Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner delivers a robust blend of dungeon crawling and strategic combat that stays true to the Megaten legacy while carving out its own identity. Players navigate an overhead city map of modern-day Japan, selecting locations that unfold into multi-tiered, first-person dungeons. Each labyrinth is filled with hidden passages, environmental puzzles, and traps that demand attention and exploration, ensuring every outing feels like an expedition rather than a simple stroll.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Combat unfolds in turn-based skirmishes, where the protagonist and his partner Rei occupy the front and back rows, respectively, affecting their offense and defense values. The dual-wield system lets both humans use swords for close-quarters strikes or guns to exploit enemy weaknesses from a distance. Acquiring weapons and ammunition is as simple as visiting city shops, but choosing the right loadout for each demon type can make or break a tough encounter.

True to its name, the heart of Devil Summoner lies in demon negotiation, recruitment, and fusion. Random encounters can be bypassed by engaging enemies in conversation—an expanded system featuring dialogue choices influenced by demon personality types and the current moon phase. Successful negotiations may yield new party members or valuable items, while magnetite serves as the in-universe currency gained from battles and spent on supplies.

The loyalty system adds further strategic depth. Newly summoned demons possess varying degrees of allegiance and may disobey orders if trust is too low. Cultivating loyalty involves repeatedly summoning demons, participating in battles alongside them, or performing specific actions that align with their dispositions. Fusion mechanics allow two or three demons to merge into more powerful beings, giving players the freedom to experiment with party makeup and develop specialized lineups.

Graphics

For its era, Devil Summoner’s visuals strike a compelling balance between atmospheric design and functional clarity. The overhead city map features stylized 2D icons and landmarks, making exploration intuitive and the city’s layout easy to memorize. Transitioning into first-person dungeons reveals simple yet effective 3D environments, complete with flickering torches, ominous shadows, and tight corridors that amplify the sense of suspense.

Demon and character artwork reflect Atlus’s signature aesthetic—bold lines, intricate details, and a brooding color palette. In-battle animations may look dated by today’s standards, but each attack and spell effect retains enough flair to keep encounters engaging. Special moves trigger dynamic, hand-drawn sequences that showcase both human and demon abilities with satisfying visual punch.

Menus and user interface elements are clean and unobtrusive, letting players focus on critical information such as HP, MP, magnetite reserves, and demon loyalty levels. While the fixed-resolution display of the original hardware can feel cramped, the layout remains logical: party status is consistently visible, and demon negotiation options are clearly delineated, preventing guesswork during tense moments.

Overall, the game’s graphics excel at mood-setting rather than raw horsepower. Modern re-releases may upscale textures and refine frame rates, but the core visual identity—a dark, moody take on contemporary Japan under siege—remains as compelling today as it was upon release.

Story

The narrative opens on a deceptively ordinary note: a Japanese college student preparing for a date with his girlfriend, Kumiko, and an intriguing history book she found at the library. This calm is shattered when demonic entities assault them, only for the protagonist to be rescued by the enigmatic devil summoner Kyōji Kuzunoha. Moments later, a mysterious figure named Sid Davis kidnaps Kumiko and seemingly kills both Kyōji and the young man’s physical body.

What follows is a classic hero’s journey with a supernatural twist: the student’s soul inhabits Kyōji’s body, compelling him to adopt the mantle of devil summoner. Tasked with purging the city of malevolent forces and tracking down Sid Davis, he must unravel a conspiracy that ties ancient Japanese lore to the present day. This duality between the mundane and the mystical fuels a narrative that consistently rewards curiosity and persistence.

Rei, a fellow devil summoner, provides both combat support and narrative exposition, acting as a foil to the silent protagonist. Their interactions—alongside encounters with various demons—add emotional nuance and occasional levity to what is otherwise a tense, often brooding storyline. The rescue of Kumiko remains the driving force, but side missions and optional demon relationships reveal layers of world-building that enrich the core plot.

Pacing is handled deftly: main objectives push the story forward with clear goals, while optional dungeons and investigations allow players to absorb the game’s rich mythology at their own pace. Twists regarding Sid Davis’s motives and the origin of the possessed book keep the stakes high, ensuring that the quest to save Kumiko never loses its emotional weight.

Overall Experience

Devil Summoner stands out as a strategically demanding RPG that rewards planning, experimentation, and thorough exploration. Its fusion of first-person dungeon design and overhead navigation avoids monotony by alternating between city-based decision-making and claustrophobic corridors brimming with danger. Veteran Shin Megami Tensei fans will appreciate the familiar negotiation system honed to new depths, while newcomers may find its complexity a thrilling challenge rather than a barrier.

The game’s learning curve can be steep—mastering demon loyalty, allocation of skill points, and enemy weaknesses requires attention to detail—but the payoff is a deeply customizable experience. No two playthroughs need be alike: demon choices, fusion paths, and equipment selections all combine to define a player’s unique strategy. Respites from intense battles come in the form of city-side shopping, healing, and story-driven cutscenes that showcase modern Japan underbreed of otherworldly threat.

Certain aspects, like the visual fidelity of early 3D dungeons and occasional backtracking, may feel dated compared to contemporary standards. However, the game’s moody sound design, atmospheric score, and consistently engaging boss encounters compensate for any technical limitations. Re-releases and remasters often polish these edges, making Devil Summoner even more accessible to today’s audience.

Ultimately, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner delivers a memorable combination of narrative intrigue and mechanical depth. Its fusion of mythic themes with a modern urban backdrop creates a distinctive ambiance that continues to resonate. For any player seeking a challenging, story-rich JRPG with a unique demon-centric twist, this installment remains a must-play.

Retro Replay Score

null/10