View source for Software:Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children

{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{Infobox video game series
| title = Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children
| image = Devil Children White Book.jpg{{!}}border
| caption = ''White Book'' cover art, featuring its main character and multiple demons
| platforms = Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, [[Engineering:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Software:Mobile game|mobile phones]]
| developer = Multimedia Intelligence Transfer, Enterbrain, Index Corporation
| publisher = [[Company:Atlus|Atlus]], Enterbrain
| artist = Yuji Himukai
| composer = Tomoyuki Hamada
| genre = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| first release version = ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book''
| first release date = November 17, 2000
| latest release version = ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children''
| latest release date = July 13, 2011
| parent = ''[[Software:Megami Tensei|Megami Tensei]]''
}}

'''''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children''''',{{efn|{{nihongo|''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children''|真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン|Shin Megami Tensei: Debiru Chirudoren|lit. "True Goddess Reincarnation: Devil Children"}}}} also known as '''''DemiKids''''', is a series of [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]]s primarily developed by Multimedia Intelligence Transfer and published by [[Company:Atlus|Atlus]]. It is a spin-off from Atlus' ''[[Software:Megami Tensei|Megami Tensei]]'' franchise, and began in 2000 with the Game Boy Color games ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book''. Five more role-playing games and three games in other genres were released until 2004, followed by no new releases until the 2011 [[Social:Social network game|social game]] ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children''. In addition to the games, the series has been adapted into manga, anime, and a trading card game, and two soundtrack albums have been released by First Smile Entertainment.

The series follows demon-human [[Biology:Hybrid|hybrids]] called devil children, who journey from Japan to the demon world, and are joined by talking companion monsters who give them guidance. The player takes the role of one such devil child, and battles against demons; the devil children do not fight directly themselves, however, but have allied demons in their party fight for them. The player can choose to talk to demons instead of fighting them, to try to make them join the player's party, and can increase their allied demons' power by fusing multiple demons with each other.

While Multimedia Intelligence Transfer developed most of the games in the series, Enterbrain and Index Corporation also developed one game each. The music for the first two games was composed by Tomoyuki Hamada, who made use of both orchestral music and rock. Yuji Himukai, known for his work on the ''Etrian Odyssey'' series, worked as character designer and illustrator on the 2011 game, creating new art for returning characters. The series received a wide range of reviews, from negative to positive. Reviewers enjoyed the demon fusion, while the music and visuals were criticized.

__TOC__

==Titles==
{{Timeline of release years
| title = Timeline of release years
| 2000 = ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book''
| 2001= ''White Book''
| 2002 = ''Light Version'' and ''Dark Version''
| 2003a= ''Puzzle de Call!''
| 2003b= ''Book of Fire'' and ''Book of Ice''
| 2004 = ''Messiah Riser''
| 2011 = ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children''
}}

===Role-playing games===
* '''''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children – Black Book'' and ''Red Book''''' were released for the Game Boy Color on November 17, 2000 in Japan, and re-released digitally through the Virtual Console service on the {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}} on November 13, 2013.<ref name="fam black red"/> A [[Engineering:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] remake of both games was released on March 28, 2002, and re-released digitally on the [[Finance:PlayStation Store|PlayStation Store]] on October 13, 2010.<ref name="fam black red remake"/> ''Black Book'' follows Setsuna, whose little brother has been kidnapped by an army of Jack Frosts and taken to the demon world, and who is accompanied by the Cerberus Cool. ''Red Book'' follows Mirai, whose father has disappeared in the demon world, and who is accompanied by the pink griffon Veil.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/>
* '''''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children – White Book''''' was released for the Game Boy Color on July 27, 2001 in Japan.<ref name="fam white"/> A sequel to the first two games, it follows Masaki, who has a connection to a quiet boy named Takaharu, and who is accompanied by the green chimera Cray.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/>
* {{visible anchor|'''''DemiKids: Light Version'' and ''Dark Version'''''|DemiKids: Light Version and Dark Version}} were released for the Game Boy Advance on November 15, 2002 in Japan under the titles ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children – Light Book'' and ''Dark Book'',<ref name="fam light dark"/> and on October 7, 2003 in North America.<ref name="ign light dark">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/14/demikids-dark-version |title=DemiKids: Dark Version |author=Harris, Craig |date=2003-10-14 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103104213/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/14/demikids-dark-version |archive-date=2016-11-03 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Light Version'' follows Jin, who is sucked into [[Unsolved:Valhalla|Valhalla]] and fights against the Imperium forces together with the rebels; he is accompanied by the Sun Lion Rand. ''Dark Version'' follows Akira, who is summoned by [[Astronomy:Lucifer|Lucifer]] to a land called Dem, and is tasked with erasing portals; he is accompanied by the dragon Gale.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/>
* '''''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children – Book of Fire'' and ''Book of Ice''''' were released for the Game Boy Advance on September 12, 2003 in Japan.<ref name="fam fire ice"/> They are sequels to ''Light Version'' and ''Dark Version'', again following Jin and Akira.<ref name="fire ice official">{{cite web |url=http://www.atlus.co.jp/cs/game/gbadvance/dchilr_fi/ |title=真・女神転生デビルチルドレン 炎の書・氷の書 |language=Japanese |publisher=[[Company:Atlus|Atlus]] |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031006084045/http://www.atlus.co.jp/cs/game/gbadvance/dchilr_fi/ |archive-date=2003-10-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Others===
* '''''{{visible anchor|Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children – Puzzle de Call!}}''''' was released for the Game Boy Advance on July 25, 2003 in Japan.<ref name="fam puzzle"/> It is a puzzle game starring Jin and Akira from ''Light Version'' and ''Dark Version''.
* '''''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children – Messiah Riser''''' was released for the Game Boy Advance on November 4, 2004 in Japan.<ref name="fam messiah"/> It is a real-time strategy game starring Jin and Akira from ''Light Version'' and ''Dark Version''.<ref name="fam messiah"/>
* '''''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children''''' was released for [[Software:Mobile game|mobile phones]] through the [[Social:Social networking service|social networking service]] [[Social:GREE|GREE]] on July 13, 2011 in Japan.<ref name="fam gree event">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201107/29047614.html |title=GREE『デビルチルドレン』 第1回デビル王決定戦開催！ |language=Japanese |date=2011-07-29 |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101170142/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201107/29047614.html |archive-date=2016-11-01 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is a [[Finance:Free-to-play|free-to-play]] [[Social:Social network game|social game]], and the first entry in the series since 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inside-games.jp/article/2011/07/13/50298.html |title=あの『デビチル』がソーシャルゲームに！『デビルチルドレン』GREEに登場 |language=Japanese |date=2011-07-13 |website=Inside Games |publisher=IID |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904090656/http://www.inside-games.jp/article/2011/07/13/50298.html |archive-date=2014-09-04 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sil social">{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/07/13/this-shin-megami-tensei-social-game-is-designed-for-demikids/ |title=This Shin Megami Tensei Social Game Is Designed For DemiKids |author=Spencer |date=2011-07-13 |publisher=Siliconera |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615104701/http://www.siliconera.com/2011/07/13/this-shin-megami-tensei-social-game-is-designed-for-demikids/ |archive-date=2015-06-15 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mirai and Setsuna from ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book'' appear as navigator characters, assisting the player.<ref name="fam himukai"/>

==Common elements==
While the ''Devil Children'' games are released in pairs, similarly to the ''Pokémon'' series, each release is its own separate game, with its own story and protagonist, although the stories in each pair's two releases sometimes intertwine. The series' protagonists are the titular "devil children", or "demikids" – children who are demon-human [[Biology:Hybrid|hybrids]], and wield superpowers. They all live in modern-day Japan, but end up traveling to the demon world as part of their adventures. The devil children are given weaponry, such as guns, and are joined by guiding companion monsters who can speak human language.<ref name="hcg101 pg1">{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/devilchildren.htm |title=Devil Children / DemiKids |page=1 |author1=Kalata, Kurt |author2=Snelgrove, Christopher J. |date=2010-08-08 |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409131525/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/devilchildren.htm |archive-date=2016-04-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Devil Children battle.png|thumb|left|The player battles enemy demons using their own allied demons, shown as icons at the bottom of the screen.]]

The ''Devil Children'' titles are role-playing games in which the player battles against demons. While the player controls a devil child, that character does not directly fight themselves; instead, they send in their allied demons to fight against the opponents.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/> This was changed in ''Book of Fire'' and ''Book of Ice'', where the devil children are able to fight by using cards.<ref name="fire ice official"/> If one of the player's demons falls in battle, another is automatically sent in to take the first one's place. To recruit new demons to their party, the player needs to choose to talk to the demon instead of fighting it, with the demon's response mostly being based on chance.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/> The player can trade demons with other players, which is required to be able to collect all demon types.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/112300b.html |title=Shin Megami-Tensei Devil Children: Red Book Released in Japan |author=Long, Andrew |date=2000-11-23 |publisher=RPGamer |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823180514/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/112300b.html |archive-date=2014-08-23 |url-status=live}}</ref> While the player's character gains [[Software:Experience point|experience point]]s, their allied demons do not; to increase their power, the player needs to fuse their demons with each other.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/>

The non-role-playing games all have different gameplay: ''Puzzle de Call!'' is a puzzle game in which the player pushes around boxes to make their way to the pentagram at the end of each screen. Additionally, there is an egg placed in each screen, which disappears if the player does not reach it in a certain number of turns; if they reach it in time, it hatches, giving the player a new demon that can be used when solving the puzzles. Each level, which consists of a number of screens, ends with a boss battle in which the player needs to collect icons while avoiding the bosses' attacks. ''Messiah Riser'' is a real-time strategy game in which the player battles by giving their demons commands. It focuses entirely on combat, with no exploration segments between battles.<ref name="hcg101 pg2">{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/devilchildren2.htm |title=Devil Children / DemiKids |page=2 |author1=Kalata, Kurt |author2=Snelgrove, Christopher J. |date=2010-08-08 |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306142904/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/devilchildren2.htm |archive-date=2016-03-06 |url-status=live}}</ref> The 2011 ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children'' is a social game in which the player collects demons, referred to as "devils", and complete quests to become the strongest Devil King; the player can test themselves in daily tournaments. Like in the earlier games, collected demons can be fused with each other; there is also an added "social fusion" feature, where the player can fuse one of their demons with another player's demon. Players can also help one another by giving them demons and money.<ref name="sil social"/>

==Development==
[[File:TMS Entertainment logo.svg|thumb|TMS Entertainment created the 2000–2001 ''DeviChil'' anime.]]
''Devil Children'' was created presumably as a response to the popularity of the ''Pokémon'' series of games, and as an alternative take on the game ''[[Software:Shin Megami Tensei (video game)|Shin Megami Tensei]]'' for younger players, featuring child characters and cute monsters.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/> Most of the games were developed by Multimedia Intelligence Transfer and published by [[Company:Atlus|Atlus]],<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/><ref name="hcg101 pg2"/> and the 2011 ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children'', which was developed by Index Corporation.<ref name="fam gree event"/> The only games in the series to have been released in English are ''Dark Version'' and ''Light Version''.<ref name="tt importables"/> The soundtracks for ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book'' were composed by Tomoyuki Hamada from the group T's Music, using orchestral music blended with elements of rock.<ref name="vgmo black red"/> For the 2011 game, Yuji Himukai, known for his work on Atlus' ''Etrian Odyssey'' series, was tasked with creating new designs and illustrations of Mirai and Setsuna; they were designed to look older than in their original appearances in ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book''.<ref name="fam himukai">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201108/31049343.html |title=伝説のデビルチルドレン・セツナが、GREEにて君の挑戦を待つ！ |language=Japanese |date=2011-08-31 |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603235855/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201108/31049343.html |archive-date=2013-06-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The popularity of the series in Japan led to the creation of two anime series and two manga series,<ref name="tt importables">{{cite web |url=http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/50862/important-importables-shin-megami-tensei/ |title=Important Importables: Shin Megami Tensei |author=Lada, Jenni |date=2009-11-13 |website=TechnologyTell |publisher=GadgeTell |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122073428/http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/50862/important-importables-shin-megami-tensei/ |archive-date=2015-11-22 |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as a trading card game.<ref name="hcg101 pg2"/> The first anime, ''Shin Megami Tensei: DeviChil'', was produced by CBC, Dentsu, and TMS Entertainment, with additional animation provided by Actas. It aired for 50 episodes from October 7, 2000 to September 29, 2001;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/7261 |title=真・女神転生 デビチル |language=Japanese |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103204838/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/7261 |archive-date=2016-11-03 |url-status=live}}</ref> the second, ''Shin Megami Tensei: D-Children – Light & Dark'', aired for 52 episodes from October 5, 2002 to September 27, 2003, and was produced by TV Tokyo and NAS. Actas animated the first half of the series, and Studio Comet animated the second half.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/8027 |title=真・女神転生 D[デビル]チルドレン ライト＆ダーク |language=Japanese |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103204951/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/8027 |archive-date=2016-11-03 |url-status=live}}</ref> Two ''Devil Children'' music albums were released by First Smile Entertainment on December 20, 2000 and February 21, 2001: ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Perfect Soundtracks'', which features the soundtracks of ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book'', as well as one vocal theme composed by Hiro Takahashi and one by Nao Ito;<ref name="vgmo black red"/> and ''Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Arrange Tracks'', which features new arrangements by Hamada and Motoi Sakuraba of ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book'' music. There were plans for individual soundtrack albums for ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book'', but they were cancelled due to low demand.<ref name="vgmo black red arr">{{cite web |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/shinmegamitenseidevilarr/ |title=Shin Megami Tensei -Devil Children- Arrange Tracks |author=Simons, Harry |date=2012-08-01 |publisher=VGMO |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103204502/http://www.vgmonline.net/shinmegamitenseidevilarr/ |archive-date=2016-11-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Devichil
| genre = adventure <br> fantasy <br> comedy <br> drama
| creator = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|studio=TMS Entertainment
|type = TV series
|licensee=Bandai Entertainment
|network=TBS
|network_en=  
|first=October 7, 2000
|last = September 29, 2001
|title=Devichil
|episodes=50}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

==Reception==
{{Video game series reviews
| updated = November 1, 2016
| fam    = yes
| game1  = Black Book ''and'' Red Book 
| fam1   = 28/40 (GBC)<ref name="fam black red">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12590 |title=真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン 「赤の書」 / 「黒の書」 まとめ [ゲームボーイ] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109165158/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12590 |archive-date=2013-11-09 |url-status=live}}</ref><br/>27/40 (PS)<ref name="fam black red remake">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1703 |title=真・女神転生デビルチルドレン 黒の書・赤の書 まとめ [PS] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221225022/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1703 |archive-date=2015-12-21 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| mc1    = –
| game2  = White Book
| fam2   = 30/40<ref name="fam white">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12310 |title=真・女神転生デビルチルドレン 白の書 まとめ [ゲームボーイ] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524195903/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12310 |archive-date=2013-05-24 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| mc2    = –
| game3  = Card Summoner
| fam3   = 28/40<ref name="fam card">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12308 |title=真・女神転生トレーディングカード カードサマナー まとめ [ゲームボーイ] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101165053/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12308 |archive-date=2016-11-01 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| mc3    = –
| game4  = Light Version ''and'' Dark Version
| fam4   = 30/40<ref name="fam light dark">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=576 |title=真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン 光の書 / 闇の書 まとめ [GBA] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019120330/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=576 |archive-date=2014-10-19 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| mc4    = 62/100<ref name="mc light dark">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/demikids-light-version/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |title=DemiKids: Light Version for Game Boy Advance Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412045137/http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/demikids-light-version |archive-date=2016-04-12 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| game5  = Puzzle de Call!
| fam5   = 23/40<ref name="fam puzzle">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=11805 |title=真・女神転生デビルチルドレン パズルdeコール！ まとめ [GBA] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523072521/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=11805 |archive-date=2013-05-23 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| mc5    = –
| game6  = Book of Fire ''and'' Book of Ice
| fam6   = 28/40<ref name="fam fire ice">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=11800 |title=真・女神転生 デビルチルドレン 炎の書 / 氷の書 まとめ [GBA] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525035937/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=11800 |archive-date=2013-05-25 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| mc6    = –
| game7  = Messiah Riser
| fam7   = 24/40<ref name="fam messiah">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=572 |title=真・女神転生デビルチルドレン メシアライザー まとめ [GBA] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523090422/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=572 |archive-date=2013-05-23 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| mc7    = –
}}

''Devil Children'' has received a wide range of reviews, ranging from negative to positive.<ref name="fam black red"/><ref name="fam black red remake"/><ref name="fam white"/><ref name="fam light dark"/><ref name="fam fire ice"/><ref name="fam card"/><ref name="fam messiah"/><ref name="mc light dark"/> Writers at ''Famitsu'' commented that the series did not change much between installments, although one said they enjoyed the stability and reliability in that.<ref name="fam fire ice"/> Kurt Kalata and Christopher J. Snelgrove of Hardcore Gaming 101 described the games as "relatively decent for being fairly conventional RPGs".<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/>

Several writers at ''Famitsu'' praised the demon fusion mechanic,<ref name="fam black red"/><ref name="fam fire ice"/><ref name="fam light dark"/> with one of them calling it the best aspect of the game.<ref name="fam fire ice"/> Kalata and Snelgrove noted that the series was unusually simplistic for the ''Megami Tensei'' series, but still found its gameplay to have more depth than ''Pokémon''{{'s}}, and that it was able to challenge the player.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/> On the other hand, GameSpot's Frank Provo said that it was not "nearly as fun or diverse", in his review of ''Light Version'' and ''Dark Version''.<ref name="gamespot light dark">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/demikids-dark-version-review/1900-6084067/ |title=DemiKids: Dark Version Review |author=Provo, Frank |date=2003-11-20 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161213193629/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/demikids-dark-version-review/1900-6084067/ |archive-date=2016-12-13 |url-status=live }}</ref> Reviewing ''White Book'', one writer at ''Famitsu'' said that the tempo of the game was good, allowing for a stress-free experience playing the game, while another thought that the enemies were too strong at the beginning, forcing the player to repeatedly fuse their demons to make any progress at all.<ref name="fam white"/>

Kalata and Snelgrove were critical of the Game Boy Color titles' visuals, and were disappointed in the updated music and graphics in the PlayStation remake, saying that it looked like "a subpar Super Famicom RPG".<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/> ''Famitsu'' was also critical of the updates, calling them insignificant.<ref name="fam black red remake"/> Kalata and Snelgrove did however find the Game Boy Advance games' graphics to be a large improvement over the previous games'.<ref name="hcg101 pg1"/> Patrick Gann at RPGFan was underwhelmed by the music in ''Black Book'' and ''Red Book'', calling it "far from noteworthy" and saying that it had failed to leave a lasting impression on him.<ref name="rpgfan black red">{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/devilchildren/index.html |title=Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children Perfect Sound Tracks |author=Gann, Patrick |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822012122/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/devilchildren/index.html |archive-date=2016-08-22 |url-status=live}}</ref> Chris Greening at VGMO said that the music fulfilled its purpose within the game, but that it was otherwise poor and "samey", with a few catchy compositions as exceptions.<ref name="vgmo black red">{{cite web |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/shinmegamitenseidevil/ |title=Shin Megami Tensei -Devil Children- Perfect Soundtracks |author=Greening, Chris |date=2012-08-01 |publisher=VGMO |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103134529/http://www.vgmonline.net/shinmegamitenseidevil/ |archive-date=2016-11-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Kalata and Snelgrove thought that ''Puzzle de Call'' featured interesting ideas, but that there was not anything special about it. They enjoyed how ''Messiah Riser'' was different from other Japanese role-playing games, but found the user interface hard to use and that the artificial intelligence felt erratic; they also commented on how demons only have one magic attack each made the game feel limiting.<ref name="hcg101 pg2"/> ''Famitsu''{{'s}} writers thought that ''Card Summoner''{{'s}} rules were very complex, but noted that the tutorial made it easy to learn.<ref name="fam card"/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{Atlus}}
{{Sega Sammy franchises}}

[[Category:Mobile games]]
[[Category:Tactical role-playing video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children}}