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Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne And Tokyo Culture

Posted by simoniker on from the curiouser-and-curiouser dept.

Thanks to QuarterToThree for its article discussing the cultural relevance of forthcoming PS2 RPG Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, being released later this year in the States by creators Atlus. The author notes: "As some movies and novels are undoubtedly based around the various subcultures which spring up in these popular cities, MegaTen's soul is firmly based in Tokyo and some of the subcultures therein", and continues with regard to the mature plots of the series: "MegaTen games [which include U.S.-released side-story Persona 2], but more specifically the main series in Shin Megami Tensei, are concerned with weighty, thematic, thick, convoluted moral themes. It organizes modern and old religions and mythologies into areas where people insecure in their beliefs might be uncomfortable." In a related article, 1UP has an interview with MegaTen series composer Shoji Meguro, including samples of his work for Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne.

3 of 16 comments (clear)

  1. Okay... so.. by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've been looking forward to this game since my friend (from Japan) mentioned it. It seems a good game and if theres a good culture refrence behind it all the better... but this article made me think "Come to Japan, we're freaks". It showed all the Japan steriotypes in 5 pages and mentioned the game... was good.. and had toilet enemies? O.o

    Wheres the mention of Dante from Devil may cry (A refrence everyone will get) hunting you? The countless angels from the Christian faith you can get to join you?

    Wheres the mention of fighting God himself? They skipped the game over and tried to whore Japan to hippies, freaks (no offence) and businessmen... Well done article..

    Sorry to sound negative but when I read a game article, I like it to have more then 3 words about the game.

    --
    I like muppets.
  2. It might actually be a good thing... by bluemeep · · Score: 2, Insightful
    ...Considering the old Nintendo's iron fist of PG ratings. Anyone remember the Hero's mother in SMT1? You can bet that scene would have been either cut or censored so hard that any impact that it had would be gone. It still creeps me out to think about it...

    Frankly, I'm much happier getting them late but with them being translated by the loving hand of Aeon Genesis.

    1. Re:It might actually be a good thing... by Lynxara · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Devil Children may share the SMT epithet, but yeah, it's definitely no substitute for the original games. Devil Children is almost its own product line at this point, one that just happens to reinterpret a lot of classic SMT monsters in a very Shounen Jumpy style.

      I'm pretty fond of the anime that goes along with it, too, but I'd sorta hate to see that get translated... it would inevitably get targeted for broadcast, which would mean very severe censorship. It's kind of sad when you consider that Devil Children was so obviously conceived to be the less horrific, more child-friendly part of the MegaTen game family....