Succubus (Shin Megami Tensei)

For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).

For a more complete entry of this console role playing game, please see the entry at Wikipedia here.

Shin Megami Tensei (真・女神転生) is a console role playing game by Atlus that was released on October 30, 1992 on several platforms. It was originally released on the Super Famicom and was later released on the PC Engine Super CD-Rom and Sega CD. The game was later re-released on the PlayStation and the Game Boy Advance to build hype for the game Shin Megami Tensei III. Shin Megami Tensei is a Megaten game. A direct sequel, Shin Megami Tensei II, was released in 1994 and a second sequel Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne released in 2003.

Spin offs include the Persona, Devil Summoner, and the Digital Devil Saga series.

The SNES Rom of the game was translated by Aeon Genesis Translations in 2002. An official English translation has yet to be released.

The game has been adapted into a 2 episode Original Video Animation, called Tokyo Revelation in 1995 by Sony Music Entertainment and Manga Entertainment.

The series has also been adapted into 9 bound volumes called Shin Megami Tensei: Kahn (真・女神転生 ［ＫＡＨＮ］) and released by Enterbrain, Inc. between February 1998 and September 2009.

Story

The story is set in Tokyo in the year 199X. Demons from the nether-realm of Makai have found their way back to Earth, and as such have upset the balance of power. A charismatic Japanese leader attempts a coup-d'etat using these demons as a potent military force, forcing America to intervene with its military. The player, as the hero, becomes involved when sent a Devil Summoning Program via email which allows him to converse with and recruit demons to fight for him, storing them as digital data on his computer.

In the aftermath of the ensuing destruction, the hero must decide what kind of world should be created on its ruins. Will he side with the angels and create a kingdom of absolute order that would last for a thousand years, or will he side with the demons and bring about an eternal anarchy, or will he choose neither, and destroy everyone who opposes him?

Adaptations

Game

Gameplay

Shin Megami Tensei is a first-person RPG, like many early computer/video game RPGs such as The Bard's Tale. The player navigates through dungeons with a party of six characters. The combat is turn-based.

The game features two types of characters: Humans and Demons. A key facet of gameplay involves collecting demons. The human Hero acquires these demons via negotiation, bribing and coercion. Once acquired, they can be stored in the party's portable computer and summoned for a small amount of money to be used in battle, and a constant feed of Magnetite (a secondary currency in the game) to be maintained outside of combat.

The most notable aspect of the game is that you can combine two or three demons and create a more powerful demon. This system is called "Akuma Gattai" which can be translated as "Demon Fusion." This system was passed on from the first game of the series, Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei.

Demons

There are a wide variety of demons from various mythologies in Shin Megami Tensei; each has its own unique statistics, and a skillset of up to three abilities or spells. These abilities are permanent (unlike the ability system in Shin Megami Tensei II or Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne) and cannot be changed. Also, each demon has unique resistances and weaknesses to certain attacks. As such, strategies revolve around having the right demon summoned for the right job, and keeping the ones too susceptible in the party's computer.

Note that the term "Demon" (akuma) in the Megaten games is a catch-all term; in contrast to the more traditional, malevolent demons, anything from a folktale creature (such as a Pixie) to an ideal Judeo-Christian Angel (such as Michael) is referred to as a demon. This is due to the idea that these mythical creatures will bring harm to human beings in one way or another, ranging from devouring by ghouls to punishment by the heavenly gods.

Alignments

The alignment of a demon is measured by two attributes:

• Light - Neutral - Dark
• Law - Neutral - Chaos

Law

This alignment is associated with God, order and peace. In the game it is represented by the Messian religion, and the colours blue and white. The Law alignment promotes order and safety, but taken to an extreme it leads to dictatorship and elitism. The main goal of the Law factions in the game is to establish the Thousand Year Kingdom, a paradise on Earth ruled over by God. The truth is that only a select few who are judged worthy would be allowed to live in the Thousand Year Kingdom, while everyone else would be killed. Those who do live in the Thousand Year Kingdom would be subject to its strict, absolute laws.

Chaos

The alignment is associated with Lucifer, freedom and war]. In the game it is represented by the Gaian religion, and the colours red and black. This alignment promotes freedom of choice, thought and action above all else in stark contrast to the controlling nature of the Law alignment. However, this freedom can lead to a vast amount of suffering and anarchy, leading the world into a primal state of unsuppressed vice and survival of the fittest. The main goal of the Chaos factions is to crush the Messian forces opposing them and attain complete and total power over Tokyo.

Neutral

Also known as "Balance", this alignment accepts the need for laws to govern the world but not at the cost of personal freedom. It rejects the concept of relying on Lawful or Chaotic powers to focus instead on personal empowerment, individuality and the inherent strength of Mankind. Although the most idealistic alignment, it is also the hardest alignment to attain because of its isolationist nature and requires the person to make enemies of both the Law and Chaos factions, destroying everything to gain everything.

In total, there are nine possible alignments a demon can have:

• Light-Law
• Light-Neutral
• Light-Chaos
• Neutral-Law
• Neutral-Neutral
• Neutral-Chaos
• Dark-Law
• Dark-Neutral
• Dark-Chaos

Human characters also possess alignments. There are certain items that can only be equipped to a character of the correct alignment, and the Messian (Law) or Gaia (Chaos) churches will charge more money if the Hero is of an opposing alignment. Demons will also refuse to join the Hero if his alignment directly opposes theirs.

The alignment of the Hero is determined by a number of factors. During the course of the game he is asked several philosophical questions (e.g.: "Your mother has been possessed by a demon and pleads with you to end her suffering. Do you kill her?"), the answers to which affect his alignment. Summoning demons will alter the Hero's alignment slightly towards the alignment of the demon summoned. Most importantly, the Hero will be given tasks by both the Law and Chaos factions in the game. Completing one of these tasks will heavily alter the Hero's alignment in favour of the respective faction, while completing both will keep him on the Neutral alignment. The alignment of the Hero directly affects the ending of the game.

OVA

Directed by Osamu Yamazaki, the 2 episode OVA adaptation of Shin Megami Tensei, Tokyo Revelation was released, in 1995, by Sony Music Entertainment and licensed in the UK by Manga Entertainmen].

Succubus characters

Succubus as she appears in Persona 3

Succubus from Devil Children

A demon from European folklore during the medieval ages, which takes the form of an attractive female to seduce men. Its male counterpart is the Incubus.

They draw energy from men to sustain themselves, often until the point of exhaustion or death of the victim.

She is a level 37 (rather low level) demon in the game Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne on the Playstation 2.

Stats

• Persona: Succubus
• Base Level: 52
• Strengths: Fire, Dark
• Weaknesses: Light
• Main Skills: Sexy Dance, Agidyne, Fire Break, Mudoon at lvl 54, Ailment Boost at lvl 55, Null Light at lvl 57
• Normal Fusion: Vasuki + Samael, Gabriel + Samael

Appearances

• Shin Megami Tensei: Night Race
• Shin Megami Tensei II: Night Race
• Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne: Night Race

External Links

• Shin Megami Tensei at Wikipedia
• Hardcore Gaming 101's article on the series
• Megami Tensei Wiki A wiki devoted to Shin Megami Tensei games and spin-offs.