Shin Megami Tensei I General Notes File Written by Kage no Tenshi Re-Miel With the kind assistance of Kanzaki Junji v 1.02 --====-- ----> 0. About this translation and its author. This is a translation for Shin Megami Tensei I on SFC by Atlus. It is written by myself and is (C) 1999, Re-Miel. Any reproduction or modification of this document is prohibited without explicit written permition from the author. Latest versions of this translation can always be obtained at http://tal20.trin.cam.ac.uk/~remiel/megaten/ and follow the links to Shin Megaten I section from there. This translation consists of 3 files: smt1gen.txt - Notes referring to the game in general, please reade these FIRST. smt1story.txt - 'Walkthrough' File smt1loc.txt - 'Locations' File As for me, I am Kage no Tenshi Re-Miel - Re-Miel for short. I can always be reached at tal20@cam.ac.uk I welcome any questions, comments, problems, etc about this translation, in particular, and Shin Megaten I in general. If you have any problem with the game feel free to ask me, I will be glad to help. Let me stress that bit about feedback again - there is nothing that warms the heart of FAQ writer more than even few lines telling what people thought about his work. PLEASE, comment. PLEASE, tell me what you thought of this. That's the only way I will know that someone actually used this FAQ. ;-) Now to handle an unfortunate but necessary topic - I would also like to point out, that this translation is result of unbelievable time and effort for me. You don't want to know how long I worked on it. ;-) As result, I will react not at all well, if this translation is stolen, changed or submitted anywhere with fake credits. I.e. I will stop any further translation work I am doing. If you want to see similar translations for the rest of the Megaten games - do not abuse this one. Oh, and the last thing - if you want to put this translation or a link to it on your website, PLEASE e-mail me and ask me first. I will of course have no objections, but _I want to know_ where does this translation go. ----> 1. General explanation This is a walthrough for 'Shin Megami Tensei I', famous RPG released by Atlus for Super Famicom in 1992. This game has re-defined Megaten series and is considered by many people its finest moment. Unlike most RPGs on the market it is not a fantasy game - the game starts in 199X in Tokyo. It concerns itself with the Second War between Heaven and Hell which breaks out in the end of the Millenium. The main characters are all high-school kids, who got caught up in the conflict. The game features three paths through it - LAW, CHAOS and NEUTRAL. Depending on the decisions you make throughout the game your alignment will change between these three. And depending on your alignment, NPCs will react to you differently. The storyline for each alignment diverges completely towards the end of the game, with you joining opposite sides of the same conflict depending on your alignment. There are, naturally, three different endings to the game. Also be warned that the game is very long and very difficult - at times it is downright unforgiving. As such it is a serious investment of time. However if you like the dark and atmospheric RPGs, chock-full of mythological and occult references, drawing heavily on religious symbolism for its storyline, you will love every minute of this game. ---->2. Notes on the structure More or less this is the translation of every single scrap of the character dialogue in the game I was able to dig out after several playthroughs through the game AND hacking the ROM to get out the text that I missed. Basically this is a storyline translation - I didn't translate menus, combat commands and such. It assumes you will be able to, one way or another, to hand combat, demon fusion and suchlike parts of the game by yourself. Currently it only covers in full two out of three paths through the game - LAW and CHAOS. The NEUTRAL path will be added in the next revision. This version of FAQ is split into three files: 1. smt1gen.txt The file you are reading. General notes on the game and the game engine. 1. smt1story.txt This is the main file. It contains full walkthrough through the game with translation of all the storyline important dialogue. It is meant for sequential reading - i.e. you read it from top to bottom and it will guide you by the hand from the first second of the game to the last one. It doesn't contain the dialogue non-important to story - the encounters with normal people in the towns, the pub conversations. Basically all the stuff which doesn't affect the storyline directly. All of those are kept in 'Locations' file. 2. smt1loc.txt This is the so-called 'Locations' file. It contains all the dialogue in the game split by the location - which town/dungeon you meet the person you are talking to. As such it is designed for referential reading - i.e. you reach, say, Shinjuku for the first time and then you read all the dialogue for people you meet on the streets of Shinjuku, etc. While it does duplicate some of the dialogue from the 'Walthrough' file, it doesn't contain any of the dialogue without fixed location, nor most of the text which advances the storyline etc. All of those are kept in 'Walkthrough file'. If all of this sounds very confusing - don't worry. You will pick it up quickly and you will see why I layed it out that way. Basically, between these two files they contain all the dialogue in the game. The 'Walkthrough' file gives it in chronological order, as it happens, and the 'Locations' files gives it in geographical order, i.e. where it happens. ---->3. Notes on translation. Firstly, let me tell you that you will get most out of this translation if you know hiragana and katakana - two phonetic Japanese alphabets. It doesn't take more than a few days to learn them, and you wouldn't believe how much easier it will become for you to play import games. If you know hiragana and katakana, you will be able, easily, to choose options in menus, fuse demons, use items - all without any actual knowledge of Japanese itself. If you don't, you should still be able to get through those elements of the game by trial and error, but it will take you more time. In a nutshell - go and learn hiragana/katakana _NOW_. It is Good For You. Some knowledge of basic words like 'buy', 'sell', 'take', etc. will also make your life easire, but it is not required. Few words on the style of the translation - while I make an effort to stay as close to original Japanese text as possible, my first priority is producing English which sounds like it is English. If you want 100% literal, no paraphrasing translation - go learn Japanese. Nothing less will ever satisfy you. However, in some cases I am extremely reluctant to translate some of the titles, terms of endearments, etc, because they translate very poorly, if at all. As result, here is a short list of Japanese words you can expect to run into, in the course of the walkthrough: 1. Onii-chan - Literally 'older brother', this is a term of endearment often used by younger girls to older men around them. 2. Dai-Maou - 'Dai' means 'Great', so the whole thing translates as Great Demon Lord. 3. Daitenshi - Great Angel 4. Shiten-Ou - Four Kings of Heaven ---->4. Notes on alignment. The alignment of a creature in most Megaten games is formed with two parts: (LAW/NEUTRAL/CHAOS) + (LIGHT/NEUTRAL/DARK) I.e. there are 9 alignments: NEUTRAL-LAW, LIGHT-CHAOS, etc. From the game manual, the meanings of alignments are as follow: --LAW Meticulously upholds existing Law and Order. --CHAOS Believes in chaos, in 'purpose justifies the means'. --LIGHT Openheartedly commits good deeds. --DARK Evil, destructive character. Basically LAW believe in order and structure, in rigid hierarchy in everything, in strict loyalty, in conservativness and traditions, in logic over feeling, in mind over flesh, etc. CHAOS believe in chaos, in dynamic, in constant change and self-improvement, that one's standing in the world must depend on your own merit, 'might makes right', 'Do what thou wilst, shall be the whole of Law', 'Purpose justifies the means', etc. LIGHT value the lives of others, tries to help those around them, believes in kindess, in gentleness. DARK relish in murder and destruction, doesn't care about those around them, doesn't stop to hurt people to achieve their goals. Demons can have any of the nine alignments, but the main characters are only restricted to LIGHT-LAW, LIGHT-NEUTRAL or LIGHT-CHAOS - you are automatically assumed to be on the side of LIGHT. ---->5. Notes on demons: A very large part of the game are the demons - you fight them, you talk to them, you get them to join your party, you fuse them, etc. The 'demons' is a deceptive word - everyone from elves to gods are included in that description. So basically 'demon' in this game is any supernatural creature. In the world of Megaten, all the demons are split into major Races. The Race of the demon determines its alignment, the way it will behave in Fusion and a lot of other things. The races are as follows (from manual): LIGHT-LAW 1). MAJIN [Ma (Demon, Magic) + Jin (Person)] The rulers of demons, they possest the power, which is second to none. A lot of them appear to be very epicurean, pleasure-seeking gods. 2). MEGAMI [Me (Female) + Gami (God)] Gentle godesses, who are full of love and compassion. 3). SERAPH [A word borrowed from English] They were specially chosen amongst all Angels by One God and given unique powers. 4). TENSHI [Angel = Ten (Heaven) + Shi (Messenger, To Use)] Holy spirits who are the eyes and the hands of One God. But when confronted with enemy, they take up weapons and fight most fiercely. 5). SEIJUU [Sei (Holy) + Juu (Beast)] The holy animals, comparable to REICHOU. Because they are holy, they posses somewhat vulnerable apearance. LIGHT NEUTRAL 1). SHINJUU [Shin (God) + Juu (Beast)] The very incarnation of ferocious power of a god. They manifest very strong powers in the battle with the creatures of evil. 2). SEIREI [Elemental = 'Sei' (Ghost, Fairy) + 'Rei' (Spirit)] The embodiments of four Great Elements - Earth, Water, Fire and Wind. LIGHT CHAOS 1). TENMA [Ten (Heaven) + Ma (Magic, Demon)] These gods have the power comparable to that of MAJIN. But they are not the pleasure-seeking kind - they are strict both to themselves and to those around them. 2). KISHIN [Ki (Oni, Ogre) + Shin (God)] The gods, who personify rage and anger. Many of them are TOUKI, who managed to gain the power of a god. 3). RYUUJIN [Ryuu (Dragon) + Jin (God)] Elders of Dragon race. They are the most ancient ones amongst all gods. They posses intellect that surpasses by far that of any human. NEUTRAL LAW 1). YOUMA [You (Mysterious, Strange) + Ma (Demon, Magic)] Monsters, who possess high magical power. Their character is more light, than dark. 2). CHIREI [Chi (Earth) + Rei (Spirit)] The spirits, who do not have enough fierceness to be an Ogre, they gain their powers from the Earth. 3). MESSIAH KYOUTO [Messiah followers] Humans who fight demons and believe in the coming of the Messiah. 4). YOUCHOU [You (Mysterious, Strange) + Chou (Bird)] These are the demons of Wind, are attracted to human sould and who try to steal away anything that catch their fancy. They are dangerous, but not as such evil. NEUTRAL NEUTRAL 1). TOUKI [Tou (Fight, War) + Ki (Oni, Ogre)] They delight in strife and conflict, so they are used a lot to fight someone else's battles. 2). MAJUU [Ma (Majic, Demon) + Juu (Beast)] They were normal beasts, leaving by animal intuition, before they were transformed into demons. They are dangerous, but not as such evil. 3). YOUSEI [Fairies, Elves = You (Mysterious, Strange) + Sei (Fairy, spirit)] The cheerfull and merry monsters. Without any particular preference to good or evil, they just like to do as they please. 4). JUUJIN [Juu (Beast) + Jin (Man)] Monsters who were born of a fusion between a human and a demon NEUTRAL CHAOS 1). KIJO [Ki (Oni, Ogre) + Jo (Woman)] They are the goddesses, who bring about destruction. When confronted with enemy, they kill without a trace of mercy. 2). RYUUOU [Ryuu (Dragon) + Ou (King)] Dragons who possess a great deal of power, but not quite enough to make them RYUUJIN. 3). GAIA KYOUTO [Gaia followers] Humans who accepted the rule of demons and believe in co-existence of humans and demons. 4). YOUKI [You (Mysterious, Strange) + Ki (Oni, Demon)] As opposed to TOUKI, YOUKI would never accept someone else's rule. They are moved by anger and only anger. 5). YAMA [Ya (Night) + Ma (Magic, Demon)] Fearsome apparitions of the night, who possess even more power than YOUMA. Since the ancient times, they were the closest to humans amongst all demons. 6). DATENSHI [ Da (Fall) + Tenshi (Angel)] Angels, who have once rebelled against the One God, but when their rebellion was crushed, they Fell into the depths of Makai. Now they are considered as demons. DARK LAW 1). JASHIN [Ja (Wicked) + Shin (God)] The most evil amongst the Fallen gods, they wreak destruction, in order to reap the terror and suffering of humans. 2). KYOUCHOU [Kyou (Evil) + Chou (Bird)] These are the bird of ill omen, which carry bad luck on their wings. They greedily feed on human souls. 3). JAKI [Ja (Wicked) + Ki (Oni, Ogre)] Gods and spirits who fell even lower then everyone else. Nothing other than a soul will satisfy their appetite for cruelty and for revenge. DARK NEUTRAL 1). YOUJUU [Yo (Mysterious, Strange) + Juu (Beast)] Demons of unsatiable appetite. Their powers exist purely for destruction. 2). SHIKI [Zombie = Shi (Corpse) + Ki (Oni, Ogre)] Corpses, who walk about animated by the power of demons. These are the so called 'Undead' monsters. DARK CHAOS 1). MAOU [Ma (Demon, Magic) + Ou (King)] Ancient gods, who fell to Makai at the time of the Fall. They are forever scheming to regain the Throne. 2). JARYUU [Ja (Wicked) + RYUU (Dragons)] Not possessing much intelligence, driven onwards by their their greedy appetites and destructive urges, these are the very incarnations of the powers of darkness. 3). YUUKI [Yuu (Ghost) + Ki (Oni, Ogre)] Itense feelings of human hatred given form upon death, these creatures exist only to do evil. 4). AKURYOU [Aku (Evil) + RYOU (Spirit)] The spirits, formed out of hateful, malign emotions, who do not possess enough power to materialise, like YUUKI. Because they lack flesh, their attacks are subtle and cunning. 5). GEDOU [Heretic = 'Ge' (Outside, wrong) + 'Dou' (Road)] Demons who are not capable of materialising. Also, the humans who allowed the demons to take over their mind. ---->5. Notes on demon negotiation Large part of this game is negotiating with demons you meet. Any time you meet enemy, you can shoose to either fight them or talk to them. Choosing to talk to demons, enters negotiation mode - it is possible to get out of combat or even to get demon to do something nice for you - give you money, magnetite or, most importantly, agree to become your Ally. The way this game works is - you carry a computer with you, in which you can store demons, who agree to become your Allies. Then you can summon them at any time you wish into your party, where they fight alongside of the human PCs. You can also fuse several Allies to form a stronger Ally. So, if you want to be torn to shreds by the first demon you meet, you better learn how to get demons to agree to join you as your Allies. Unfortunately, there is no way I can translate that - the dialogue with demons is largely random, so you will have no way of telling which line is demon using. It is, however, more than possible to learn how to do that by trial and error. The first time conversation starts - you are presented with two tones in which you can start the conversation: - Friendly - Coercing After you choose, demon will respond and you will get two choices of how to continue the conversation. Basically, this will continue until the demon either leaves, attacks you, gets angry (you can not talk any more this round) or gets in a good mood and asks you what do you want. What you want to work for is the latter. You will immediately know that it happened, because instead of usual two responses, you will get four: -Make into an Ally -Money -Magnetite -Leave Choose the first one. Sometimes demons will join you immediately, but most of the time they wil ask you to give them something first - money, magnetite, maseki (Magic Stone), etc. Basically, just keep saying 'Yes' to all their requests until they will join you. (Or you run out of what they keep asking you for, in which case go earn more money, get more maseki, etc.) This is the way conversation will go most of the time. There are of course abberations, unusual things happening, etc. But remember - your goal is to see those four responses above to appear. ;-) However, you can NOT ever gain a DARK monster as an Ally - only LIGHT and NEUTRAL Oh and one more thing - you can not talk to any demons during the Full Moon - the moonlight affects them in a funny way. ;-) ---->6. Notes on fusion. In 'Jakyou no Yakata' you can 2 or 3 Allies into a stronger Ally. The level of the resulting Ally depends directly on the levels of the Allies used in the fusion. The race of the resulting Ally depends on the races of Allies used in the fusion - there is a table which says that if you take Race A and fuse it with race B, you will obtain race C. I will post this table in the next revision of the FAQ - until then having fun experimenting. ;-) Also, there exist some fusion secrets - how to fuse SERAPHs and how to fuse Hinokagutsuchi Sword. See if you can discover that. ;-) ---->7. Notes on Magnetite. In the world of Megaten, Magnetite (MAG) is the source of organic energy, that any creature needs to exist in our physical world. So, any supernatural creature such as a demon, needs a constant supply of Magnetite to create and maintain material body, needed for its existence in physical world. Naturally, when you slay the enemy demons, you can take the surplus magnetite that they had before they dies. In terms of game mechanics, this means that every demon you have summoned into your party uses up a small amount of Magnetite every step. The more powerful is the demon, the more Magnetite it uses up. You obtain the Magnetite by defeating demons. ---->8. Notes on names. The main characters in Shin Megami Tensei I do not have default names. In walkthroughs and such, they are merely known as Hero, Heroine, Law Hero and Chaos Hero. But to make this walkthrough actually readable, I used the names I have given them during my playthrough: 1. Hero - Remiel ;-) 2. Heroine - Eleanor 3. Law Hero - Ariel 4. Chaos Hero - Abdiel ---->9. Notes on things to do in future versions -- Add the portions for the NEUTRAL Path -- Add Fusion Table -- Add full item list, with translations -- Add full spell list, with translations -- Add the section on sword fusion