Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
| Video game fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor |
| Abbreviation(s) | Devil Survivor, DeSu |
| Developer(s) | Atlus |
| Release date | January 2009 (Japanese release),
June 2009 (American release), September 2011 (Overclocked Japanese release), August 2011 (Overclocked American release), July 2012 (Manga release) March 2013 (Overclocked European release) |
| External link(s) | Official European Website, Official Website Official Japanese Website |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is the first game in the Shin Megami Tensei spin-off series, Devil Survivor, for Nintendo DS. Rather than the turn-based style of the mainline series, Devil Survivor utilised tactical RPG mechanics, with a heavy emphasis on visual novel sections. A definitive edition (titled Megami Ibunroku Devil Survivor Overclock in Japan and Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked in English) was released a couple of years later for the 3DS. Overclocked improved the art, added voice acting, demons, and extended the story. A manga was released between 2012 and 2015, following a neutral route of the game.
Canon Overview
Plot
Kazuya (the protagonist), Atsuro and Yuzu receive a COMP each from Kazuya's cousin, Naoya. Naoya has taken the time to modify each of them, and the trio start trying to work out why they've been given them when an outbreak of demons occurs. The Yamanote circle is put into lockdown by the JSDF, who give no information to the trapped population as demons start to trickle in. The power and phone lines go down, preventing any communication with the outside world, and no supplies are being brought in. Inside the circle, the Shomonkai cult has received a captive audience for their preaching, and the people are starting to riot for their freedom.
The main trio finds a way to summon demons that they can control using the COMPs, and become quickly aware that they're not the only ones with modified COMPs. Kazuya also realises that he's able to see a "death clock" for everyone in the Yamanote Circle, counting down the days to their deaths and all of them have less than 7. They also receive e-mails each morning, warning them of coming disasters for the day. The trio decides to find a way to end the lockdown.
Characters
Fandom
Devil Survivor has a quieter fanbase than mainline Shin Megami Tensei or Persona but still has a fair amount of activity. During polling of SMT game popularity, Devil Survivor tends to rank fairly high, taking 3rd place in the Megaten Game Awards 2022 poll[1].
Fan Theories
One fan theory is that Cain didn't kill Abel out of jealousy in the Devil Survivor canon. Given we know God sucks in Shin Megami Tensei games, including Devil Survivor, he may have had other motivations for killing Abel. Some fans believe that God planned to use Abel to control or destroy the demons, and Cain killed him to save him from that destiny.
There's much discussion about when Naoya got his memories back about being Cain;
Honestly I think I the age 5-6 thing would make more sense but at the same time I cannot help but laugh at this fucking infant filled with rage against God Almighty
I could see his punishment being him getting his memories after a few years just so that he can get a taste of what normal life is like. Have him bond with his parents and siblings. Find joy in his every day life, just as a normal child would. Maybe he’s excited about his first day of school. Or maybe he’s going through a dinosaur phase where all he wants to do is look at T-Rexes all day. He’s bright-eyed and eager, forming close and loving relationships with people around him.And then just as this is all happening, it’s cruelly stolen from him. The relationships he’s formed are suddenly destroyed. He knows more than they ever will and he knows they’ll never understand him. They only know and love the shallow form that is his current incarnation, but they don’t love who he truly is. He can’t find joy in anything anymore because he’s already experienced it all before.
He can’t help but grow distant from others as a result. He can’t afford to get too attached. It hurts everyone around him to see him transform into such an aloof and detached person without any reason, but he could never explain it to them. How could he? All he can do is sit back and watch the relationships and joy he once so treasured slowly crumble into nothing.
YHVH means for this to be an incentive for Cain to end his punishment. “See? If you just repented, this is the life you could have led” But it backfires, doing nothing but stoke Cain’s resentment againt him.
Tropes
- The King of Demons Ending is particularly popular in fanworks, especially with Naoya/Kazuya shippers.
- Character studies are also popular, particularly about Naoya
- Devil Survivor's setting is frequently used as an AU for other media
- Interspecies content with demons is particularly popular, especially in art
Shipping
- Naoya/Kazuya
- Kazuya/Atsuro Kihara/Yuzu Tanikawa
- Kazuya/Yuzu Tanikawa
- Kazuya/Atsuro Kihara
- Atsuro Kihara/Keisuke Takagi
- Yoshino Harusawa/Yuzu Tanikawa
- Naoya/Loki
Fanworks
Fanfiction
- As Epochs for Days by Volta_Arovet; Gen Rated; A character study of Naoya
- Distance by The Genius Mage Divine Wolfe; K+ Rated; Kazuya/Yuzu
- Five Emails Naoya Never Sent, and One He Wished He Could Have by Chichirinoda; Gen Rated; a 5+1 Things fic
- Sacrifice by Laryna6; Gen Rated; Atsuro route
- Corruption by Sigyn-chi; T Rated; Naoya/Kazuya fic based off fan theory of Cain killing Abel to protect him
Fanart
- Then. Now. by Rene-Elric
- Naoya Doodle by Unmeisaki
Cosplay
Crafts
Meta
- Naoya-Lucifer Comparison by Queen-of-Bel
- Laplace by Queen-of-Bel
Icon Collections
Communities and Resources
References
- ^ Megaten Game Awards 2022 Third Place Announcement, Jan 26 2022 (Accessed Feb 26 2022)