Ever since January 15th, gamers in Japan have had a leg-up on their North American counterparts, as they've been able to play Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor on their Nintendo DS's. Today we get news that soon they'll have to wipe that smug look of superiority off of their faces, as Atlus has announced that the RPG/SRPG hybrid will be making its way to the North American marketplace.

Devil Survivor is the story of Tokyo's quarantine following a surprise demon invasion. As the main character, you and your team must turn the demons against themselves before all is lost. It introduces a feature called "Demon Auction", which allows players to collect and fuse demons in order to create an unstoppable fighting party.

For fans of MegaTen games who are worried about losing something by having the game be handheld, fear not. Atlus assures us that "no aspect of the [MegaTen] experience. . . has been shrunk" to bring the game to the DS. On the contrary, Devil Survivor will "invigorate the series" with a new combat system and a host of new character customization options.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor wil hit store shelves on June 23. Are you in?

Here's some screens, they're from the Japanese release, but the visuals will stay the same.

Here's the full release:

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA -- FEBRUARY 6, 2009 -- Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced that Shin Megami Tensei®: Devil Survivor™ for Nintendo DS™, a new RPG/SRPG hybrid in the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei franchise, is coming to North America this summer.  This may be the first Shin Megami Tensei epic to land on Nintendo DS, but no aspect of the experience--story, visuals, music, or gameplay--has been shrunk in the process.  In fact, Devil Survivor invigorates the series with an unprecedented RPG/SRPG combat system and more character customization options than ever before, all wrapped within a compelling, branching narrative.  For the first time in the series, players can use a new Demon Auction feature to collect and eventually fuse demons as they seek to create the most powerful party.
 
The government has quarantined Tokyo after a surprise demon invasion.  No one within the isolation zone is safe.  Can you and your peers turn the demons against themselves before time runs out and all is lost?
 
Devil Survivor invades retailers on June 23, 2009 with an MSRP of $29.99. 

About SMT: Devil Survivor
Tokyo is in full lockdown, the government's swift, coldblooded response to a surprise demon invasion.  Trapped within the sprawling metropolis is the city's helpless populace, forced to turn on each other in order to survive.  A mysterious piece of technology, the COMP, falls into the hands of you and your peers.  This device allows you to form contracts, forcing demons to serve you in battle against the otherworldly creatures.  There are others with COMPs, so-called demon tamers, who seek to use the demons to satisfy their own whims-be they for justice, peace, or power-in the chaos that was once downtown Tokyo.
 
Where did the demons come from?  Why did they appear?  Who created the COMPs, and what is their purpose?  These questions must soon be answered, for if you fail to solve the mystery, much more is at stake than your own lives.
 
Key Features

Shin Megami Tensei goes portable - The absorbing story, addictive demon-fusing, and hardcore RPG battle that define the Shin Megami Tensei experience finally arrive on Nintendo's popular dual screen handheld. Expressly designed for Nintendo DS, SMT makes a seamless transition with trademark gameplay features built into an intuitive presentation you can take anywhere!
Collect and fuse demons like never before - Demon collection is updated for a new generation: competitive bidding determines the outcome!  Place your winning bid through the easy-to-use menu interface to add new demons to your roster. Then, fuse them together to create new, more powerful creatures to aid you in battle.
Hybrid SRPG/RPG combat system - A perfect synthesis of strategy and traditional RPG combat, you'll need more than the usual battle strategy to come out on top. Deployed in teams of 2-3, you must choose the right combination of human and demons for each unit placed on the grid, then prepare to launch into first person turn-based battle in the tradition of the classic RPGs!
Many possible conclusions - An epic story of mythological proportions lets you decide whether your loyalties lie with the angels, demons, or only yourself. Decisions made throughout the game will affect the course of the story, ultimately ending in a showdown where your choice of alliance will determine the survival of thousands.

Related Articles:

Atlus Announces North American Release of Super Robot Taisen Game

Atlus Shifts Dates, Ranks Own Games

Review: Star Ocean: Second Evolution - PSP