History VideoGame / DevilSummoner

''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'' is a turn-based RPG originally released for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn on December 20, 1995, and the first game in the ''Devil Summoner'' sub-series. In fact, it was the first game from the entire [[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei Megami Tensei]] franchise to be released for the Saturn, and it has been re-released several times since then, with the first being for the UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable on December 20, 2005, and the latest one being for the Japanese-based Playstation Network in 2010. A live-action [=TV=] adaptation was aired in Japan in the early 2000s with 25 episodes, being initially based loosely on the game, but diverging halfway through with some original stuff thrown in that makes it a bit different from the original source in the second season.

As of 2021, there's an attempt to [[https://iwakuraproductions.wordpress.com/2021/01/27/shin-megami-tensei-devil-summoner-fan-translation-preview-colons/ get the game an English fan translation]].

* BonusBoss:
** P. Gargantua, Gargantua, Gargantua Q, Gargantua X, & Gargantua 8. They all drop a Dolly Kadmon on defeat, which is used to create Hero race demons.
** Hokuto Seikun & Lord Nan Dou.
** Enoch, Leviathan, David, & Squall in the PSP version.

* MythologyGag: Gotou and Thorman from ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'' are mentioned in news reports throughout the game. This time, Gotou was arrested by [=JGSDF=] military police officers for attempting to create an arsenal of small arms from the [=JGSDF=] in order to launch a revolt. The police don't know if he needs psychiatric attention since Gotou's fellow [=JGSDF=] officers mentioned in the news that he was acting very unusual prior to his arrest. Meanwhile, Thorman died of a heart attack and was noted for fostering good relations between Japan and the US.

* MythologyGag: Gotou and Thorman from the first ''[[{{VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI}} Shin Megami Tensei]]'' game are mentioned in news reports throughout the game. This time, Gotou was arrested by [=JGSDF=] military police officers for attempting to create an arsenal of small arms from the [=JGSDF=] in order to launch a revolt. The police don't know if he needs psychiatric attention since Gotou's fellow [=JGSDF=] officers mentioned in the news that he was acting very unusual prior to his arrest. Meanwhile, Thorman died of a heart attack and was noted for fostering good relations between Japan and the US.

* SmallRoleBigImpact: Thormann and Gotou from the first ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' game are only mentioned in news reports as now being out of commission. The impact on this particular Megaten timeline is ''huge'' however, as the two can no longer rally the various forces of law and chaos to trigger the apocalypse that leads to the events of the first and second mainline ''SMT'' games. It also shows what ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' meant by the events of the first ''SMT'' not happening, and the game's protagonist Tamaki as well as Kyouji would later go on to star in the massive ''Persona'' spin off franchise. The events of ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' would further give context on the timeline shift.

* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Devil Summoner introduces the more familiar designs for almost all returning demons along with being the first game that introduced Kazuma Kaneko's more [[ArtEvolution iconic style]], but several demons have different color schemes or slight differences in their designs compared to future games (like Slime, Moh Shuuvu, and Succubus). Handful of other demons (like Pixie) have completely unique different designs unique to this game. Soul Hackers would introduce most demon's well known color schemes while still having a few [[YouDontLookLikeYou unique designs exclusive to it that fits with that game's Cyberpunk theming]]. ''[[{{VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne}} Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne]]'' introduces the standard design for these demons, which appear in all future mainline games along with ''{{Franchise/Persona}}'' (with a handful of exceptions).

For now, the game is the only one in the ''Devil Summoner'' franchise to not have an official release outside of Asia. Atlus did attempt to promote the game for an international release at one point, but they later decided to stop promoting it outside of Japan. However, there is an attempt to get a fan translation for the Sega Saturn and/or the Playstation Portable. There's also a novel adaptation known as ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Sealed Soul''. A novel side story ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Side Story - Lamentations of a Requiem'' centers on Inaruna's past.

** In the novel ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Sealed Soul'', the protagonist work with a demon known as Cerberus.

''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'' is a turn-based RPG originally released for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn on December 20, 1995, and the first game in the ''Devil Summoner'' sub-series. In fact, it was the first game from the entire ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei Megami Tensei'' franchise to be released for the Saturn, and it has been re-released several times since then, with the first being for the UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable on December 20, 2005, and the latest one being for the Japanese-based Playstation Network in 2010. A live-action [=TV=] adaptation was aired in Japan in the early 2000s with 25 episodes, being initially based loosely on the game, but diverging halfway through with some original stuff thrown in that makes it a bit different from the original source in the second season.

''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'' is a turn-based RPG originally released for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn on December 20, 1995, and the first game in the ''Devil Summoner'' sub-series. In fact, it was the first game from the entire ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' franchise to be released for the Saturn, and it has been re-released several times since then, with the first being for the UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable on December 20, 2005, and the latest one being for the Japanese-based Playstation Network in 2010. A live-action [=TV=] adaptation was aired in Japan in the early 2000s with 25 episodes, being initially based loosely on the game, but diverging halfway through with some original stuff thrown in that makes it a bit different from the original source in the second season.

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Kyouji himself]] turns out to be one, considering that [[spoiler:he tried exploiting your death]] and all.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Even though the new Kyouji and Rei defeated Inaruna and Sid to save Hirasaki City from a disaster, the former noted that he can't return to his original body since he's stuck in Kyouji's body forever. The "other" Kyouji has to jump from body to body in order to survive.]]

* EscapedFromHell: [[spoiler:The protagonist]] pulls this off after [[spoiler:Kyouji betrays and sends them to Avici]].
* GodInHumanForm: [[spoiler: One of the antagonists, Seichii Yamashiro, who's true form is [[GodIsEvil the Demiurge]]. Thorman also counts, as he is Thor's human guise, although that's revealed in [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI a different game]].]]

* {{Psychopomp}}: Charon, a recurring one in Shin Megami Tensei games. He is also the one who resurrects the protagonist, although in Kyuoji's body.

* SinisterMinister: As an example in this game we have Sid Davis, a SerialKiller and OmnicidalManiac who is ''Devil Summoner's'' BigBad, although he's probably only a self styled priest, not a real one. [[spoiler: He does though work with the [[GodIsEvil Demiurge]], who was revealed in [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI later]] [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV games]] as part of [[GodIsEvil YHVH]].]]

* TragicVillain: [[spoiler: Princess Inaruna who had to watch her civilization destroyed, most of its population murdered and after that, being executed. Inaruna's hate for herself and her country' murderers -- Yamato (proto-Japan), warped her into an apocalyptically powerful evil spirit. After her defeat, Inaruna even thanks the hero, for being finally freed of her pain and hatred.]]

* UrbanFantasy: Is one set in modern times away from the mainstream ''Megami Tensei'' games, next to the Persona games.
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler: Inaruna, if resurrected, will destroy the world, and she is as she is for the reasons listed above in TragicVillain[=/=]TragicMonster.]]
* {{Yakuza}}: A minor enemy in league with Sid.

For now, the game is the only one in the ''Devil Summoner'' franchise to not have an official release outside of Asia. Atlus did attempt to promote the game for an international release at one point, but they later decided to stop promoting it outside of Japan. However, there is an attempt to get a fan translation for the Sega Saturn and/or the Playstation Portable. There's also a novel adaptation known as ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Sealed Soul''.

For now, the game is the only one in the ''Devil Summoner'' franchise to not have an official release outside of Asia. Atlus did attempt to promote the game for an international release at one point, but they later decided to stop promoting it outside of Japan. However, there is an attempt to get a fan translation for the Sega Saturn and/or the Playstation Portable.

* BonusBoss: P. Gargantua, Gargantua, Gargantua Q, Gargantua X, & Gargantua 8. They all drop a Dolly Kadmon on defeat, which is used to create Hero race demons.

** [[spoiler: GodIsEvil]]

* Myth/MesopotamianMythology: While as ever the game contains demons from various mythologies, characters from the civilisation of Qin, are named after Sumerian gods, as elaborated more in the prequel novel ''Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner Gaiden: Requiem of Lamentations'' [[spoiler: detailing the past of the FinalBoss Inaruna]]. Inaruna is an intentional misspelling of Inanna, her mother was named Anu, after the Sky God of Sumerians, her suitor Enki, and a hunter who helped Inaruna is named Dumuzi.

* SinisterMinister: As an example in this game we have Sid Davis, a SerialKiller and OmnicidalManiac who is ''Devil Summoner's'' BigBad, although he's probably only a self styled priest, not a real one. [[spoiler: He does though work with the [[GodIsEvil Demiurge]], who was revealed in [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei later]] [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV games]] as part of [[GodIsEvil YHVH]].]]

* TragicVillain[=/=]TragicMonster: [[spoiler: Princess Inaruna who had to watch her civilization destroyed, most of its population murdered and after that, being executed. Inaruna's hate for herself and her country' murderers -- Yamato (proto-Japan), warped her into an apocalyptically powerful evil spirit. After her defeat, Inaruna even thanks the hero, for being finally freed of her pain and hatred.]]