''Devil Summoner'', initially marketed as ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'', is a video game franchise developed and primarily published by
Atlus
is a Japanese video game developer, publisher, arcade manufacturer and distribution company based in Tokyo. A subsidiary of Sega, the company is known for video game series such as '' Megami Tensei'', '' Persona'', '' Etrian Odyssey'' and ...
. Focused on a series of
role-playing video game
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
s, ''Devil Summoner'' is a spin-off from Atlus' ''
Megami Tensei
''Megami Tensei'', marketed internationally as ''Shin Megami Tensei'' (formerly ''Revelations''), is a Japanese media franchise created by Aya Nishitani, Kouji Okada, Kouji "Cozy" Okada, Ginichiro Suzuki, and Kazunari Suzuki. Primarily developed ...
'' franchise. The first entry in the series, ''
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'', was released in 1995 for the
Sega Saturn
The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the su ...
. The series has seen several more games since, with the most recent main entry being ''
Soul Hackers 2'' released in 2022.
''Devil Summoner'' began as a spin-off based on the positively-received ''
Shin Megami Tensei If...'' (1994). The games, set on an alternate Earth between the 1930s and a fictionalized near-future, featuring a person either related to or holding the Kuzunoha family name using demons to investigate cases involving the supernatural. Created by
Kouji Okada
(born February 22, 1964) is a Japanese video game producer and director. Beginning his career in the early 1980s with stints at Universal Technos and Tecmo, Okada went on to become one of the founders of Atlus in 1986, as well as co-creating the ...
, the series was developed by multiple ''Megami Tensei'' veterans including artist
Kazuma Kaneko
Kazuma Kaneko (金子 一馬, ''Kaneko Kazuma'', born September 20, 1964) is a Japanese video game artist and designer for Japanese video game company Atlus. Kaneko is best known for his work in the ''Megami Tensei'' series of video games, actin ...
and composer
Shoji Meguro
is a Japanese composer, guitarist, and video game designer. He is best known for his work on the ''Persona'' series of video games by Atlus, of which he served as the sound director for until leaving the company in 2021. His musical style spans ...
. While each entry has a different story and time period, it shares a universe and uses recurrent detective story elements.
The series remained exclusive to Japan until the release of ''
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army'' in 2006, with all games apart from the original receiving English localizations from
Atlus USA
Atlus West, formerly known as Atlus U.S.A., Inc., is the North American publishing branch of Japanese video game company Atlus, primarily known for localizing games for both them and other third-party developers. Its first original role-playing ...
. Several entries have been supported by spin-off media and supplementary game materials. The first two ''Devil Summoner'' titles were among the best-selling titles for the Saturn. Games in the series have seen generally positive reception internationally.
Titles
Main series
*''
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'' is the first entry in the series, and was released in Japan for the
Sega Saturn
The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the su ...
in 1995.
The game was later
ported
In software engineering, porting is the process of adapting software for the purpose of achieving some form of execution in a computing environment that is different from the one that a given program (meant for such execution) was originally desi ...
to the
PlayStation Portable
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 200 ...
, released in Japan in 2005.
It remains exclusive to Japan.
Set in the coastal city of Hirasaki, the game follows a silent protagonist brought back from death into the body of detective Kyouji Kuzunoha as he investigates supernatural activities.
*''
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers'' is the second entry in the series, released in Japan for the Sega Saturn in 1997.
An expanded
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a di ...
port was released in Japan in 1999.
Another port for
Nintendo 3DS
The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo. It was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generati ...
was released in 2012 in Japan, and in the West in 2013.
Set in Amami City, a coastal city created and run by the tech company Algon Soft, the game follows a member of the Spookies hacker group investigating unusual events surrounding Algon's virtual city.
*''
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army'' is the third entry in the series, and was released for the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on ...
(PS2) in 2006 in Japan and North America, and 2007 in Europe.
The story follows Raidou Kuzunoha XIV's investigation of the Soulless Army, which is threatening Tokyo.
*''
Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon'' is the fourth game in the series, and was released for PS2 in 2008 in Japan and 2009 in North America as a limited release.
Continuing the story of Raidou Kuzunoha XIV, the storyline follows an investigation into the titular antagonist King Abbadon.
*''
Soul Hackers 2'' is the fifth game and a sequel to ''Soul Hackers'', released worldwide in 2022 for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for ...
,
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 i ...
,
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, it was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...
,
Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...
and
Xbox Series X/S
The Xbox Series X/S are home video game consoles developed by Microsoft. They were both released on November 10, 2020, as the fourth generation Xbox, succeeding the Xbox One. Along with Sony's PlayStation 5, also released in November 202 ...
. Set in the middle of the 21st century, the plot follows Ringo, an agent of the digital being Aion as she gathers summoners from rival clans to face a world-ending threat.
Related media
The characters and art of the original ''Devil Summoner'' were used for the mobile
pinball
Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest. Historically the board was studded with nails call ...
game ''Shin Megami Tensei Pinball: Judgement'', released in Japan in 2006 through
EZweb
au, or au by KDDI, is a Japanese mobile phone operator. au is a brand marketed by KDDI in the main islands of Japan and by Okinawa Cellular in Okinawa for their mobile cellular services. au is the second-largest wireless carrier in Japan, wit ...
.
''Soul Hackers'' saw two mobile follow-ups in 2008 through EZweb: ''Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Intruder'', a
tactical role-playing with
adventure game
An adventure game is a video game genre in which the player assumes the role of a protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and/or puzzle-solving. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based ...
elements; and ''Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers New Generation'', a turn-based game set in a virtual world.
''Devil Summoner'' was adapted into a live-action television series in 1997, with its popularity prompting a second series in 1998.
Two novels based on the series written by Ryo Suzukaze were published by the Aspect Books imprint of
Media Works in 1996.
''Soul Hackers'' received two novel spin-offs; ''Devil Summoner Soul Hackers: Death City Korin'' by Osamu Makino in April 1998 from Aspect Books, and ''Devil Summoner Soul Hackers: Nightmare of the Butterfly'' by Shinya Kasai in May 1999 from Famitsu Bunko.
A
manga
Manga ( Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is ...
adaptation, written by Fumio Sasahara and illustrated by Kazumi Takasawa, was released in two volumes in March and August 1999 by
Kadokawa Shoten
, formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing based in Tokyo, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes manga, light novels, manga anthology magazines ...
.
The ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' duology saw multiple media expansions. A spin-off novel called ''Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Dead Messengers'', written by Boogey Toumon and illustrated by
Kazuma Kaneko
Kazuma Kaneko (金子 一馬, ''Kaneko Kazuma'', born September 20, 1964) is a Japanese video game artist and designer for Japanese video game company Atlus. Kaneko is best known for his work in the ''Megami Tensei'' series of video games, actin ...
, was released by Kadokawa Shoten in 2006.
A spin-off manga ''Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. Kodoku no Marebito'', began serialization through the online ''Famitsu Comic Clear'' in 2009, being released in six volumes between 2010 and 2012. The manga was written by Kirihito Ayamura based on a story draft by Kaneko, and supervised by Atlus's Kazuyuki Yamai.
A two-part
CD drama, ''Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the One-Eyed God'', was released by
Frontier Works
is a Japanese company specializing in the creation and distribution of media related to anime, such as producing OVAs, radio dramas, drama CDs, anime soundtracks, or other related products. The company was established in August 1990.
Projects i ...
during 2009.
Recurring elements
Rather than the post-apocalyptic setting of the main ''
Megami Tensei
''Megami Tensei'', marketed internationally as ''Shin Megami Tensei'' (formerly ''Revelations''), is a Japanese media franchise created by Aya Nishitani, Kouji Okada, Kouji "Cozy" Okada, Ginichiro Suzuki, and Kazunari Suzuki. Primarily developed ...
'' series, ''Devil Summoner'' takes place in an alternate modern Earth where people known as devil summoners form contracts with demons using devices called COMPs.
The protagonists, devil summoners often associated with the Kuzuhona family, investigate misuse of demons.
A recurring element is two rival summoner clans, the benevolent Yatagarasu and the malevolent Phantom Society.
The ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' duology take place in a fictionalized version of Japan's
Taishō period. The storylines follow the fourteenth trained devil summoner to take on the title of Raidou Kuzunoha, facing supernatural threats in Tokyo while working at the Narumi Detective Agency.
The first two titles use a traditional turn-based battle system taken from the main ''Megami Tensei'' series, with the player character and a team of up to five demons taking part in battles from a first-person perspective while navigating both an overworld map and dungeons.
''Soul Hackers 2'' again uses a turn-based battle system, taking elements of exploiting enemy weaknesses for extra turns from the main ''Shin Megami Tensei'' series.
The ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' duology shifts to an action-based battle system, navigating pre-rendered town and dungeon environments.
The protagonist fights in separate battle arenas with two assigned demons through random encounters, with Kuzuhona capturing demons during battles in the first game, and persuading them to join him through a conversation system in the second. An assigned demon can also be used to solve environmental puzzles.
A recurring element is the player's relationship with their demons. While demons are acquired in different ways across the games, a demon's alignment and actions in battle are all play a role in how they respond to commands. If a demon uses a skill they have low affinity for too many times, they will not respond as well to commands. Recruited demons can also be fused into new demons, carrying over particular traits from their predecessors.
A resource called Magnatite or its equivalent is needed to keep demons summoned or powers different elements of attacks appears in multiple entries.
A recurring character throughout the series is Dr Victor, a person who takes charge of demon fusion and takes on different appearances throughout the series.
History and development
Following the success of the ''
Megami Tensei
''Megami Tensei'', marketed internationally as ''Shin Megami Tensei'' (formerly ''Revelations''), is a Japanese media franchise created by Aya Nishitani, Kouji Okada, Kouji "Cozy" Okada, Ginichiro Suzuki, and Kazunari Suzuki. Primarily developed ...
'' spin-off ''
Shin Megami Tensei If...'' in 1994, lead developer
Kouji Okada
(born February 22, 1964) is a Japanese video game producer and director. Beginning his career in the early 1980s with stints at Universal Technos and Tecmo, Okada went on to become one of the founders of Atlus in 1986, as well as co-creating the ...
decided to create spin-off series to explore different narrative possibilities; the two initial spin-off titles were ''
Revelations: Persona'' (1996) for the PlayStation, and ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'' for the Saturn.
''Devil Summoner'' drew on themes from
detective fiction
Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator or a detective—whether professional, amateur or retired—investigates a crime, often murder. The detective genre began around the same time as sp ...
, particularly the melancholic and hardboiled fiction of
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American-British novelist and screenwriter. In 1932, at the age of forty-four, Chandler became a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive durin ...
.
It was the first ''Megami Tensei'' title to be released on a
32-bit
In computer architecture, 32-bit computing refers to computer systems with a processor, memory, and other major system components that operate on data in 32-bit units. Compared to smaller bit widths, 32-bit computers can perform large calculation ...
fifth-generation home video game console
A home video game console is a video game console that is designed to be connected to a display device, such as a television, and an external power source as to play video games. Home consoles are generally less powerful and customizable than ...
, and the first ''Megami Tensei'' game to feature 3D graphics.
The staff included Okada as director, recurring writer Ryutaro Ito, and artist Kazuma Kaneko.
Following the success of ''Devil Summoner'', development of a sequel moved forward, drawing inspiration from the potential dangers of the internet. Okada and Kaneko returned to their respective roles, while Shogo Isogai created the scenario based on Kaneko's draft.
Following the release of ''
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne'' in 2003, producer Kazuyuki Yamai wanted a project for his team that would offer new challenges, deciding to make a new ''Devil Summoner'' title based on staff feedback.
Kaneko returned as character designer.
A sequel was produced shortly afterwards, continuing Raidou Kuzunoha's story while being a standalone entry for newcomers, with Kaneko returning as both character designer and producer.
It saw mechanical improvements and additions taken from the main series.
A sequel to ''Soul Hackers'' was long requested by fans, though the original game was growing in age and losing mainstream recognition. Eiji Ishida and Mitsuru Hirata, who had previously worked on multiple entries in the ''Megami Tensei'' series, began production on a sequel with reworked mechanics and a new art style led by
Shirow Miwa
is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator. He is best known as the writer and artist for the ''Dogs'' manga series, but has also contributed illustrations to various tribute books, and magazines, including Square Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan. M ...
.
While a release overseas was rumored at the time of its release, the original ''Devil Summoner'' remains exclusive to Japan, with its age compared to other titles keeping it from being released during the PS2 era.
''Soul Hackers'' was originally also exclusive to Japan, with an overseas release only coming with the 3DS port. The localization was created by
Atlus USA
Atlus West, formerly known as Atlus U.S.A., Inc., is the North American publishing branch of Japanese video game company Atlus, primarily known for localizing games for both them and other third-party developers. Its first original role-playing ...
, with their focus being on emulating its time period through slang and references to
cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a dystopian futuristic setting that tends to focus on a "combination of lowlife and high tech", featuring futuristic technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and cyber ...
fiction.
The two ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' titles were the first ''Devil Summoner'' titles to be released in the West.
For the localization of the first ''Raidou Kuzunoha'', project leader Yu Namba incorporated slang from the 1920s to ground the storyline in that period.
The second ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' saw a limited release in North America.
Only three games have been released in Europe through third-party publishers: ''Soul Hackers'' by
NIS America
is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. The company was founded in 1991 and has developed several role-playing video games, most notably the ''Disgaea'' and ''Marl Kingdom'' series. Its mascot is the penguin-like ''Disgaea'' character ...
,
the original ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' by
Koei
Koei Co., Ltd. was a Japanese video game publisher, developer, and distributor founded in 1978. The company is known for its ''Dynasty Warriors'' games based on the novel ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', as well as simulation games based on p ...
,
and ''Soul Hackers 2'' by
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
.
Music
The original game's music was composed by Toshiko Tasaki and Tsukasa Masuko, with several tracks being repurposed during production or switching role.
For ''Soul Hackers'', Tasaki and Masuko were joined by
Shoji Meguro
is a Japanese composer, guitarist, and video game designer. He is best known for his work on the ''Persona'' series of video games by Atlus, of which he served as the sound director for until leaving the company in 2021. His musical style spans ...
; Meguro focused on the game's cyberpunk themes and atmosphere, lamenting his lack of creative freedom compared to his work on ''
Maken X
''Maken X'' is a first-person hack and slash video game developed by Atlus for the Dreamcast. It was published by Atlus in Japan in 1999, while Sega localized and released the game overseas in 2000. Gameplay has the Maken—a sentient sword-l ...
''.
Meguro returned for the ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' duology, using brass and jazz instrumentation to emulate the 1920s alongside his signature guitar-heavy "''MegaTen'' sound".
The music of ''Soul Hackers 2'' is composed by the music group Monaca.
Reception
The first two games were among the best-selling titles on the Sega Saturn in Japan.
''Technology Tell'', in a retrospective article on the ''Megami Tensei'' franchise, noting it as standing out from the rest of the franchise due to not having a post-apocalyptic setting.
Reception of the first ''Raidou Kuzunoha'' game was generally positive, with critics noting its break from the traditional turn-based gameplay of other ''Megami Tensei'' series, though noting some problems caused by the new elements.
''Raidou Kuzunoha 2'' saw a stronger reception, with critics praising it as an improvement over the first game.
References
Notes
{{Franchises owned by Sega Sammy Holdings
Atlus games
Role-playing video games by series
Sega Games franchises
Video games about demons
Video game franchises
Video game franchises introduced in 1995
Megami Tensei
Devil Summoner