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Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner is a role-playing game originally released for the Sega Saturn in 1995, and was later ported to the PSP in 2005. The game was never released outside of Asian regions. It is the first game in the spin-off Devil Summoner series. The original Devil Summoner was the first Megami Tensei title for the Sega Saturn. Abandoning the post-apocalyptic themes of the original series, the story takes place in modern Japan, in the year 199X.

Story[]

The protagonist is a player-named young man who is attacked by demons and saved by the timely appearance of a mysterious demon-hunter named Kyouji. Shortly thereafter, Kyouji is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The protagonist is then trapped inside a warehouse and murdered by Sid Davis, a deranged serial killer and self-made priest. Rather than crossing the river of Styx, the protagonist finds himself in the reanimated body of the slain Kyouji, and escapes from the hospital. With the help of Rei Reiho, Kyouji's assistant detective, the protagonist seeks to save the life of his girlfriend and to stop demons from wreaking havoc.

Characters[]

Party members[]

  • Protagonist: A young man who is killed early on in the game. He possesses the body of Kyouji.
  • Kyouji Kuzunoha: A devil summoner who dies under mysterious circumstances.
  • Rei Reiho: Kyouji's female detective partner.

Supporting characters[]

  • Kumiko Hatano: The protagonist's girlfriend.
  • Charon: Ferryman of the Sanzu River.
  • Marie Kisaragi: A fortune teller who gives Kyouji cases. She takes 95% of the pay.
  • Victor: A half-vampire who runs the Hotel Gouma-Den.
  • Professor Azuma: History professor at Kitayama University.
  • Hideo Momochi: A police inspector that's always suspicious of Kyouji.
  • "T-Shirt" Isono: A police detective that follows Momochi around.
  • Redman: An informant for the protagonist that communicates over DDS-NET.
  • Dr. Thrill: A mad scientist obsessed with creating artificial demons.
  • Madame Ginko: Overseer of the Kuzunoha Clan and an old acquaintance of Kyouji.

Antagonists[]

  • Sid Davis: A dark summoner who kills the protagonist and Kyouji.
  • Takashi: A Yakuza thug turned vampire.
  • Tenzan Tendou: The leader of the Tendou-Gumi.
  • Seichii Yamashiro: Hirasaki councilman at the forefront of the city redevelopment project.
  • Atsushi Nakagome: Chief of Hirasaki police station. He arrested opposers of the city redevelopment project.

Gameplay[]

The gameplay is more or less identical to that of Shin Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei II, with the exception that there is no player alignment or multiple endings, and there is a Loyalty system in place. Each demon has a Loyalty value between 1 and 10. At lower values, the player can merely suggest to demons how to act in battle (which they will follow differently depending on their Personality type), while at higher values the protagonist gets more complete control of their actions. Each demon has a different form of raising Loyalty, which can include participating in battles, being given gifts, or being of a lower level than the main character.

Release[]

Canceled English localization[]

Devil Summoner ENG Official Logo (unreleased)

Logo (Recreated)

In March of 1996 on page 46 of Volume 4 Issue 3 of Gamefan,[1] it was announced by Atlus USA they would be localizing the Sega Saturn release of Devil Summoners for North America and releasing at some time in June of 1996. But for unknown reasons the game did not release in June, the game would later reappear in E3 1996's upcoming games listing[2]. The game as of 2023 has yet to see an official English release and as of 2023 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner is the only game in the Devil Summoner series to never receive an official English localization.

On February 11, 2012, a fan-site named "Digital Devil Database" had an interview[3] with Tomm Hulett,[4] an assistant QA manager and editor at Atlus USA. In the interview, he was asked about the possibility of localizing and releasing the PSP port of Devil Summoners for Western markets. According to Tomm: "there are a number of top-secret reasons Devil Summoner PSP cannot be released in the US. So, sorry to say, it won't be happening. However, I assure you none of those reasons are censorship or content related.".

That was the last time English speaking fans have heard any official statement from Atlus or related employees on an English localization of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner.

Version Differences[]

Differences in the Special Box edition:

  • Several bugs have been fixed (this also applies to the Saturn Collection version).
  • Comes with a second disc called Akuma Zensho, an encyclopedia of the game's demons detailing their stats, Race, personality type, Loyalty type and their mythological background. The information in it would serve as the base for the Demonic Compendium entries in future games.
  • Comes with a mini-disc containing an interview with Cozy Okada and Kazuma Kaneko set to tracks of the game.
  • The manual includes a map of Chinatown and clearer explanations of Loyalty.

Differences in the PSP release compared to the Saturn version:

  • A new title screen featuring art by Kazuma Kaneko.
  • A "Special" option on the title screen to watch the opening movie for the then-upcoming Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha VS the Soulless Army.
  • The option to change the screen size.
  • The addition of the Demonic Compendium to the Gouma-den to purchase registered demons at the cost of Magnetite.
  • A new "Hard" difficulty. On this difficulty, enemies inflict 1.5 times more damage, bosses have twice the HP, Demonic Compendium demons cost twice as more, and the Back-Upper can only be used during a New Moon.
  • The HP and MP costs of most skills were altered. Some were decreased, while others were increased.
  • The option to input names in Roman characters.
  • Slightly polished graphics.
  • Menu interfaces changed into those of Soul Hackers.
  • Demons' status screens now indicate their Loyalty type depending on the color of their Personalities: purple for Greedy, blue for Subordinate and orange for Attachment.
  • Unlimited save files.
  • The Back-Upper item that allows saving anywhere now has infinite uses.
  • Four new bosses in the Astral World based on the Zeeds: David, Enoch, Leviathan and Skoll. Defeating them nets the Death Tally item which halves the costs of the Demonic Compendium.
  • Glitches from the original version have been fixed, but a new one was added: if the player saves their game directly in front of a locked door, then quits the game or shuts down their PSP, the door will be openable upon loading. If it is a one-way door, it will lock again after going through it and going back to the side the player saved at.
  • Four sprites have been censored: Angel (leather straps added, consistent with later design), Waxwork (exposed breast covered), Todomeki (exposed buttocks covered) and Rahu (horn changed to look less phallic).

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • This is the only game in the Devil Summoner series that hasn't received an official release outside Japan.
    • Presently, a fan translation for the PSP version is being worked on by CJ Iwakura.
  • It became the 14th best seller for Sega Saturn in Japan, selling over 350,000 copies on the system.
  • It is the only game in the franchise to have received a television drama adaptation.

External Link[]

References[]


Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
Characters
Playable Protagonist - Kyouji Kuzunoha - Rei Reiho
Non-Playable Redman - Kumiko Hatano - Charon - Mary Kisaragi - Dr. Victor - Hideo Momochi - "T-Shirt" Isono - Professor Azuma - Madame Ginko - Mitsuba Sanpei - Chen Jianmin - Colonel Cooper Smith - Mayor Fujiwara - Dr. Thrill - DB Busters
Antagonists

Takashi - Sid Davis - Atsushi Nakagome - Tenzan Tendou - Seichii Yamashiro - Inaruna
Locations
Asahi Azuma's House - Casa Inui - Hikawa Shrine
Seaside Park Hospital - Public Library - Museum
Mount Kasagi Mount Kasagi - Kitayama University - Chuang Kasagi
Yarai Amusement Park - Yaraiginza - Kuzunoha Detective Agency - Toa TV Station - Radio Tower - Chinatown
Hibari Hills Kumiko's House - Tenzan Tendou's Mansion
Chuo Police Station - New City Hall - Evil Forest - Inaruna's Tomb
Other Fake Astral Plane - Avīci Hell - Sewer - Alien Dimension - River Styx
Archives
Soundtracks Sound File - Special Box Premium Music CD
Terminology Personality - Loyalty - Mystic Change - Alien Dimension - Dolly Kadmon
Lists Demons - Bosses - Skills - Items
Megami Tensei Megami Tensei (Telenet) - Megami Tensei (Atlus) - II - Kyūyaku
Shin Megami Tensei Shin Megami Tensei - II / Gaiden: Ma To Houkai - if... / Hazama's Chapter - J - NINE -
III: Nocturne / Maniax / Chronicle Edition / HD Remaster / Pachislot - 20XX / Devil's Colosseum - IMAGINE - Tokyo Requiem - Strange Journey (Redux) - Devil Hunter Zero - IV / Apocalypse - Devil Collection - Synchronicity Prologue - Liberation Dx2 - V / Vengeance
Last Bible Last Bible - II - Another Bible - III - Special -
New Testament / II: Hajimari no Fukuin / III: Mugen no Eiyuu
Majin Tensei Majin Tensei - II: Spiral Nemesis - Ronde - Blind Thinker / II
Devil Summoner Devil Summoner / Pinball: Judgment - Soul Hackers / Intruder / Soul Hackers New Generation - Soul Hackers 2
Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Persona Megami Ibunroku Persona (PSP Remake) / Ikū no Tō Hen -
2: Innocent Sin / Eternal Punishment / Lost Memories / Infinity Mask -
3 (FES* / Portable* / Reload) / Dancing in Moonlight
4 (Golden*) / Arena / Ultimax / Dancing All Night
5 (Royal*) / Dancing in Starlight / Strikers / Tactica
Q: Shadow of the Labryinth - Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
Devil Children Black Book / Red Book - White Book - DemiKids Light / Dark - Fire Book / Ice Book -
Messiah Riser - Puzzle de Call! - Appli de Call! - Devil Children Mobile
Digital Devil Saga Avatar Tuner - 2 - A's TEST Server
Devil Survivor Devil Survivor (Overclocked) - 2 (Record Breaker) / The Extra World
Jack Series Jack Bros. - Demonic Help Party
Other games Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku - Card Summoner - Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE - Maken X - Catherine / Full Body - Metaphor: ReFantazio
Digital Devil Story (Novels) Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei - 2: Warrior of the Demon City - 3: Demise of the Reincarnation
New Digital Devil Story New Digital Devil Story: Goddess of Enchainment - 2: Queen of the Ice Fields - 3: Planet of the Devil - 4: Wrath of the Young Emperor - 5: Eternal Goddess - 6: Bonds of Reincarnation
Other Novels Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidou tai Shibito Ekishi - Giten Megami Tensei: Distant Flow ~EXILE~ - Megami Ibunroku Persona: Shadow Maze - Persona 3: Shadow Cry / Owari no Kakera / Alternative Heart / Velvet Blue - Persona x Detective Naoto - Quantum Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner - Devil Survivor 2 The Animation: Cetus's Prequel
Anime Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei - Tokyo Revelation - Persona -trinity soul- - Persona 3 The Movie - Persona 4 The Animation / -The Factor of Hope- / The Golden Animation - Persona 5 The Animation The Day Breakers - Persona 5 The Animation - DeviChil - D-Children: Light & Dark - Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
Manga Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation - if... / Kahn - IV: DEMONIC GENE / -Prayers- - Gaiten: Hato no Senki - EDEN - CG Senki: Dante no Mon - Majin Tensei - Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Lone Marebito - Megami Ibunroku Persona - Persona: Tsumi to Batsu - Persona 3 / Portable Dengeki Comic Anthology / Portable Dear Girls Comic Anthology - Persona 4 / The Magician - Arena / Arena Ultimax / Dancing All Night - PQ: -Roundabout- / Side:P3 / Side:P4 - Tartarus Theater - Persona 5 / Dengeki Comic Anthology / Comic à La Carte / Comic Anthology (DNA Media Comics) / the Animation Dengeki Comic Anthology / Mementos Mission - Q2: Persona Q2: Roundabout Special - Devil Children / Light & Dark - Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner: Shinen no Matou - Devil Survivor - 2: -Show Your Free Will- / The Animation Manga
Mobile Apps The Night Before - QIX - Chaining Soul - Aegis: The First Mission - Em - Illust Puzzle - Escape - Social - Ain Soph - Mobile Online - The Card Battle - Colors - Persona O.A. - Persona 5: The Phantom X - Mobile Phone Demon Collection - Atlus Casino - Devil Summoning Program - Digital Novel
Other The Amala Multiverse - Earth - Expanse - Great Will
Protagonists - Mascots - Navigators - Birthdays
Patches and Updates - In popular culture - Jungian psychology - Arcana
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