How ATLUS Got Dante From Devil May Cry Into Shin Megami Tensei III: NOCTURNE
As I'm sure you can tell from the title, I just finished a video covering the publicly known behind the scenes details surrounding ATLUS and Capcom's collaboration on Nocturne Maniax edition. In my opinion this is a pretty interesting moment in ATLUS history, and I think even fans who are avid readers of staff interviews will learn something new.
For anyone who requires a transcript to follow along with the reading of the document within the video:
Dante receives a request to "kill a fiend" from a gentleman in a suit who calls himself "Louis Cyphre" and lands in Tokyo, where he is dragged into the "Tokyo Conception". Then, while wandering around Tokyo, Dante encounters the true hero and engages him in a fight to the death in order to "kill the Fiend". However, Dante is convinced through the battle that there is an ulterior motive behind the request, and resolves to set out with the hero to discover the true purpose of the request and, possibly, to carry it out.
"…. I'm always ready to take you down"
Dante had lost his father's inherited magical power after being drawn into the Tokyo Conception. It is the magical power that activates the Devil Trigger and transforms him into a form that maximizes the power of majin [Fiend]. Thus Dante, in such a state, is in the greatest danger. Not satisfied with achieving creation in another world, Beelzebub, the "Tyrant of Chaos," appears in Tokyo, twisting the dimensions in his insatiable pursuit of power.
Beelzebub revived at each attempt, no matter how many times he tried to strike him down. Mentally and physically pushed to the edge of the cliff, Dante's father Sparda's voice rang in his ears.
"…Dante, leap into the chaos.
The true opponent you must defeat is not such a boy, nor such a revolting demon.
It is the fallen angel from the depths of chaos! Now leap in! I'll lend you my power!"
Dante, determined, accompanied Beelzebub to the dimensional hole that Beelzebub had distorted and expanded, and jumped into it himself.
"Boy, I won't let you die. After all, I'm the one who's going to kill you."
Dante was calm, realizing everything.
Throughout his journey with the boy, he learned that the request was for a "Fiend Battle Royal," a trap set by Louis Cyphre, and that by falling into the trap, he learned of the true enemy he was to defeat. In the depths of the converging dimensional hole, Dante activates his Devil Trigger, transforms into his true majin [Fiend] form, and is about to deliver the finishing blow to Beelzebub.
Right after that voice rang out, the dimensional hole was completely sealed, and the protagonist found an "event item (tentative) [menorah/candelabrum]" dropped nearby…
