GamerNode: Reviews - Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Surv...
• Nintendo DS
• Atlus
• Atlus Co.
• June 23rd, 2009

RPGs are tricky subject matter. If you can't get together an intriguing cast of characters, solid gameplay that rewards your grinding, and a great storyline that should keep you playing, then they become throwaways that are little more than copies of games that came before them (and usually did better jobs). Having been a big fan of the MegaTen games for years now, I can usually count on the franchise to deliver on all counts, even when it seems that the rest of the RPG world is going down the tubes (I'm looking at you, Black Sigil!). The release of Devil Survivor, the latest entry into the series fails to disappoint as well, receiving my own personal honor of being one of the most entertaining handheld adventures I've ever had the pleasure of playing. These days, when it's increasingly difficult to find a game to stick with, that's saying a lot.  

Set in gorgeous Tokyo, Devil Survivor (conveniently given a "DS" title) revolves around the story of three friends, one mysterious cousin, and the characters they meet along the way. What begins as a leisurely hangout for Yuzu, Atsuro, and the unnamed protagonist slowly degenerates into a darker reality. The three, along with the rest of the city, become trapped in a circle within the city after being gifted three mysterious devices by Atsuro's cousin. The devices just happen to mirror a DS Lite or DSi, and are affectionately known as COMPs. The COMPs begin delivering chilling mail to the trio of children foretelling disasters that will happen across the area. When the harrowing disasters come to fruition, the kids realize that something deeper is going on than just scary coincidences. They learn that these mysterious COMPs can be used for things other than simply email, internet, and communication: they can summon demons. As the clock begins to tick for the kids (literally -- death clocks appear over their heads), they must race to unlock the demons' full potential in order to save the city that's being conveniently barracaded by the government, themselves, and possibly even the world.  

Because you get a lovin' spoonful of plotlines before you're ever introduced to the battle system or any other aspects of the game, Devil Survivor hooks you and doesnt let you go. With a tone similar to The World Ends With You (many of the same ideas and locations), it's hard not to get sucked into this tale of demons, the occult, and strange goings-on within an area modeled after a real location. I have been riveted to the edge of my seat, playing much longer than I should have and obsessively attempting to uncover more secrets even though there were hurdles such as bosses I couldn't defeat staring me in the face.  

Devil Survivor is at its core a strategy RPG sans the frills of Disgaea and the flowery language of Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume. The story takes center stage here so the battle system (though polished) can take a back seat. Unlike traditional RPGs, there is no overworld to wander around. Instead, you'll move from place to place through a series of straightforward menus. Locations on the map are marked with the familiar MegaTen "mover" and each new area to explore is clearly marked with a battle warning, free battle opportunity, or simply a place where you can advance the story. This greatly reduces the lull in gameplay by having to wander around aimlessly and effortlessly streamlines the game for those who like their demonic chaos a bit more organized. However, because there is no real exploration to be done in the traditional sense, you'll want to load up on free battles in order to level up sufficiently.

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