Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children
Encyclopedia
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
' own RPG
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
series Shin Megami Tensei
Megami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
. The Devil Children games are developed by Multimedia Intelligence Transfer and published by Atlus.
Devil Children is a part of the Megami Tensei franchise that is targeted at children. Compared to the other games in the franchise the monster designs are simpler and toned down. The usage of the transfer cable (for handheld versions) is introduced for monster exchange.
The television anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children (based on Red book and Black Book) ran from October 2000 to September 2001 on Japan TV and following that Shin Megami Tensei D Children: Light & Dark (based on Book of Light and Book of Dark) ran from October 2002 to September 2003. In a tie-in with Comic BomBom, manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Hideaki Fujii did the comic version. There is also a trading card game for the series.
Devil Children - Black Book/Red Book/White Book
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Black Book/Red Book/White Book (真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン 黒の書/赤の書/白の書) is a Japan-only RPG from the Megami Tensei
Megami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
series. Three versions of the game were released. Red Book and Black Book came out first, each with different main characters. A third, White Book, was released after the first two, featuring a third character. Red and Black were then bundled together for the PlayStation. The PlayStation remake features the Japanese voice actor from the anime. The PlayStation version has also been available on the Japanese Playstation Store since October 13, 2010.
Each game features a different Devil Child, a child who is half demon, half human. The humans collect monsters (who speak human language, like in Digimon
Digimon
, short for , is a Japanese media franchise encompassing digital toys, anime, manga and video games. The franchise's eponymous creatures are monsters of various forms living in a "Digital World", a parallel universe that originated from Earth's various communication networks.-Conception and...
). The game takes place in a place called Makai in modern Japan, like most Megami Tensei games. The Devil Riser holds their partner demon(仲魔(Nakama, a pun on the word "仲間", replacing the character "間", meaning "interval, relationship", with "魔", meaning "demon").
Black and Red
Strange weather suddenly occurred throughout the world. It started snowing even though July just passed. As the strange weather continues the fate of Setsuna and Mirai starts to change as mysterious pistols, the Devil Risers, are delivered to them...- Black Book
- The hero of Black Book is Kai Setsuna. His comrade is a small CerberusCerberusCerberus , or Kerberos, in Greek and Roman mythology, is a multi-headed hound which guards the gates of the Underworld, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping...
named Cool(クール[ku-ru]). - On the day his Devil Riser arrived, his little brother Nagahisa got kidnapped by the ice devil Jack Frost and taken to the Makai. Utilizing the Devil Riser he released Cool and escaped the current danger, Setsuna then ventured to Makai to rescue his brother.
- A mysterious boy by the name Takashou Zed suggests that "why not take a look around the Makai while at the same time look for your brother?".
- Red Book
- Kaname Mirai is the heroine of Red Book. Her comrade is Veil(ベール[be-ru]), a pink GryphonGriffinThe griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
. - Mirai's Devil Riser was suddenly delivered to her at school where she was immediately attacked by the devil after it. She successfully summoned Veil using the Devil Riser and repelled the enemy but her mother's keepsake, a Jewel, was taken.
- Then the mysterious Takashou Zed appeared and, using the keepsake jewel he recovered, got Mirai to come to the Makai with him. The king of Makai then requests of her to defeat "the other Devil Children" that are destroying the world.
White
The Tenkai and Makai are changing as the new era of Ragnarok nears. This story is caused by a conspiracy 10 years ago. The forces of Tenkai seek to change the world as they desire and the opposing forces of Makai plant the power of angel and devil in the human children. The two powers reside in two babies born on the same day and in the same hospital and, after 10 years, become friends and attend the same school. But the two had different upbringings; Masaki had a more carefree family while Takaharu had a strict family.Kuzuha Masaki is the hero of White Book. His fate is intertwined with his friend, a quiet boy named Ougi Takaharu. Masaki's partner is a green Chimera
Chimera (mythology)
The Chimera or Chimaera was, according to Greek mythology, a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that ended in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her...
named Cray and Takaharu's partner, Rei, is a Phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
. This story takes place months after the events in Red and Black.
One day, on the way to school, Masaki is attacked by a devil. Cray jumps in and saves him. He tells Masaki that he is "Makai's chosen Devil Child" and hands a Devil Riser to him. After school Takaharu's little sister Shou who is waiting for Masaki, is put into a "Dark Slumber" by the devil that is hunting the Devil Children. In order to get the antidote for the "Dark Slumber" Masaki decides to venture into the Makai but at the same time Rei appears in front of Takaharu and tells him that he is an Angel Child. Takaharu then ventures by himself to Makai.
Gameplay
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
, and other monster-raising games. However, instead of catching monsters by defeating them in combat, the player must recruit them through diplomacy similar to the Last Bible series. The creatures the player obtains are called Demons. There are specific devils that only appear in each specific version.
Devil Children has gameplay that differs from most RPGs. The Demons in the game don't level up. The character who holds them does, and depending on the level of the character, the chances on whether the Demon will join him change. It also has link battle and link trade, where two players could duel each other or trade demons.
DemiKids: Light/Dark Version
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Book of Light/Book of Dark (真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン 光の書/闇の書) is a RPG from the Megami TenseiMegami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
series. The US versions are titled DemiKids: Light Version/Dark Version. Similar to its predecessor the two versions each feature a different main character, Jin for the Book of Light and Akira for the Book of Dark. Both main characters are Devil Children - half Demon, half human.
Story
The year is 200X.Jin, Akira and Lena are three child hood friends who like mysterious things. One day in the library, along with the mysterious transfer student Amy, they find the "Akuma Compendium". They chanted an incantation in the book and, to their surprise, devils appeared. Ami then told Jin and Akira that they are the Devil Children that will decide the fate of the world. She hands them their Devil Risers. The group then pass through the "Door of Time" to the land of Valhalla where they fight an evil ruler known as Imperius who plans on conquering all of the world. The Nakama of Jin is Rand, a Sol Lion, and Akira's is Gale, a Hylon.
Gameplay
The gamplay is mostly similar to its predecessor but with newly added elements.Both the Dark and Light versions tell the same story, but told from the different perspectives of the two characters. Certain Demons appear only in the Dark version or in the Light version. Gameplay in the Dark version is substantially different than the Light version; Dark is more complex while Light was simplified.
In America these games suffered due to what fans consider major gameplay flaws. Such as, the Demons don't level, the main Demon companion only levels when other demons are fused/sacrificed to it, and an overly complex menu system.
Devil Children - Puzzle de Call!
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Puzzle de Call! (真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン パズルdeコール!) is a puzzle game that plays like the classic puzzle game, SokobanSokoban
is a type of transport puzzle, in which the player pushes boxes or crates around in a warehouse, trying to get them to storage locations. The puzzle is usually implemented as a video game....
. In the story mode the player plays as Rand or Gale completing stages of puzzles in order to save their masters: Jin and Akira. There is also a puzzle mode and a race mode where 2 players can link battle.
Devil Children - Book of Fire/Book of Ice
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Book of Fire/Book of Ice (真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン 炎の書/氷の書) is the sequel to the earlier Book of Light/Book of Dark. It features the same characters from the previous game.Story
After the events in Book of Light /Book of Dark, peace is restored. But under the cover of peace, sudden earthquakes occur and thunder clouds cover the skies. Amidst the clouds numerous dark shadows appear...It seemed like the end of the world as an Angel appeared and told Jin and Lena about the coming of Armageddon. Then a mysterious tower appeared and Jin and Lena went to investigate the tower. At the same time, Akira, who is out in the streets, suddenly sees Ami, who is chased by the devil Hamel. Akira saves Ami and is told that in Valhalla there is now war between Angels against Devils.
- Fire book
- Jin will have to fight against Lena who appears to him as an "Angel Child"
- Ice book
- Akira will find out more about Ami and her involvement in events
Devil Children - Messiah Riser
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Messiah Riser (真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン メシアライザー) is a real-time strategy game featuring the characters from Book of Light/Book of Dark. The story revolves around the appearance of the "Messiah Riser".Story
A new disturbance breaks out in Valhalla, the cause of it is the "Messiah Riser".A long time ago, a devil of great power conquered Valhalla. But the Devil Child known as the "Legendary Messiah" appeared and sealed the devil in the Messiah Riser with the power of the secret stones.
The Imperial Army seeks the power of the devil sealed in the Messiah Riser, and plot to release the devil. Ami, realising the plans of the Imperial Army, seeks the help of Jin, Akira and Lena. The group then returns to Valhalla, this time searching for the secret stones scattered throughout Valhalla in order to reseal the devil.
Anime
In Japan, there were two series produced based on Red & Black, and Light & Dark games. The first series, , broadcast on Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Network on October 20, 2000 at 7:30AM, which replaced the Monster FarmMonster Farm
Monster Farm was a short-lived animated series from Saban that aired on the now-defunct Fox Family animation block for one season, from 1998 to 1999.-Plot:...
(Monster Rancher
Monster Rancher
Monster Rancher, known in Japan as , is a series of life simulation role-playing video games created by Tecmo . The series currently consists of fourteen games across different video game platforms, and future titles are planned...
outside of Japan) anime series. The series ran for 50 episodes and was animated and produced by TMS Entertainment, with the assistance of Actas.
The second series, was broadcast on TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
on October 5, 2002 at 9:00AM. The series ran for 52 episodes. Unlike the previous series, the series was animated and produced alone by Actas, until episode 26. Due to unknown causes, the production switched to Studio Comet
Studio Comet
is an animation studio based in Tokyo, Japan. It was established January 21, 1986.-Notable staff:*Hiroshi Kanazawa *Kazuo Harada *Shin Misawa...
at episode 27, causing a drastic staff change as a result.
Manga
There were two manga series, both drawn by Hideaki Fujii(ふじい ひであき/藤異秀明) and serialized in Kodansha's Comic Bom Bom. The two manga are titled "Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children" and "Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children: Light&Dark". The character designs differ slightly from the game designs and the story is darker and more violent compared to the game and anime. The manga has been licensed in Indonesia.Game
- Black Book/Red Book official site
- White Book official site
- Red and Black Book PS version official site
- Book of Light/Book of Dark official site
- Book of Fire/Book of Ice official site
- Puzzle de Call! official site
- Messiah Riser official site
- Official Demikids site