japanese lit true goddess japanese role playing video game developed xbox published december forming series takes place period time sequel survivors tokyo destruction underground taking role player idea space virtual world set survivors tokyo destruction come attack demonic beings called noise gameplay player navigating avatar person virtual world tokyo battling enemies real time command based battle system game title refers number possible moral available players began development following staff discussions online game title xbox fully utilize graphics established staff worked project producer demon designer newcomers project included character designer composers originally planned online game split single player online versions cancelled following development difficulties single player release met mixed reception critics sold estimates commercial failure coupled development costs contributed financial loss development online version continued port microsoft windows eventually imagine gameplay role playing video game primarily set version 1990s tokyo players taking control silent main protagonist explore environments tokyo districts switching different districts dedicated fast travel menu player adjust protagonist gender hair skin color navigation environments presented person perspective player character followed assigned demon navigating safe areas players enter shops buy new equipment items healing change character clothing combat triggered random encounters environments dungeons combat plays real time combat enclosed battle arena battle continues automatically direct interaction player commands issued party members perform actions turn comes addition specific commands general offensive defensive issued battles reward experience points games instead equipped affect protagonist strengths stats previous games players negotiate demons join party demons fused create powerful demons attitudes demons player changes depending current moon phase number demons player summon depends player demon values player summon demons player demons visiting demons values allowing player summon demons certain points game player enters mode players real time strategy simulation protagonist companions navigate closed arenas pre set pathways knocking blocking path defending protection attempting stop player progresses game character makes dialogue choices mapped alignment matrix law neutral chaos light neutral dark protagonist current alignment influences story loyalty demon party members synopsis set year taking place half time leading sequel wake attack tokyo communities survivors live underground cities face underground inhabitants create idea space virtual world based tokyo 1990s protagonist named default exploring virtual world noise demons hostile humans appear begin attacking idea space players attack employed player traverses noise invasions missions meets multiple characters childhood friend represents chaos representative represents law going duty events half place parts tokyo destroyed triggered god order survives body cold storage meaning mind linked law chaos allies mission virtual noise demon true origins revealed created humans tired awaiting arrival real world hoping bring salvation technology humans created generated maria goddess administrator creation manipulating users mission desire disc artifact containing saved desires humanity key plans faced choices faction support law faction supported maria wishes bring peace humanity releasing idea space inhabitants chaos faction led freed prison plain called intends destroy inhabitants start chosen adam eve chaos companion fulfill chosen roles defeat controller keeping system going allow maria carry plans law chaos routes defeat entire emptied returning real world surface law chaos companion built background depending alignment goes reinforce law based regime begin new chaos based humanity outside neutral routes performs tasks mysterious woman store idea space woman goddess forced human sin helping defeating sin ascend defeats maria allowing true self ascend leaving fate ambiguous development primarily developed main developer series game received additional development help company later work games shining soul children game cgi cutscenes developed help produced long time producer directed written regular designer series returned design new demons title character maria proved challenging past work mainly involving creating depictions god opposed goddess like figures found making convincingly new environment problematic suggested new artist brought collaborator project hired design game main characters attempt distinguish previous games concept originated staff discussions work online title development started point early stages development october year early stages game known team option making online exclusive title wanted single player mode introduce players workings world game planned online component teaming fighting different players depending alignment ninth game series title refers number moral available games decision create alignment system wanted explore original game moral detail reason game set sequel setting directly based tokyo districts game title developed xbox switch person camera perspective person perspectives earlier titles feature player avatar titles fully utilize graphics previously accomplished lesser degree playstation ps2 successor described development process challenging developing new real time battle system large challenge prevalent issues adjusting balance battle system incorporating second tactical system segments game sound music handled acted sound director accurately create sound modern day tokyo went districts recordings ambient sounds different times day general theme city districts music subtly changed depending player overall alignment instance represent law chaos game piano guitar battle music featured randomly generated soundtrack variations estimating possible variants battle themes major improvement enabled xbox use surround sound enable richer use music game sound effects according additional sound capacity compensate managed visual level given team chance use sound title major use implementing alongside features proved challenge team release originally announced august title online originally rumored ps2 announced features included use voice recognition online services features later clarified planned online implementation development long period media silence official title announced february heavily promoted multiple japanese gaming events game released december celebrated official launch event attended deluxe edition released simultaneously standard edition containing maria related online content game later released microsoft platinum collection budget collection october novelization written cover illustration published march comics anthology released march electronic entertainment expo stated small size game online component rule western release unable finance dedicated companies microsoft unlikely provide funding following year responded comment asked western release stated plans bring overseas focus newer titles online functions planned intended incorporated release august announced divide game parts stand version online version reason given development team time integrate online functions wanted include game want delay game release planned release online version development hold high costs developing online game postponed release august announced longer plans publish online version xbox problems relating network based development online games cancellation xbox live version development continued version microsoft windows personal computers version formed base imagine massively multiplayer online role playing game developed cave released japan western regions reception despite heavy promotion received release game reached charts initial sales units sales continued fall weeks game dropped end year sold according game sales end fiscal year reached units fell planned sales number units announced development costs poor sales xbox games including resulted financial loss year reviewers famitsu gave respective scores positive demon fusion negotiation cited addictive reviewers lauded shift graphics negative aspects battle system seen convoluted confusing elements confusing interface conspicuous lack online functions brought experience reviewer noted game geared played rpgfan positive early preview despite knowing promised online functions saying despite bland visuals promised best xbox games released japan possibly north_america writing gaming website mixed feelings title finding visuals dull gameplay system ultimate lack online functionality commented felt incomplete saying worth tracking series fans
Shin Megami Tensei: Nine