The coveted final spot in today’s partner company-themed Nintendo Mini Direct (which can be seen here) was held by developer Atlus, which had quite a surprising announcement to share with viewers. After several years of silence, the popular role-playing game franchise Shin Megami Tensei is coming back with a bang. Once again, demons are taking over the world, and the protagonist must team up with demon allies of their own to fight on the side of Order or Chaos – or forge their own path.
Two new titles will be debuting in 2021, both for the Nintendo Switch. The first is an HD remake of the popular 2003 title Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, which released for the PlayStation 2 as the third “main” entry into the series. Nocturne told the story of an ordinary protagonist who was transported into the mysterious “Vortex World”. Given a power which transforms him into the part-human part-demon “Demi-Fiend,” the protagonist is tasked with remaking Tokyo, at times aided and opposed by both friends and sinister cult members. The remake of Nocturne is currently planned to release sometime in Spring, and will also release for the PlayStation 4.
The second is the long-awaited Shin Megami Tensei V, the fifth main series title, debuting eight years after SMT IV and five years after its spinoff title Apocalypse. The game’s reveal trailer shows a protagonist (whose gender has not yet been confirmed) facing down an army of flying demons, seemingly commanded by a larger demon who refers to both “the time of Creation” and “a world without a Creator”.
Atlus has confirmed that SMT V will feature popular mechanics from previous titles, including the ability to raise and fuse various demons. It will also deal with a variety of modern issues including terrorism, nuclear weapons and anxiety in the working world. SMT V will release for the Nintendo Switch at a currently unknown time in 2021. It will release simultaneously around the world, the first time Atlus has done such a thing for any of their major titles.
Are you excited for the Nocturne remake and Shin Megami Tensei V? Are you planning to fight for Order, Chaos, or neither of the above? Let us know!
