Shin Megami Tensei IV Retrospective: Atlus Stayed True to Its Dark RPG Roots
Shin Megami Tensei IV arrived in 2013, years after Persona 3's success had raised questions about whether Atlus would keep making harsher RPGs. The game sent players through a demon-infested, ruined Tokyo and retained the series' difficult, dark identity. A retrospective argues that SMT IV showed Atlus could still serve dedicated fans, a path later continued by Shin Megami Tensei V.
Atlus built a catalog that included Persona, Etrian Odyssey, Trauma Center, and localized smaller Japanese RPGs. Persona 3 reached North America in 2006 under the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 title, tying the spinoff to a series that began on NES in 1987 and arrived overseas with Nocturne in 2004.
Shin Megami Tensei IV launched in Japan on May 23, 2013, and reached the West two months later on 3DS. It used the Press Turn system, where matching elements earned extra turns and poor choices left players exposed. Its release included a music CD and a 176-page companion volume focused on strategy and design.
The retrospective may matter most to longtime JRPG fans and players introduced through Persona, who could discover Atlus's harsher series. Its discussion of SMT IV's difficulty and dark setting may shape how newcomers approach older RPGs, while also reminding publishers that niche, demanding games can retain dedicated audiences. This could influence preservation and retrospective coverage, though its broader social effect is likely limited to gaming culture.