History VideoGame / DevilSurvivor

'''Devil Survivor''' is a StrategyRPG game in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' {{Spinoff}} ''Megami Ibunroku''/"Alternate Tales of the Goddess" series, developed by {{Atlus}} and released in 2009.

'''Devil Survivor''' is a StrategyRPG game in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' {{Spinoff}} ''Megami Ibunroku'' (''"Alternate Tale of the Goddess"'') series developed by {{Atlus}} and released in 2009.

'''Devil Survivor''' is a StrategyRPG game in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' {{Spinoff}} ''Megami Ibunroku'' series developed by {{Atlus}} and released in 2009.

'''Devil Survivor''' is a StrategyRPG game in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' {{Spinoff}} ''Megami Ibunrothku'' series developed by {{Atlus}} and released in 2009.

Devil Survivor'' is a StrategyRPG game in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' {{Spinoff}} ''Megami Ibunrothku'' series developed by {{Atlus}} and released in 2009.

''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei: Devil Survivor'' (the Japanese title uses ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}''[='s=] ''Megami Ibunroku'' overtitle instead of [=SMT=]) is a StrategyRPG game by {{Atlus}}, released in 2009.

* DroneJam - You can walk through friendly characters, but not enemies. Same applies to enemies; in fact, this is how you [[spoiler:keep Kudlak from escaping battle (unless you have a demon with Bind or Constrict)]] on Day 5.

* GetBackHereBoss: Kudlak. The guy has a fairy decent move range on a relatively small map, and he'll make a beeline for escape panels. It gets to the point where the only methods of keeping him still are [[TakenForGranite petrification]], or utilizing DroneJam to forcibly bar his way, no easy feat. It's not ''mandatory'' to beat him, but if he escapes you'll miss out on two fusions and a party member.

* IJustWantToBeNormal: Yuzu didn't ask to be dragged into this chaos. And she reminds you of this at very opportunity. (Not that this isn't {{Justified}}, mind you...)

!!Provides Examples Of:

**** Averted Hard later in the game when (especially in OC where two physical strikers are a possible given the rise of Pierce+) the Pierce/Phy Amp/Phys Reflect/Multistrike(OC)/Deathbound(DS) combo is unlocked. Atsuro simply murders entire teams given Multistrike's(DeathBound to a lesser extent, though it does more damage consistently to a single target) properties, to elaborate Pierce makes phys do full damage against all but reflect, phys amp attaches a 1.5 modifier, and multistrike allows a physical attacker to attack each member of the opposing team 2-7 times without being penalized due to health levels, toss in Bliztkrieg for an additional modifier or even dual shadow+ and phys drain, you're looking at a character that can one round entire teams for free, whereas most mages, even Almighty spell equipped ones, are generally much slower and relegated to murdering whatever has Phys Reflect, and even then are only partially effective given the rise of Holy Strike (Almighty damage running off STR).

** Overclocked corrects Battle Aura's wrong description, but brings a new one the table: Cursed Dance's description indicates it does damage equal to "caster's HP/4", but it actually does damage equal to "''target's (current) HP''/4". So it actually does ''less'' damage the more damaged your enemy is, which makes sense considering the only other offensive Mystic spell is Judgement, which reduces the target's ''current'' HP by half.

[[caption-width-right:300:''Peaceful days are over. Let's survive.'']]

* DissonantSerenity - The Laplace Mails you receive predict murders, explosions, mass slaughters etc. in an almost cheerful manner, [[spoiler: even as they [[PhlebotinumBreakdown start to get more and more glitched out]]. Hv3 a n1cE DEaT! ]]

** [[spoiler:God blows clean past the MoralEventHorizon in the Overlord 8th Day. The Lockdown during the main game was understandable: the demons spread like wildfire, and containment was paramount. In the Overlord 8th Day, God has pretty much taken all of Tokyo hostage, and has made it quite plain he'll [[TheTokyoFireball wipe it off the face of the earth]] with everyone inside it unless the people bring him the MC's head. What follows is the people trapped inside going nuts, begging you to die so that they can be free. As Naoya said, God is playing on your human weakness.]]

** [[spoiler:It's either an egregious case, or else FridgeBrilliance, with Naoya in Atsuro's route. When you fight him in the boss battle, he has high-leveled (at least at that point in time) demons, one of which you wouldn't even be able to ''get'' unless you've subjected yourself to serious level-grinding or are playing in NewGamePlus. Plus, he has a Speed of ''75'' (note that Speed determines who moves first on the map, unlike Agility which is an actual stat), allowing him to immediately [[GetBackHereBoss move halfway across the map]], which just leads to a potentially long and drawn-out battle. And when you get him as an NPC in the final battle? He has no demons with him, has 3 movement and a Speed of 50. Thankfully, he won't go down easily since comes with Anti-All, but still, he's clearly not exerting himself to help you out.]]

*** Further split given that there are two possible paths for [[spoiler:Naoya]]'s 8th day, [[spoiler:basically letting you choose whether you want to be ChaoticGood or a CompleteMonster.]]

** [[spoiler: Fortunately, the gimmicks from most of the previous boss fights are gone, such as Jezebel's LethalLavaLand and Belberith's moving platforms. You stil have to punch out Beldr with the Devil's Fuge though, so if you've neglected to raise the MC's strength stat since the first fight, well... then you can still beat him easily because the Devil's Fuge deals bonus damage depending on your level]]

* StealthPun: [[spoiler:The main character is the reincarnation of Abel. He is [[FridgeBrilliance a Bel.]] ]]

* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: Most of the time, it's perfectly fine to let anyone die.
** One mission--specifically the boss battle against Beldr--requires you to stay alive, however. And with [[JustifiedTrope good reason]]: You have the only means of damaging Beldr, and if you get wiped, there'll nothing left to stop him from slaughtering the entire lockdown.
** However, the whole Unit is removed from the map if the Leader (the unit in the middle) goes down. Luckly you do have Recarm if that happens...

[[caption-width-right:300:''Peaceful days died. Let's survive.'']]

[[caption-width-right:300:''Peaceful days are over. Let's survive.'']]

[[caption-width-right:300:''Peaceful days died. Let's survive.'']]

* BittersweetEnding: None of the endings are 100% positive, but [[spoiler:Gin's]] ending is the one that comes the closest to being unambiguously happy.

*** [[spoiler: Gin's]] in Yuzu's 8th Day is rather hectic. It's not because the NPC in question can't defend themselves; they can, they thing is they're stationary and will literally NEVER get a turn [[spoiler: until Gin finishes the ritual to restore the Tokyo Barrier.]] No, the reason it's hectic is because of [[ZergRush the seemingly never-ending horde of demons trying to get them.]]

** And at the end of the Overlord route his cape and hair [[{{Disgaea}} resembles another Overlord quite a bit.]]

** He also shows up in some of the endings, giving a special HannibalLecture in [[spoiler:Yuzu's]]

* GreyAndGrayMorality: The four successful endings, as usual for a ''MegaTen'' game, all have their pros and cons. [[spoiler: Yuzu's]] ending is more Black, but it's also not portrayed as the protagonist's agenda but as an [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unforeseen consequence]] of it. [[spoiler: At least in Overclocked, you're given a chance to undo the damage you caused with your flight.]]

** The trickiest part of unlocking any route [[spoiler: except Yuzu's]], is [[spoiler: making sure to save Haru on Day 5]].

**** For the record, [[spoiler:Gin's]] death CAN be prevented at a late point in the game (after the [[spoiler:Keisuke-Kaido]] ordeal), but even if you don't save [[spoiler:him]] you can still get the specific ending required for this fairly easy.

* LyingCreator: ''Overclocked'' was billed as having an 8th day for each path. Now the game is out, and how many of the 6 endings got an epilogue? ''Three'' ([[spoiler:Actually, it's technically four as Kaido shares Naoya's 8th day]]). Granted, [[spoiler:Gin's]] and [[spoiler:Atsuro's]] endings can be excused due to the fact that [[spoiler:they involve banishing both demons and angels one way or another]],

*** Further split given that there are two possible paths for [[spoiler:Naoya's]] 8th day, [[spoiler:basically letting you choose whether you want to be ChaoticGood or a CompleteMonster.]]

* OlympusMons: At the endgame, you will be able to summon the Voice of God, the Shinto sun goddess, the Norse trickster god, three of the Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism, the Hindu lord of all nagas, and even the Devil himself. And also [[HPLovecraft Nyarlathotep]].

* RescueRomance: Kaido invokes this (on your advice) in an attempt to win [[spoiler:Mari's]] heart. Play your cards right, and it can end up saving several lives...

** Try doing [[spoiler:[[LawfulGood Amane]]]]'s route, then on your next playthrough do [[spoiler:[[ChaoticNeutral Naoya]]]]'s route. Seeing your allies from your previous playthrough [[spoiler:leave or oppose you]] is quite jarring.

!!''Devil Survivor'' provides examples of:

* GodIsEvil: [[spoiler:Surprisingly ''subverted'', contrary to expectations for the franchise. At first you'll probably think God is behind everything given how the Shomonkai act mysteriously and the [=COMPs=] seem to come from them... but then you find out they're worshipping a demon, not God, that it's the equivalent of a CorruptCorporateExecutive handing out the [=COMPs=], and to top it all off, you find out that an archangel hitched a ride in their Maiden's mind ''in order to save her and to help you out'', on orders from the Big Man Himself, who actually doesn't want to see humanity get hurt and will only resort to extreme measures if the demons gain a permanent foothold on the Earth. You proceed to get some help from the Big Man on most of the routes where you don't choose blatantly selfish/evil options.]]

* InfantImmortality - Brutally averted. No matter what you do, [[spoiler:Honda's son]] is doomed.

* {{Mon}}s: The demons, of course. Many of the common tropes associated with other Mons games are ''brutally'' {{Deconstructed}}, though, as detailed above.

* JustForFun/CandleJack: The name of 2 star Pyro Jacks at auction house.

* JustForFun/CandleJack: The name of 2 star Pyro Jacks at auct

** This is most obvious in the [[spoiler: event where Kaido and Keisuke confront one another, which is almost [[{{Narm}} narmy]] in how it's set up ''exactly'' like some twisted demonic {{Pokemon}} battle (facing each other across a street with the two "mons" in between, shouting commands, etc)... and then, unless you've played your cards exactly right, one side loses and the other's demon ''graphically murders'' the opponent at its master's urging. Enjoy your Pikachus now, kids! ]]

*** So considering the power abuse, the very dark take on an otherwise lighthearted genre, and the fact it's set in a Tokyo where [[spoiler:a hole in reality is wreaking havoc and there's a GovernmentConspiracy related to it]], [[ThisIsWrongOnSoManyLevels this may mean it's more like]] ''DarkerThanBlack'' meets ''{{Pokemon}}''.

** [[spoiler: Fortunately, the gimmicks from most of the previous boss fights are gone, such as Jezebel's LethalLavaLand and Belberith's moving platforms. You stil have to punch out Beldr with the Devil's Fuge though, so if you've neglected to raise the MC's strength stat since the first fight, well...]]