Shin Megami Tensei (1992) 真・女神転生
Date: October 30, 1992
Platform: Game Boy Advance / Super Nintendo Entertainment System / PlayStation / Sega CD / TurboGrafx-CD / Wii Shop / iPhone / Android / Wii U / Nintendo Switch
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Genre: Role-Playing
Theme: Post-Apocalyptic
Franchises: Megami Tensei / Shin Megami Tensei / Persona / 52 Games
Also known as: SMT / Persona
Adaptation: Cameo
Summary:
A long running series of JRPGs published by Atlus, almost all featuring unrelated stories and characters, but sharing common themes, chief among them being interaction with demons through fighting, diplomacy, control, and cooperation. Shin Megami Tensei is a sub series of the Megami Tensei franchise in Japan. In Japan this does not include Digital Devil Saga, Devil Summoner, or Persona. But in North America, Shin Megami Tensei covers all MegaTen releases.
In translation, Shin Megami Tensei literally means “True Goddess Metempsychosis.” Philosophical jargon, “metempsychosis” refers to the unending process of birth, death, and rebirth, which is prevalent in Buddhist thought and this belief is featured quite heavily in the story line of many SMT games. Although that is the literal meaning, the meaning understood by western fans of the franchise is “The Resurrection of the Goddess”. The title is taken from the original game in the Megami Tensei franchise, Digital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei; a game in which one of the primary characters, Yumiko Shirasagi, is the reincarnation or rebirth of the goddess Izanami in human form. The original Shin Megami Tensei was the third in the Megami Tensei series, following the Famicom releases of the original Megami Tensei and Digital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei II. Shin Megami Tensei first appeared on the Super Famicom in 1992. The game was followed by two more Super Famicom releases; a sequel, Shin Megami Tensei II, and a spin-off, Shin Megami Tensei: if…. All three entries were later remade for other platforms.
In 2001, Atlus released the first two Shin Megami Tensei titles on the PlayStation with a number of enhancements. The remakes introduced a “Normal” mode that reduced the difficulty for both games, while the “Expert” mode retained the original difficulty. Special FMV cinemas were included as well. The GBA remakes released in 2003 produced identical graphics to those of the PlayStation remakes, but eliminated the new difficulty level, the FMVs, and the 3D wall scrolling effect. In turn, the GBA remakes received a new Options mode that let players customize the auto-battle AI, message speed and color display. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne was released in 2003 in Japan. Nocturne surprised audiences by taking advantage of the PlayStation 2 and sticking to the classic elements of SMT’s storytelling. It is also the first entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series that saw an official release in North America and Europe. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, released on the Nintendo DS in North America in 2010, is, like if…, a spin-off of the series, and moves the action from the traditional setting of Tokyo to a demon-infested dimensional rift in Antarctica. On May 30th, 2012, Atlus announced Shin Megami Tensei IV for the 3DS; the latest primary entry in the series.
Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/shin-megami-tensei/3025-711/
DemiKids: Light/Dark Version (2006) 真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン 光の書
Date: October 6, 2003
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Developer: Multimedia Intelligence Transfer Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Atlus / Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Genre: Role-Playing
Theme: Anime
Franchises: Megami Tensei / Devil Children
Also known as: Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children - Hikaru no Sho
Adaptation: Cameo
Summary:
DemiKids Dark Version is part of a duology with DemiKids Light Version, developed by Multimedia Intelligence Transfer. The two games together make up a second generation of Devil Children games. Unlike many other multi-version games, there are a large number of changes between Dark Version and Light Version. The DemiKids games were also the first to receive a Shin Megami Tensei banner in North America.
Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/demikids-light-version/3030-15485/
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Date: June 24, 1999
Platform: PlayStation
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Genre: Role-Playing
Theme: Horror / Fantasy / Crime / Anime
Franchises: Persona / Megami Tensei / Shin Megami Tensei / Persona 2
Adaptation: Cameo
Summary:
Persona 2: Innocent Sin is the second game in Atlus's Persona series and the first game in the Persona 2 miniseries. It comprises the first half of the Persona 2 story arc, which is concluded in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. A remake of Innocent Sin was released for the PSP and features a new animated opening as well as many gameplay and graphical changes, similar to the previous Persona PSP remake. While Innocent Sin itself has not been released outside of Japan, the PSP remake was released in North America on September 20th, 2011.
Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/persona-2-innocent-sin/3030-3755/
Persona 5 (2016)
Date: September 15, 2016
Platform: PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Network (PS3) / PlayStation 4
Developer: P Studio
Publisher: Atlus / Atlus U.S.A., Inc. / Deep Silver
Genre: Role-Playing
Theme: Fantasy / Anime
Franchises: Persona / Megami Tensei / Shin Megami Tensei / Persona 5
Alao known as: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 5 / P5
Adaptation: Cameo
Summary:
Persona 5 is the sixth mainline entry in Atlus's long running Persona role-playing franchise, which itself is a sub-series of Shin Megami Tensei. Like its predecessors, it combines elements of turn-based, dungeon-crawling role-playing games with simulation-style visual novels, now rendered in high-definition, cel-shaded 3D for the first time.
The game was officially revealed during a live stream on November 24, 2013 and was initially announced with a target release window of winter 2014 for the PlayStation 3. Series director and producer Katsura Hashino stated that he wanted to "add things that are being expected of the series" as well as "change things that can be changed within those boundaries."
After several delays, the game was finally given a firm September 15, 2016 release date for Japan along with a April 7, 2017 date for worldwide release. Persona 5 was developed by Studio P and published by Atlus for both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
A remastered title, Persona 5 Royal, was released in October 31, 2019 with new and updated features.
