PlayStation 2

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga

Pick this game up, even if you normally don’t go for RPG’s, or even normally go for video games. Pick up Digital Devil Sage if you enjoy an excellent story with fascinating characters, an amazing world, and a unforgettable message about what it means to be human, what it means to be alone, and what it means to have someone. I simply can’t recommend it enough. An easy perfect ten.

Interactive storytelling has come a long way. Voice acting is consistently better. Direction of games, and movies within games, is also higher quality on the whole. But, there are still those few games that stand out above the rest, and Digital Devil Saga is one of those games. An eerie plotline and high production values drive a proven battle system in this excellent RPG.

In einer verahrlosten Welt wie Junkyard ist es kein Wunder, dass jeder vom Paradies träumt. Doch bevor sich die Pforten der Glückseligkeit öffnen, müsst ihr den Weg dorthin mit den Leichen verfeindeter Klans pflastern.

There's little resolution in the ending of Digital Devil Saga's 30-40 hour adventure because it was developed as a direct prequel to another game that Atlus currently plans to release this summer. As a result, some of the choices you make can feel a bit arbitrary, and you'll be left with more questions about the characters and their world than you have answers. Nevertheless, Digital Devil Saga's great demon combat and tenebrous world full of myth and mystery make it worthy of the Shin Megami Tensei name. If you don't mind cliff-hangers and lots of turn-based combat, definitely consider giving this role-playing game a try.

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga sometimes suffers from repetitive levels and a high encounter rate, but it is a solid, enjoyable outing that fans of the genre will definitely want to consider. The game rewards exploration with numerous extra bosses and other secrets, so expect a minimum investment of 35 hours. Recommended.

After a slight delay, the latest game in the long running Japanese series, Shin Megami Tensei, has finally been released. Developed by the same team that worked on the most recent game in the series, SMT: Nocturne, Digital Devil Saga is a deep, mature-themed RPG that will please fans of the series, as well as hardcore RPG players that haven't yet been introduced to the series. More casual gamers may be intimidated by the game's length, frequency of combat, and mature storyline.

In other words, those thinking about purchasing this game should carefully consider what kind of gamer they consider themselves to be. If you're looking for a traditional Japanese RPG with a lot of story and character development - look elsewhere. However, what Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga delivers in spades is an interesting, atmospheric RPG experience with an enjoyable battle system, fabulous music and an excellent visual style that set it well apart from RPG cliches of recent years. You just have to learn to love the dungeon grind - oh, and be prepared to devour the flesh of your enemies to progress in the world. No matter how many times our business team here at Eurogamer claim otherwise, we'll never believe that that's natural.

Demons have invaded Final Fantasy X! Or so Atlus Software would have you believe in its latest MegaTen spin-off, Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga. Well okay, so maybe the similarities aren't that blatant, but there are still enough common threads here to remind Zanarkand vets of what would happen if they mixed Tidus' bittersweet adventure with the disturbing atmosphere of last September's Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. In fact, Digital Devil Saga holds enough similarities to those two titles to almost make it a missing link of sorts -- the kind of game that would bridge two completely different products with two completely different philosophies without ever surpassing the quality of either.

When it rains, it pours. Late last year Atlus graced the PS2 with Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, the first of Atlus Japan's popular demon-summoning RPGs to ever hit America. Now, barely six months later, we're getting another Shin Megami Tensei RPG in the form of Digital Devil Saga. Digital Devil Saga, a side-story, features the same dark, somber tone as its predecessor, but takes place in a new sci-fi/fantasy world. In most ways it's quite similar to Nocturne ... right down to its flaws.