Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga review

Better the devil you know than the devil you don't? You're best off avoiding them entirely in this bizarre RPG

12DOVE Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Easy-to-use battle system

  • +

    Impressive

  • +

    stylish graphics

  • +

    Sets up the story well

Cons

  • -

    Repetitive music in places

  • -

    Many random battles

  • -

    It's a bit depressing to look at

Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Wednesday 20 July 2006
The first thing to be said about Digital Devil Saga is that this is no typical RPG. There are no medieval towns, no princesses in towers, no crazy stuffed toy style characters and you most definitely will not save the world. It's already been destroyed you see?

This is a post-apocalyptic nightmare of a world known as the Junkyard, where our 'hero' Serph and the other members of the Embryon Clan that he commands fight five other tribes.

The winners will supposedly be transported to Nirvana. It all goes pear-shaped when, in the middle of a tribe battle, a weird alien organism is struck by a blinding light from the sky, causing every person on the planet to develop the ability to change into a demon and eat each other. We hate it when that happens.

The story may be sprawling and weird but it's certainly compelling enough to make you want to buy the forthcoming Digital Devil Saga 2 to see how it all turns out.

From the very start you'll find battles surprisingly easy to navigate. The enemies are interesting and smart, changing tactics, calling in reinforcements and healing each other as they go. They'll also attack your weaknesses - using a fire spell on a character with low resistance to flames and so forth.

More info

GenreRole Playing
DescriptionAn extremely well-realised RPG with all the bizarreness of its Japanese roots. But this is the first half of a two-game story
Platform"PS2"
More
CATEGORIES
Latest in RPG
The Legend of Vox Machina
If you're craving more D&D after Baldur's Gate 3, Critical Role is "hard at work" on a video game – and it'll be unveiled "any day" now
Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon says he "got rid of" agents who deliberately kept him away from video game gigs: "They just didn't want me to do it"
Mass Effect
Jennifer Hale says she didn't see a single line as Mass Effect's Commander Shepard until it was time to record: "It was all cold reading on the spot"
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of a boss turned to gold surrounded by blood
5,000 gold, 2,500 hours, and one priceless scroll: Baldur's Gate 3 player cooks up a "Midas run" by turning the RPG's bosses into solid gold trophies, because "why not"
Stardew Valley Baldur's Gate 3 mod Baldur's Village
Stardew Valley player bringing a bit of Baldur's Gate 3 to ConcernedApe's farming sim, now with Larian's seal of approval, says they've played over 1,500 hours and will improve the mod
Avowed screenshot showing two companions assisting in combat
Avowed director says Xbox and Microsoft are "very happy" with the reception to its new Obsidian RPG
Latest in Reviews
Razer USB 4 Dock in silver on a wooden desk
Razer USB 4 Dock review: "solid, reliable, and surprisingly well-priced"
Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”
Talisman 5th Edition game components
Talisman 5th Edition review: "The characterful imperfections of the original game remain clear to see "
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K25 review: "A colossal package even if you never go anywhere near Virtual Currency"
Altered: Trial by Frost booster box and packs on a playmat
Altered: Trial by Frost review - "Satisfying enough to offer highly varied gameplay"
Three SteelSeries QcK Performance mouse pads on a wooden desk
I didn't expect to prefer a coarser mouse pad, but SteelSeries' new QcK Performance range has changed my mind