The game which started it all, Megami Tensei, was released by Namco for the Nintendo Family Computer (or Famicom, the Japanese equivilent of our NES). Shortly after, Atlus picked up the rights to the series, and proceeded to release a vast line of games over a number of platforms, including a variety of spin-off titles. The major titles in the Megami Tensei series have been Shin Megami Tensei (AtlusŐs first game after gaining the rights), Shin Megami Tensei 2 (SNES), Shin Megami Tensei : If... (SNES), Shin Megami Tensei : Devil Summoner (Saturn), and Shin Megami Tensei Persona : Be Your True Mind (PS).

Save for a run of games on the GameBoy, all of the titles dealing with the Megami Tensei storyline have held many major points in common : modern day scenarios, modern day weapons, the ability to converse with the enemies, having the enemies join the party, and the evil, Satanic mood which adds so much to the games.

Up until the release of Persona, one of the cooler aspects of the games were that the demons actually joined your party, where the main character could summon the demons through some sort of computer (every title in the series, including Persona, has featured some sort of 'devil summoner'). In Persona, however, the characters collected the 'souls' of the demons through the use of Spell Cards, which are fused together to create 'Personas', a sort of combination of the powers of the demons and the powers of the characters themselves. As well, Persona gives all characters in the party the ability to converse with the various demons you meet, as opposed to previous games where only the main character could talk to them

In creating the various demons and beings that the characters encounter and interact with, the Megami Tensei series incorporated a wide variety of characters from several different religions, legends, and mythology. Representations of these range from Greek mythology's Medua to Odin from the Norse religion. As well, original characters and demons were used, such as JackFrost and Jack'O, who are the two most popular charcters in the series in Japan, and who show up quite often.

Persona also broke new ground in the way of combat. In the earlier titles of the Megami Tensei series, battles were carried out in a first-person perspective, similar to games such as Might and Magic and the original Phantasy Star. However, Persona took battles into a 3/4 perspective world, allowing the player to actually see their party in combat, casting spells, and carrying out their attacks. In conjunction with this, the monters now move around, running up to attack the party or waving their arms to cast a spell. This is greatly improved over the earlier games, where monsters had little to no movement.

Shin Megami Tensei Persona : Be Your True Mind brought many exciting new features and looks to an already impressive series of Japanese RPGs, and Atlus chose it to be their introductary title in the Revelations series, the American equivalent of Japan's Megami Tensei line. So, while we in America are getting our first chance to experience a piece of the Megami Tensei series, it already has a long, rich history ... and with luck, RPG fans in America will be able to experience future Megami Tensei titles along with Japanese gamers.