Super Nintendo Entertainment System · 1995
Shin Megami Tensei
A dark Super Famicom RPG set in post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where recruiting and fusing demons shapes the player's path through an unforgiving end-times conflict.
- Publisher
- Atlus
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- Role-Playing Game
- Released
- 1995
01
Overview
The story unfolds in a ruined Tokyo after a catastrophic event, and the player guides a lone survivor through a city overrun by hostile supernatural forces. Combat emphasizes negotiation, recruitment, and the fusion of demons into stronger allies, with choices that steer the narrative toward very different endings. The game was developed by ATLUS and published by Enix in Japan, and its tone and systems helped define the direction of later Megami Tensei entries.
02
Why it matters
It is a cornerstone of the Shin Megami Tensei lineage, establishing core ideas around demon fusion, morally ambiguous choices, and high-difficulty survival that shaped many later titles. For the Super Famicom library, it stands out as a serious, story-driven RPG with a bleak aesthetic that contrasts sharply with much of the era's fantasy fare.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete Japanese SNES copy includes the cartridge, an outer slipcase or box, an instruction manual, and any included booklet or leaflet. Regional editions vary, so packaging, label style, and included paperwork should be checked individually rather than assumed identical across regions.
04
Playing it today
The game is region-locked to Japan and presents in Japanese, so players should expect a text-heavy, challenging experience best approached with a Japanese SNES setup or a translation patch where one is available. Saves depend on the cartridge's internal battery, so older copies may need testing or a backup plan for preserving progress.