Best RPGs: Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga (PS2)

A battle rages as the Embryon and Vanguard tribes fight for new territory in the Junkyard. You are Serph, Leader of the Embryon, and battling along side you are your lieutenants Argilla, Gale, Cielo and Heat. The battle is cut short by a falling object from the sky that crashes in the center of the battlefield. Just then a transmission from the Karma Temple, the governing body of the Junkyard, is sent to the Embyon and Vanguard tribes. They are to destroy the pod or face the consequences. Before they can act, the pod opens and light streaks across the battlefield giving everyone in the Junkyard the ability to turn into demons with an uncontrollable hunger to feed. And so begins one of the best RPGs on the PS2, Digital Devil Saga.

Gameplay
The game is divided into two types of game play which is fairly standard for most RPGs. Most of your time will be spent exploring different locations to unlock story elements. The levels in Digital Devil Saga are complex and require a good amount of thinking to make it through. These environments very quite a bit in structure and include industrial communities to a towering labyrinth. The second type of game play is the battles. This is where Digital Devil Saga really stands out with its intuitive yet interesting battle system.

This game uses a variation of the Press-Turn battle system used in other SMT games. During battle enemies and characters in your party have weaknesses and strength to certain classes of spells and attacks. If you attack an enemy with a spell they are weak to then they will take additional damage and you will get another turn in the process. This can also work against you if you are the one being attacked. As an example Serph, the protagonist, is strong against ice attacks but weak against fire attacks. If an enemy attacks him with a fire attack he will take much more damage and the enemy will get another turn. This makes the battles challenging and interesting throughout the entire game because you consistently have to be using this to your advantage. If not, even a simple battle can go horribly wrong.

Leveling skills for your characters in the game is done by devouring your enemies after battle. By devouring your enemies you gain their Atma which can be used at a terminal to download new skills for your characters. This has been improved upon from SMT Nocturne by allowing you to keep any skill obtained so you can use them however and whenever you like. This plays a huge role in the game since skills allow you to void character and exploit enemy weaknesses.

Visuals
Digital Devil Saga has a unique visual style all of its own that combines futuristic and tribal designs. The characters are beautifully cell-shaded and are very contemporary looking in style. Added to this is the tribal aspect in which each character is emblazed with a tattoo of their Atma symbol and a swash of color to represent what tribe they are affiliated with. This approach is also apparent in the level design. Most locations of the game are futuristic locations but surrounded by a decaying landscape of rain and dirt. The architecture is clean simple lines and very utilitarian for the most part, though there are enough small details that the world seems lived in and used.

One area that shines brightly in this game, as in all other SMT games, are the character designs of the demons. The demons all have a simple elegance and are extremely stylized. They are taken from various cultures and include deities, demons, pagan gods, fairy tale characters and others. All of these characters have their own animations and are handled with a high level of care. This is one of the reasons that playing SMT games are so appealing.

Audio
The audio is Digital Devil Saga adds quite a bit to the overall atmosphere and mood to the game, but the soundtrack may not be liked by everyone. Most of the tracks are soft rock with some even having lead guitar, but this being said they still fit the games dark theme very well. They are a nice counterbalance to the mood of the game and add beauty to the story. There is even a simple piano track that I listen to still. The other audio is perfect for the game. They are dark, complex and well crafted.

Conclusion
Digital Devil Saga is a great RPG that may not be for everyone. Like Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne before it, the imagery can be disturbing, the game play can be very difficult and the themes are very mature. This is a game that makes you rethink the normal themes of RPGs. If you are looking for a mature, beautifully crafted, well thought out and challenging RPG this is the game for you and you will be rewarded for your efforts with a great gaming experience.