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Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga is a console role-playing game developed and published by Altus, released in 2004 in Japan, 2005 in North America and in 2006 in the rest of the world for the PlayStation 2. This is a single-player game.

This game is a spin-off of the famous Shin Megami Tensei series of video games; this game generally received extremely positive reviews from the gaming press, it was even awarded best role-playing game of 2005; it was praised for its highly customizable characters, as well as for its beautiful character art and intriguing world.
Digital Devil takes place in a fictional universe called the Junkyard. In this place are living opposing tribes that are constantly fighting each other; there is the Embryon (the tribe you will control throughout the game) led by Serph, their tribe color is orange; the Vanguards (your tribe direct competitor) their tribe color is green; the Brutes (currently the strongest tribe) direct competitor of the Wolves tribe, color blue; the Solids living in impregnable fortress in the mountain, color yellow; the Maribel led by a strong female, dressed provocatively (punk), color red; and the Wolves, believe heavily in honor, spare lives of those who surrender, color white.

A neutral force oversees the war between the tribes called the Karma Temple (it is forbidden to fight within it). Its member teach training programs to the warriors, called Mantra and observe every battle occurring in the Junkyard, awarding Macca (currency in the game) for efficient actions in combat. According to the laws of the Junkyard, the last surviving Tribe is allowed to ascend the main tower of the Karma Temple to Nirvana (paradise).

At the beginning of the game a battle is taking place between the Vanguards and the Embryon. In the middle of the field lies a mysterious seed-like pod, containing something unknown. While fighting, Serph (leader of the Embryon) receives a message from the Karma Temple ordering him to destroy this pod or he will have to face the Temple s anger.

The same message is sent to the Vanguards leaving both tribes confused. Suddenly the pod opens and sends streaks of light that shoot everyone and cause a tattoo to for on them (called atma).
As soon as they are tattooed they begin transforming into demons, going into a berserk rampage. Serph also becomes a demon eating another demon flesh. and then it shows a clear blue sky briefly.

After the sky is shown, Serph wakes up revealing he was dreaming of the sky. He sees that the pod is gone and that a crater was left in its wake. Inside, an unconscious, naked girl is surrounded by white light. With the battle seemingly over, the Embryon take the mysterious girl and return to headquarters. Later reveals that her name is Sera but she remembers nothing except this. This is the beginning of Serph s quest.
With their new demonic powers Serph and his lieutenants are now able to turn into demons themselves while combating an enemy. This the main difference with the other games of the series, they cannot summon demons.

Each time you defeat an enemy you have to devour him/her. For each devoured enemy it adds to your karma points that can later be assigned to learn various skills.

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga reviews