Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II

Lore & Background

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II was developed by Atlus and published by Namco for the Famicom in 1990. Development began in 1987 following the release of the first game, with director Kouji Okada using discarded ideas from the original due to space limitations. The game features an original story, unlike its predecessor which adapted the Digital Devil Story novels, and examines preconceptions surrounding order and chaos. Kazuma Kaneko created the character and demon designs, his first work on the series, drawing inspiration from Godzilla monsters and world mythology. The music was composed by Tsukasa Masuko, who incorporated his earlier work and benefited from a dedicated memory map for improved quality.

Reader's Guide

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II is significant for establishing many series conventions, including demon negotiation and fusion, morality-based choices affecting the ending, and a post-apocalyptic setting. Its original story, written with permission from Aya Nishitani, moved the series away from direct novel adaptations. The game was partially remade in the 1992 Super Famicom title Shin Megami Tensei, indicating its foundational role. The enhanced Super Famicom port, released by Atlus in 1995 and developed by Opera House, extended its reach. Critics praised the game upon release, and it is regarded as influential for later entries in the Megami Tensei series.

Did You Know?

• The game was partially remade in the 1992 Super Famicom title Shin Megami Tensei.
• Kazuma Kaneko's demon designs were inspired by monsters from the Godzilla series.
• The music quality was improved by incorporating a dedicated memory map.
• The story was original, created with permission from Digital Devil Story author Aya Nishitani.