A school set Megami Tensei spin off, more accessible with personal Atlus flair. Multiple routes, worth trying for variety.
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Category
RPG1 player16+
Description
Shin Megami Tensei spin-off in which high schoolers battle demons in their own school transformed into a dungeon. Published by Atlus, released in Japan in 1994. Karukozaka school invaded by demons, demon recruitment and two distinct story routes. SMT spin-off with an atmosphere closer to school daily life.
Shin Megami Tensei if... review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
In a tighter setting, Tsukasa Masuko's music keeps the series' dark electronic rock identity while adapting it to the confines of a haunted high school. The nervy, oppressive themes maintain a constant tension. This radical sonic atmosphere faithfully extends the unique spirit of Shin Megami Tensei.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Mild"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Turning a school into a haunted dungeon shifts the pace without trimming the length: every floor must be cleared, the Guardian system mastered and a demon party patiently built. Two distinct story routes push you toward a second run to grasp the whole picture, and the unusual school setting makes you want to linger. This spin-off owes its lasting replay value to that branching structure and endless fusions.
Technical info
💾1,4 MB📅28/10/1994
Published by Atlus
Shin Megami Tensei if... (SNES) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
An Atlus SMT Super Famicom spin-off from 1994, Japan-exclusive on original cartridge, which transposes the SMT formula into a school setting and directly prefigures the Persona line. The Rev 1 fixes several scrutinised bugs. The cart is culturally essential to understand the modern Persona genealogy. Intact boxed CIB with cardboard sleeve and illustrated Atlus manual has become a target for knowledgeable Persona collectors, and the cote climbs hard.
A questionable morality
The whole flavor of the adventure springs from haggling with the beyond: you strike up conversation with demons, coax or bribe them into joining your cause, then run them through the fusion grinder the moment a better model comes into view. The game feels not the slightest qualm about treating its faithful companions as spare parts, and it's precisely that calm cynicism that fascinates.
Is Shin Megami Tensei if... still worth playing in 2026?
Never released outside Japan, Shin Megami Tensei if... transposes the SMT formula into a Japanese high school overrun by demons, namely a tighter loop that directly heralds the Persona series. The choice of a companion among four shapes the story, and the fusion system stays central. The cartridge is essential to understand the transition between SMT and Persona 1. A fan translation exists. Recommended to fans of the Atlus universe and to those curious about Persona's origins.
