Shin Megami Tensei: Nine

Summary

Shin Megami Tensei: Nine was developed and published by Atlus and launched for the Xbox in Japan in 2002. As part of the broader Megami Tensei franchise, Nine is set between the events of Shin Megami Tensei and its follow-up, with the remnants of Tokyo’s population taking refuge in underground shelters. In the game, players assume the role of a debugger exploring the Idea Space, a virtual world created by the survivors, which is now being invaded by malevolent entities known as "noise." The gameplay involves maneuvering a personalized avatar in third-person through the digital version of Tokyo, engaging in combat using a real-time command-driven battle system. Although the title suggests otherwise, it is actually the eighth installment in the Megami Tensei series. The name "Nine" instead represents the nine distinct moral alignments that players can choose from throughout the game.

Storyline

Nine takes place in the year "202X," during the second half of Shin Megami Tensei and the events leading into its sequel, Shin Megami Tensei II. After the ICBM strike on Tokyo, surviving communities have relocated to underground cities. To cope with their situation, the underground dwellers create "Idea Space," a virtual world modeled after 1990s Tokyo. The default protagonist, Kei Azuma, is exploring this digital realm when "Noise"—hostile digitized demons—begin attacking players through their avatars. After fending off an assault, Azuma is recruited by the Central Administration Bureau as a Debugger, a role that involves navigating Idea Space and defending it from Noise incursions. As Azuma carries out their missions, they encounter key figures: Baraki/Sumire, a childhood friend embodying "Chaos," and Mubiora/Miranda, a Bureau representative representing "Law." Meanwhile, the events of the latter half of Shin Megami Tensei unfold, culminating in the Great Flood that destroys all of Tokyo. Azuma survives because their body is in cryogenic storage, allowing their mind to remain connected to Idea Space alongside their Law and Chaos allies. During a mission in the virtual Shibuya 109 against the Noise demon Abaddon, the origins of Idea Space are uncovered. It was created by humans disillusioned with waiting for a "Messiah" in the real world, who sought salvation through technology. They built Idea Space and generated Maria as its goddess and administrator to guide the creation of the Millennial Kingdom by influencing its users. In Shibuya 109, Azuma retrieves a Desire Disc, an artifact containing humanity’s preserved desires and central to both factions' goals. Azuma must then choose which side to support. The Law faction, backed by Maria, aims to bring peace and release the inhabitants of Idea Space. The Chaos faction, potentially led by Lucifer if freed from a metaphysical realm known as the Expanse, seeks to destroy the current population of Idea Space and start over with a new Adam and Eve: Azuma and their Chaos companion. To fulfill any of these roles, Azuma must confront Yaldabaoth, the entity controlling Idea Space and preventing either Maria or Lucifer from achieving their goals. In both the Law and Chaos endings, after Yaldabaoth’s defeat, all avatars in Idea Space are removed, leaving only Azuma. Returning to the real world, they emerge on the surface with either their Law or Chaos companion, with the Messiah-built Tokyo Millennium in the background. Depending on their alignment, Azuma either supports the Law-based regime or begins a new Chaos-driven humanity beyond it. In the "Neutral" route, Azuma assists a mysterious woman running a shop in Idea Space—this woman is Sophia, the goddess who was forced to reincarnate as a human for giving birth to Yaldabaoth. She has been aiding Azuma in defeating Yaldabaoth to atone for her sin and ascend. Azuma defeats both Yaldabaoth and Maria, allowing Sophia to reclaim her true form and ascend, leaving the future of Idea Space’s inhabitants uncertain.

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