmosphere.
However, the game also has some flaws that can detract from its enjoyment. The game has a clunky and outdated interface that makes it hard to navigate and manage the menus and options, as well as a repetitive and tedious gameplay that can become boring after a while due to the lack of variety in the battles and activities. The game does not have any voice acting for its characters, which makes it less immersive and expressive, as well as some technical issues such as long loading times, frequent crashes, and glitches. The game also has some difficulty spikes that can make it frustrating and unfair for some players.
Overall, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a great game that deserves a try from anyone who likes tactical role-playing games or the Megami Tensei series. The game has a lot of depth and content that can keep the player hooked for hours, as well as a lot of choices and consequences that can make the player think and feel. The game has some drawbacks that can affect its quality and appeal, but they are not enough to overshadow its strengths and merits.
I would rate this game 4 out of 5 stars.
FAQs
Q: How long is Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor?
A: The game's length depends on the player's pace and choices, but it can take anywhere from 20 to 40 hours to complete one route. The game has multiple routes and endings, so the total playtime can vary greatly.
Q: How do I get the best ending in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor?
A: The game does not have a definitive best ending, as each ending has its own pros and cons. However, some endings are generally considered better than others by most players. To get these endings, the player needs to follow certain paths and make certain choices throughout the game. Some of these endings are hidden and require specific conditions to be met.
Q: How do I fuse demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor?
A: The player can fuse demons at the Cathedral of Shadows, which is accessible from the map menu. The player can select two demons to fuse together to create a new demon. The new demon inherits some skills and stats from its parents, as well as its race and level. The player can also use special items or passwords to create rare or powerful demons.
Q: How do I unlock new skills in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor?
A: The player can unlock new skills by leveling up their human characters or their demons. Each character has a skill pool that contains a number of skills that they can learn. The player can select one skill to learn per level up. The player can also use skill cracks to steal skills from enemy leaders during battle.
Q: How do I save my progress in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor?
A: The player can save their progress at any time from the map menu. The player can also use quick save to temporarily save their progress during battle or dialogue. However, quick save is erased when the player resumes or loads their game.
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