Talk:Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga

Wikipedia reference
Intriguingly, one of the highest ability packages (or 'Mantra') is called 'Wikipedia'. It seems a little out of place, considering most other names in the game are mythological (most often from Hindu and Sanskrit gods and terms).

Maybe the developers were paying homage to where they researched the names? If anyone knows any backstory on where the usage of Wikipedia comes from in the game, I'd love to hear it. What does the japanese version list for that slot (top of hunting chain)?

According to an FAQ on gamefaqs.com written from the Japanese version, it's "Tsuuraijin." Incidentally, the Japanese version apparently uses all names of Japanese/Shinto myths/gods/words instead of the American's Hindu.

It's actually not out of place, because after a character learns the Wikipedia Mudra their "secret" Mudras become unlocked. Since the game hints at the world being inside a computer (or something similar) it actually makes a great deal of sense for why the Mudra is named Wikipedia.


 * Hmm... very interesting question. But I highly doubt they use wikipedia as a reference, because they have a research team since Nocturne (SMTIII). It is unlikely because wikipedia, I'm not saying it's not reliable, but wikipedia is only a second or third option for reference. And since the word "Wiki" means a lot of information on the web, maybe they just thought it would be a good idea to name one Mantra to "Wikipedia" though not directly referring to Wikipedia.org. Plus, video game developers try to refer to published reference and these Megaten games were made in Japanese first.Logicartery (talk) 15:12, 16 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I noticed the wikipedia thing too and wondered about it. I somehow doubt they were actually referring to wikipedia, but it IS interesting, and out of place, considering it's also the name for the mantra at the end of the devour/physical line and involves mostly devour/physical attacks, rather than having Serph pause in the middle of battle to look up an enemy's stats on everyone's favorite user-written encyclopedia. >>;--SquidMoose (talk) 19:58, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

For Anyone Who Has Not Played This Game
I did check it out, and the mantra is actually called Wikipedia apparently. ,(many others) Karmafist 20:07, 16 October 2005 (UTC)


 * Japanese version never applied the term WIKIPEDIA in the mantra. A misnomer translated by NA division. -- Sameboat - 同舟 01:49, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Voice Actors
Is there any reason why there is no voice acting cast list? I seem to recognize a lot of the voices but even IMDB doesn't have a list. Whats the deal with this and can we include this information in the article?

On the voice actors, Wendy Lee is wrongfully credited as Argilla. Argilla is voiced by Amanda Win-Lee. --SquidMoose (talk) 19:48, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Cannibalism
In a local high school debate, this game was used as an example of violence in video games. Since, in the game, the only way to not succumb to the 'virus' is to consume more of it, it involves eating the bodies of those you kill. The side defending the violence stated this cannibalistic tactic was used to show that video games vastly exaggerate reality, in which cannibalism is a rarity in (hopefully) most modern nations, and that the violence in video games is very unbelievable.

Just thought I'd include this. Fllmtlchcb 08:58, 14 June 2006 (UTC)


 * The script writer Satomi Tadashi has heavily toned down the cannibalism in both games. Instead, the main focus of the game is Karma of humanity from Hindu belief. The in-game devouring skills only show massive glowing particles rather than spilling bloods and guts like Doom. -- Sameboat - 同舟 01:46, 6 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm pretty sure transforming into demons and casting latin-based elemental attacks is also a rarity in most modern nations. I doubt anyone is going to mistake this game for reality. Even if they did, the main characters in this game profess that eating people is wrong, (as though we wouldn't have known otherwise). Furthermore, if nothing else, the game is rated M for Mature, as in you have to be 17 to buy it, and the sales people will tell parents that it's inappropriate for young impressionable children. Also what Sameboat said; there isn't much actual gore or graphic depiction of this. Not that I'm accusing you of making an argument, I just think that local high school debate is approaching the subject somewhat ignorantly. --SquidMoose (talk) 19:55, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

European/British Release
When Ghostlight announced they were releasing DDS1 in the UK (I don't know about other European countries) They started accepting pre-orders. Those who pre-ordered the game before the end of May received a limited edition T-shirt (grey with the Emryon symbol emblazoned across the front in Orange and also had their name printed in the back of the instruction manual. Names are seperated under which tribe said person chose to pledge their allegiance ; Embrons, Vanguards, Brutes etc. (im an Embryon BTW).

Thought i'd mention this because although it seems like I've been waiting an age for a release I think Ghostlight really deserves credit for this. Shin Megami Tensei has a perhaps small but nevertheless dedicated following and T-shirt/Name in Manual/ and rather nice limited edition case are very nice personalised touches.

Feellikemore 13:03, 19 July 06

"Anachronistic" Names
Adding to the "Wikipedia" note above, I also noticed that one of the strongest Hama-based moves is called "Xanadu". Noting that the Hama series is holy-based, is "Xanadu" a tribute to the Olivia Newton-John Film (Xanadu)? Can someone verify this?

User:Riovanes 09:54, 27 Aug 2006
 * It could be many different things, as seen on Xanadu (disambiguation). I would assumne it is far more likely for it to be the Xanadu more than the film. Though I have not played this game, it could well be Xanadu (Titan), Xanadu (Citizen Kane) or potentially even Project Xanadu. --Dreaded Walrus 03:42, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

"Nocturne Protaginist Crossover?"
I was having a little look on Youtube for some DDS videos (as you do) and came across one versus the main hero/villain (how you chose it) against the characters you play in DDS. Is this a main part of the story or is it simply a bonus fight? I was just curious.--5starsuplex 13:57, 15 September 2006 (UTC)
 * It's a bonus fight, you can only fight him in a second (or later) playthrough. --Icep 21:02, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Aque and Tera
Is Tera unique to this game or was it just absent from Nocturne and in previous games of the series, like aque apparently was?--Darthbalmung 01:07, 6 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Tera is unique to the series. But In Persona 2 there are a earth-elemental Magna family (Magna, Magnas, Magdyne) which is literally the similar thing to Tera. Aque family only appears in Persona 1 and 2. -- Sameboat - 同舟 01:39, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Digital Devil Saga Avatar Tuner Soundtrack merge
Digital Devil Saga Avatar Tuner Soundtrack seems to be a soundtrack CD that was given away with certain releases of this game, so should be merged here.  Mi re ma re  17:49, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

It should be merged with the main article. If someone could make the info, like the tracklist, collapsible it would help keep the main article from getting cluttered. EditingMachine 00:03, 29 October 2007 (UTC)


 * I don't think it would be a good idea to merge these articles, hence the Digital Devil Saga article is already too cluttered, unless someone will try to collapse the Story section. Just a thought.Logicartery (talk) 00:37, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Rarity
Is this a rare game? Titanium Dragon (talk) 21:44, 15 December 2007 (UTC)


 * In the states, yes. The game can easily reach prices of +50 $. This is however commonplace with Atlus games as they do not distribute their games too much. In Europe, this is not the case as the game can be quite easily found, e.g. is inepxpensive. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.0.79.124 (talk) 20:34, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

On the topic of rarity, we could also include in this article that it's rare in regions like Quebec, for example, since it's illegal to sell because it has no French packaging. Also we could say that some stores do illegally sell it in those regions... This is just a thought, however. - CoNfett1 (talk) 12:09, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

reworking the article?
this article has potential and seems quite well organized. however, it lacks any information. i would be glad to rework some of the article and/or resize the character pictures... —Preceding unsigned comment added by Missslav (talk • contribs) 20:37, 5 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Talking about that, it seems to me that this video game borrows a lot to or is inspired by Mamoru Oshii's movie Avalon (fighters characters trying to access to some "higher plane" while not being aware that they're components of a video game), Matrix and plato's cave. Maybe it should be mentioned somewhere ? Hitchhikr (talk) 00:45, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

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