References to Megami Tensei in Shin Megami Tensei (Series)
Table of Contents |
References to Megami Tensei in Megami Tensei
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei · Shin Megami Tensei · Last Bible · Majin Tensei |
References in Megami Tensei · References to Megami Tensei in Other Media · Design Inspirations in Megami Tensei |
This article contains major spoilers. | |
The contents of this article cover major plot and/or character spoilers. Reader discretion is advised.
|
This is a list of references to the Megami Tensei franchise in the Shin Megami Tensei series.
Shin Megami Tensei
- In the Visionary cutscene titled "Gnawed Ball" present in the GameBoy Advance and iOS versions of the game, Pascal is brought home by the Hero's Mother, who says that she adopted her from a man named Nakajima, possibly being the very same Akemi Nakajima from the Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei series.[1]
Shin Megami Tensei II
- At the end of the hall of champions in Valhalla Colosseum, there is a statue dedicated to the Hero, the protagonist of the original Shin Megami Tensei.
- To the east of Old Shinjuku, an NPC marks the spot where three youths arrived in Tokyo from the Diamond Realm a long time ago, referencing the Hero, Law Hero, and Chaos Hero from Shin Megami Tensei[2]. After beating the game, this location can be used to enter the Diamond Realm, which acts as a hub area through which you can enter multiple other Shin Megami Tensei dungeons, including: Camp Ichigaya, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and Government Office.
- In the Visionary cutscene titled "Golden Appleseed" present in the GameBoy Advance and iOS versions of the game, Madam meets Cerberus, who is mourning the loss of her master. Madam notes that her master in question was the Hero[3], implying that Cerberus is actually the Hero's pet-turned-demon Pascal from Shin Megami Tensei.
Shin Megami Tensei if...
- Professor Yahata says what inspired him to make his own COMP was seeing a boy walking around with a husky dog who was wearing the same thing[4], a description that matches the protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei and his pet dog Pascal.
- In the PlayStation port, a remix of the track "DEJA VU" from Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis will play as a hidden easter egg if the party enters Vine's boss room when either the protagonist or their partner are in possession of a Guardian of the Deity race. This is because the "Majin" portion of that game's title is the Japanese name for the Deity race.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
- The title screen is a reference to Shin Megami Tensei's cover art.
- The fortune teller Nova from Shin Megami Tensei if... is visible on the back cover of Ayakashi Monthly when held by Chiaki Tachibana.
- The Mara event in Shibuya features multiple references to previous Shin Megami Tensei games.
- The Laughing, Crying, Angry, and Dancing Dolls from Shin Megami Tensei II can be seen in the background being used as a medium to summon Mara. The ritual's failure and the dialog "A dark ceremony is about to commence... But something is definitely off" is a reference to Hanada accidentally using the wrong doll to open a portal to the Makai.
- Baphomet chanting "EL ELOHIM ELOHO ELOHIM SEBAOTH ELION EIECH ADIER EIECH ADONAI JAH SADAI TETRAGRAMMATON SADAI AGIOS OTHEOS ISCHIROS ATHANATOS AGLA AMEN" to summon Mara is a callback to the original Shin Megami Tensei's opening cutscene.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax
- The final cutscene during the Destruction Ending is a reference to Shin Megami Tensei's cover art.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
- When attempting to negotiate with the Hee-Ho tone demons, one of the dialogue options will be "Mascots aren't scary" as an allusion to how Jack Frost is the mascot of the Megami Tensei franchise and Atlus as a whole.
Shin Megami Tensei IV
- Flynn's hometown is Kiccigiorgi as a reference to the original Shin Megami Tensei protagonist Hero's living in Kichijoji.
- Multiple entities and objects originating from Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey make an appearance:
- The armor worn by the Black Samurai and found in the Counter-Demon Force Base are Demonicas originally from Strange Journey. They are particularly based on the black Demonicas worn by Jack's Squad. Flynn can also obtain a set of this armor as equipment.
- A Demonica like the one the protagonist of Strange Journey and the other members of the U.N. Schwarzwelt Investigational Team wear can be bought at the equipment Members-Only Club in Ginza.
- A statue of Mem Aleph can be found being worshipped by Gaeans in the innermost sanctum of Tsukiji-Hongwanji.
- The equipment Members-Only Club in Ginza sells several weapons and armor based on certain Demons and entities:
- The Demonica Suit set, based on the aforementioned Demonica that the protagonist from Strange Journey wears.
- The R Scorpion set, based on Camael's armor.
- The Genke Rindo set, based on Yoshitsune's armor.
- The Celtic White set, based on Cu Chulainn's armor.
- The Nibelungen set, based on Siegfried's armor.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
- As seen in flashbacks, the suit worn by Flynn's past incarnation is a black Demonica, originally based on the black Demonicas worn by Jack's Squad in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey.
- The equipment Members-Only Club in Ginza sells several armor based on certain Demons and entities:
- The Black Demonica set, based on the aforementioned black Demonicas originally worn by Jack's Squad in Strange Journey.
- The Genke Rindo set, based on Yoshitsune's armor.
- The Nibelungen set, based on Siegfried's armor.
- The Ulster Armor set, based on Setanta's armor.
- The Demonica Suit set, based on the Demonica that the protagonist from Strange Journey wears.
Shin Megami Tensei V
- Shin Megami Tensei V features several references to characters and plot elements from Shin Megami Tensei.
- The bosses Surt, Ishtar, and Arioch are a reference to the optional Chaos bosses in the Basilica.
- In the Can I Keep Them? subquest, Lilim reveals the Capture Pot's original name and date of creation[5], referencing the Glancing Pot from Shin Megami Tensei.
- In The Holy Ring subquest, the item Angel Ring is a reference to the key item of the same name used in Shin Megami Tensei to open the door to Asura.
- Shin Megami Tensei V features several references to characters and plot elements from Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
- The Amala Drums found in the Diet Building and Jouin University Medical Research Lab are a reference to the Terminal devices from Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
- The silver orbs made of cubes floating above Da'at are a reference to Kagutsuchi.
- An NPC mentions having read an article in Ayakashi Monthly that Jozoji Temple contains a barrier protecting the city of Tokyo. Ayakashi Monthly is the occult magazine that the character Jyoji Hijiri writes for.[6]
- In the Black Frost Strikes Back subquest, Black Frost claims to have previously been the emperor of Kabukicho, referencing the optional battle against Hee-Ho-Kun in Kabukicho Prison.
- The special conversation between Forneus and Decarabia that occurs when attemping to recruit Decarabia with Forneus in the Nahobino's party references the pair's friendship in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
- In The Holy Ring subquest, the stone in Asakusa at which the Archangels are revived is identical to the stone at which the Archangels are fought in Mifunashiro in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Additionally, Melchizedek states that the Archangels will be hostile upon revival as they served Baal when they were killed, referencing Baal Avatar.[7]
- In Jouin High School, a female student NPC mentions that she has an upcoming match against another team with a medalist as a coach, possibly referencing Suguru Kamoshida from Persona 5.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
- The Magatsuhi skill Diabolical Deluge is a reference to Belial, Nebiros, and Alice's familial relationship from the original Shin Megami Tensei.
- Shin Megami Tensei V features several references to characters and plot elements from Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
- In Shinjuku, a Miman implies that the Tokyo Conception occurred at a nearby hospital, referencing Shinjuku Medical Center.[8]
- The innate skills Best Friend and Kept Waiting are a reference to Forneus and Decarabia's friendship in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
- In Demon Haunts, Lucifer alludes to his relationship to Demi-fiend in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, referencing his role as part of the Scripture of Miroku.[9]
- In Demon Haunts, Pixie can say that Pixies used to have the ability to turn into High Pixies if they tried hard enough, but for some reason have lost that ability[10], referring to how Pixie could evolve into High Pixie in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, but has not been able to since. Pixie can also say that the ruins of the demon haunts remind her of the ruins fairies usually live in[11], possibly referencing Old Shinjuku, the run-down home of the fairies in Shin Megami Tensei II.
References
- ↑ "Mother: I got him from Mr. Nakajima's place." Shin Megami Tensei (iOS). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
- ↑ "男:むかし3人の男が 金剛神界から ここへ やって来たそうだ" Shin Megami Tensei II (SFC). Published by Atlus.
- ↑ "Cerberus: There was once a man I could call master. But...when I was away from his side, he died in an accident. Right near here. I...couldn't stand the fact that I could not protect him...I'm just tired...so I sit here waiting for the day that he will return. Though I know that will never happen... Madam: ...It's The Hero, wasn't it? Your master." Shin Megami Tensei II (GBA). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. Translation by MEGATEN_ALBERT.
- ↑ "Yahata: This is a special arm terminal-type PC that I built myself. I saw some kid with a husky dog that had one and thought it was cool, so I made one." Shin Megami Tensei if... (SFC). Developed by ATLUS. Published by ATLUS. EN. Translation by Aeon Genesis.
- ↑ "Lilim: This pot is actually called a "Glan-something Pot," and I had it made about 30 years ago by a human." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by Atlus.
- ↑ "Occult Lover: Jozoji is an important barrier protecting Tokyo… I remember an article about it in Ayakashi Monthly. Maybe I should go pay my respects." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by Atlus.
- ↑ "Melchizedek: Even if the seraphim are successfully revived, they will end up serving Baal. Before the Creator assumed the throne, the seraphim served Baal as gods of another region." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by Atlus.
- ↑ "Miman: "Twenty year ago, Tokyo became netherworld. Place where all began is 'pparently hospital, just hop skip 'way."" Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (Steam). Developed by ATLUS. Published by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Lucifer: "Two youths whose fates I espied... One became the great demon of prophecy, the other a god returned from legend. How vivid this dark and light..."" Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (Steam). Developed by ATLUS. Published by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Pixie: A long time ago, if a Pixie tried reallllly hard, she could become a High Pixie! But maybe not anymore...? I wonder why?" Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by Atlus.
- ↑ "Pixie: Did you know we fairies usually live in old ruins and stuff? Being in the haunt here reminds me of the ruins I once lived in before." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by Atlus.