Shin Megami Tensei

Shin Megami Tensei is a first-person role-playing game where the player controls a protagonist navigating both contemporary and post-apocalyptic Tokyo. The narrative begins with the protagonist experiencing a prophetic dream before receiving a cryptic computer message about an impending global disaster. This leads to his involvement in a local murder investigation and his acquisition of a device for interacting with supernatural entities.

Core gameplay involves recruiting a wide array of demons drawn from various mythologies to join the active party, which can hold up to six members including the hero and heroine. These demons are managed by the player and require a resource called Magnetite, obtained from battles. A defining mechanic is the conversation system, where selecting appropriate dialogue options is the primary method for convincing demons to ally with the player.

Combat utilizes a turn-based system with random encounters. Human characters can employ weapons like swords and guns, while the heroine can also use magic spells. Character progression allows for manual allocation of stat points upon leveling up. The game world is defined by a conflict between three ideological alignments: Law, Chaos, and Neutral. Key story decisions force the player to choose a side, which then influences narrative progression, weapon accessibility, and demon recruitment compatibility.