Shin Megami Tensei If... is a main SMT series spin-off featuring a high school girl in a school transformed into a hell gateway. Original Guardian system allowing demon equipment as protectors. More accessible linear narrative. An original niche JRPG, thematic precursor to the Persona series.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player16+
Description
Japanese PlayStation Atlus variant of the Shin Megami Tensei If spin-off set in a high school taken hostage by demons. Created by Atlus, released in 2002 in Japan with Anniversary Pack edition under the Shin Megami Tensei If title. Demon team turn-based combat, first-person dungeon exploration, choice of four companions with distinct scenarios, over a hundred demons to recruit and fuse and Tsukasa Masuko rock soundtrack. Japanese edition with Anniversary Pack under the Shin Megami Tensei If title.
Shin Megami Tensei If... review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
2/5
Music
★★★★★
"Decent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Mild"
Addictiveness
"Light"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,16 GB📅26/12/2002
Published by Atlus
Shin Megami Tensei If... (PS1) price, value & rarity
The PlayStation port of Shin Megami Tensei If..., a school-set entry that directly paved the way for the Persona branch. Its standard version stays sought by saga fans, while the Anniversary Pack, markedly rarer, adds a collectible dimension. Its interest lies in this role as a link between two cult series and the scarcity of this special edition.
Is Shin Megami Tensei If... still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 1994 on Super Famicom and later adapted on PS1 in 2002 by Atlus, the project offers a what if variant of the Shin Megami Tensei lineage inside a high school transformed into a demonic dungeon. The Guardian system replaces the Law and Chaos pairing with an original emotional alignment. The short, focused narration installs an ideal entry point to the SMT mythology, and Kazuma Kaneko's art keeps its strong identity. The fixed camera and random encounters have aged. Recommended today for Atlus devotees and for PS1 collectors curious about the Persona genesis taking shape.
