Ask anyone to name an RPG and the likely answer will likely contain the words “Final” and “Fantasy”. Ask a hardcore RPG fan the same question, and you might hear the words “Shin Megami Tensai”. Though a long-running series in Japan, the SMT series has only recently made it over to the US, most notably as SMT: Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga (DDS). Though they failed to achieve the same level of success as other RPG series, they were still quality experiences. Shin Megami Tensai: Devil Summoner is the latest in the series to hit the US and provides an experience worthy of the SMT name.

Devil Summoner’s presentation is on par with other games in the series. The game isn’t a visual powerhouse, but makes up for any technical flaws with its strong art style and pleasing aesthetic. Environments are rendered and true to the 1920’s era locations the game takes place in. Characters reflect the same era-appropriate look and manage to push through a nice amount of personality.

Devil Summoner centers on Raidou Kuzunoha, an investigator in 1920’s Japan. Of course, this version of Japan isn’t quite the one you would expect to see on the History Channel. Demons, devils and other paranormal activities aren’t all that uncommon. Even the presence of a large, talking cat doesn’t phase people.

Most of Devil Summoner’s story revolves around Radiou’s work as a private investigator for the Narumi Detective Agency, an outfit that takes the cases that other just can’t seem to solve. The game opens when a young client is kidnapped during a routine investigation. No one seems to know why the girl was taken, or by whom, so Raidou decides to figure it out himself.

Given the game’s dark undertones, Devil Summoner is surprisingly light-hearted. It is not a joyous, laugh-a-minute tale, but when compared to the deep, philosophical musing’s found in DDS, it is a change. Demon designs have a fun bit of whimsy to them, giving them a cool, yet friendly look.

Gameplay is reminiscent of other games in the series, though Devil Summoner owes more to Nocturne rather than Digital Devil Saga. As Raidou travels around Tokyo, he can talk to inhabitants and search for information pertaining to his current case or to other events going on at the time. As he finds leads, new areas of the city open up, leading to more people to talk to and new demons to combat.

For a seasoned RPG veteran, Devil Summoner shouldn’t prove to be that hard. The game has its fair share of tricky battles, but there’s nothing you can’t overcome with a little planning, smart tactics and little luck. Battles are rather common, so the quicker you get a feel for the combat system, the easier the game will be later on.

Smart use of the fusion system, or at least patience enough to learn the system, makes a big difference since you’ll have more powerful allies on your side. Of course, the system might be a little too much for players who don’t like a lot of stat management and would rather hack their way through everything.

Combat is more action-based rather than menu-based. You control Raidou and have full command of his attacks. At the same time, you also control a demon companion whose actions are controlled via a menu system. You can also leave your companion to make his own decisions, though the A.I.’s judgement isn’t completely devoid of bad decision-making in some situations and could lead to some trouble down the road. Compared to other games, combat is much faster in Devil Summoner. Battles don’t feel as tedious as they do in other RPGs, though they still happen a little too often in some parts, which can get tiring when you’re just trying to get through one small area.

In addition to his sword, Raidou is also armed with a special vial-gun that is used to capture rogue demons. During combat, your goal is to figure out and abuse your opponent’s weak-spots. Doing so will eventually wear them down, at which point you can attempt to capture them with your gun. By successfully capturing demons, you can then use them in battle as your companion, or splice them with others to try and unlock more powerful demons.

Fusion is one of the series' trademark systems and one you could easily lose yourself in. Similar to Nocturne and DDS, captured demons can be merged with others, providing higher-level demons or at least some really unique combinations. If you’re not the experimental type, you could probably get through the game without spending too much time playing with fusions, but players who learn the system and tinker around will find the game much more rewarding. Of course, getting some of the better demons through fusion will also take patience, since you’re likely to have just as many dud fusions as your are successes.

SMT: Devil Summoner is a game that will appeal to nearly all RPG fans, though fans of “non-traditional” RPGs or anything in Atlus’ catalog will obviously find more to like about the game than your typical player. Regardless, Devil Summoner is still a fun game and worth checking out if you’re just looking for a solid RPG or have had your fill of “Fantasies”.