Nintendo came forward with two big announcements at the end of its Mini Direct, both of which were about the Shin Megami Tensei RPG series. Not only will players get a remake of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne in the near future, but Shin Megami Tensei 5 is finally scheduled for a release window.
However, while these announcements are cause for celebration for fans of the franchise, it isn't as well known outside of Japan as some other JRPGs. For those Nintendo fans interested in learning more before the remake and the new entry arrive, here is a brief history of Shin Megami Tensei.
The Premise of the Series
Shin Megami Tensei, also known as Megami Tensei in Japan, is a series with a rich history. It made its premiere in 1987 with Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei for PC and NES. This game was based on a series of novels of the same name by Aya Nishitani, which inspired the name of the series, although developer Atlus chose to tell its own stories beyond the 1990 sequel to Digital Devil Story. These games established many iconic gameplay features that remained in later SMT games, such as turn-based battles, negotiating with enemies, and battling demons with the help of one's own demon allies.
Most entries in the SMT franchise have plots unrelated to one another, meaning new players can jump into the series wherever they so choose. Instead of carrying an interconnected story, the games focus on carrying over similar elements of setting and gameplay. Alongside the aforementioned details, the game often takes place in a post-apocalyptic urban setting, usually related to a demonic incursion on Earth. The game's enemies and lore are also often inspired by elements of real-life religion, mythology, and other elements of culture. These sources of inspiration, along with dark and violent themes in many of the games, make Shin Megami Tensei a little controversial.
Spinoffs and the Future
Shin Megami Tensei games have seen a lot of experimentation in the history of the franchise. For instance, there were two attempts at an MMORPG based on SMT. Shin Megami Tensei: Nine began as an MMO, but was later split up into single player and multiplayer components. Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine arrived a few years later as a dedicated MMO. Another very different but very successful spinoff comes in the form of a crossover with Fire Emblem, known as Tokyo Mirage Session #FE. However, the earliest SMT spinoff, introducing the theme of high schoolers battling demons, spawned a whole spinoff series: Persona.
Some people that are unfamiliar with Shin Megami Tensei might know the Persona series, which has seen overwhelming global success in recent years, especially thanks to the critically acclaimed Persona 5 and its expanded edition Persona 5 Royal. The Persona series started in 1996, each game telling a story about high schoolers battling supernatural creatures with the help of avatars of their hearts and minds called Personas. The Persona games also have unconnected plots and take heavy inspiration from international culture and religion.
Shin Megami Tensei has a bit of a history for notable gaps between the games. The original Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne only appeared nine years after the previous entry in the series. Fans have known Shin Megami Tensei V was coming since 2017, alongside the reveal of the Nintendo Switch. Little news on the game was making the community worried that the game was stuck in development, but they needn't worry anymore. SMT V sounds like it's nearing completion, and will release worldwide next year. That's a noteworthy choice for a franchise that traditionally releases in Japan months before appearing internationally. All things considered, the next entry in the series looks well poised to take the world by storm.
Shin Megami Tensei 5Â will release for Nintendo Switch in 2021.
