Shin Megami Tensei: if... is a Japanese console role-playing game for the Super Famicom. It is a side story to the Shin Megami Tensei series, rather than a direct sequel. The use of a high school setting and lack of cyberpunk elements makes the game a predecessor to the Persona series. The player chooses between an unnamed male and female student to control. The setting is Karukozaka High School, which is mysteriously sucked into a void and emerges in the realm of Makai, a world of demons. After arming him/herself with protective equipment from a sports locker, the player character must investigate the various worlds of Makai, which are based on 5 of the 7 deadly sins. The person claiming credit for the new surroundings in Hazama, a vengeful student who proclaims himself the new ruler of Makai.[1] To help the hero there will be a faithful (or not...) companion and the always-present minions recruited by the usual demon-negotiation process or the fusion process into a Jakyou. This game introduced the possibility to acquire Guardian spirits. The way to accomplish this is quite simple: the player must die in combat. Spirits are always mindful of your actions, so stronger and braver players manage to get stronger guardian spirits, whereas players who tend to die often tend to remain with weaker guardians. The generic female character the player can choose to control at the onset of the game also appears as a side character in the Persona series of games. Her given name in those installments is Tamaki Uchida (aka "Tammy" in the North American release).[1]
