Shin Megami Tensei

[lisalover1]

I am a fan of the Persona series, but I have always been wary of playing the main line MT games. I am a Christian, so many of the games in the series would obviously be upsetting with me, which is why I am staying away from them. I am a bit suspicious that the upcoming Persona 2 PSP release might fall into this same territory, but on the other hand, on the chance that it isn't, I don't want to encounter any outright spoilers. Can anyone who has played it let me know if this is something to be concerned about?

[MrPopo]

I am a fan of the Persona series, but I have always been wary of playing the main line MT games. I am a Christian, so many of the games in the series would obviously be upsetting with me, which is why I am staying away from them. I am a bit suspicious that the upcoming Persona 2 PSP release might fall into this same territory, but on the other hand, on the chance that it isn't, I don't want to encounter any outright spoilers. Can anyone who has played it let me know if this is something to be concerned about?

While I haven't played it, from what I've heard Persona 2 doesn't include the kind of religion references that the main SMT games do. Sure, you can use a Lucifer persona, but he isn't an in-game character. I know that Hitler makes an appearance, which is suggested to be one of the reasons it was never localized (but the sequel was).

[Hatta]

I am a Christian, so many of the games in the series would obviously be upsetting with me, which is why I am staying away from them.

You don't have to let it bother you. I am anti-authoritarian to the core. Yet I have no problem playing games like Police Quest. I am as atheist as they come, yet I have no problems playing Black & White or Age of Mythology. I smoke a lot of pot, yet NARC is one of my favorite arcade games.

So try not taking it that seriously. It's not meant to be taken seriously. It's a game. They're not making arguments for or against any specific religion, or religion itself. They're taking inspiration from religious ideas and playing with them. Just for fun.

And even if it were serious, there's a good argument for exposing yourself to ideas you don't agree with. If you're religious, read some Bertrand Russell or Daniel Dennett. If you're atheist, read some Thomas Aquinus or CS Lewis. If you are so unsure of your ideas that you're unwilling to challenge them, well maybe you should reconsider why you hold them in the first place.

[skyknight]

One thing that I can say about Atlus SMT series that I have played, it has nothing against Christians, you may be offended to see some demons listed and are able to be your allies; but FF series had deities from Greek and Hindu religion as well, where SMT actually portrays them more accurately. It is almost like watching Jesus and Satan in South Park.

And to be honest, I do like the moral ambiguity in the series, as there is no absolute good or bad, granted there is Law and Chaos - each has a case for its existence. I can say the Persona series isn't that sharp on asking you to choose a side.

[lisalover1]

After thinking about it, I think it is perfectly fine for me to play SMT games. If it is acceptable for a Christian to read other religious texts, then it should be just as acceptable to play such games.

[noiseredux]

lisalover, off topic but, did you notice the Persona books in Vincent's apartment in Catherine?

[lisalover1]

lisalover, off topic but, did you notice the Persona books in Vincent's apartment in Catherine?

Actually, I didn't! Wow, I can't believe I missed that. Do you have a screenshot or anything of them? I remember the Gekkoukan High logo in the Stray Sheep, but I didn't see anything in Vincent's apartment.

[Gamerforlife]

Do we group Catherine with these games? It's actually the first game out of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise that I've genuinely liked and maybe the first that I may actually finish

I do have a copy of Devil Summoner sitting around though and I've never played it

[skyknight]

Do we group Catherine with these games? It's actually the first game out of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise that I've genuinely liked and maybe the first that I may actually finish

I do have a copy of Devil Summoner sitting around though and I've never played it

Hard to say, as the Catherine deals with personal demons, I haven't heard that players can meet Igor and ask him to fuse demons for you.

[noiseredux]

I dont know... Catherine doesn't have the SMT subtitle anywhere. I really don't think it's intended to be part of SMT.