The year is 2008 as researchers from T University discover a crystal statue in the ruins of an Aztec civilization along with a series of characters. When decoded by a computer, these characters invoke the revival of a demon and an outbreak of demons within cyberspace.
At the start of the game in August, the protagonist, Asuka Miroku and his younger brother, Satoshi Miroku, are attending an exhibition of the Aztec culture at the Tokyo National Museum with two of Asuka's old friends from school, Keita Matsumoto and Sakurako Saotome. Suddenly, the crystal statue comes to life as the demon Moloch and abducts Satoshi, forcing Asuka and his friends into a battle to rescue him.
This work shows examples of:
- Face–Monster Turn: One of your party members becomes Angra Mainyu in the final mission, and thus, the Final Boss. The possible candidates are Asuka, Satoshi, and Hideo Sawaki.
- Role-Reversal Boss: The final level becomes this if Asuka was chosen to become Angra Mainyu. Instead of fighting him with the other party members, you fight the other party members as Angra Mainyu, accompanied by a small group of demons.
- Sprite/Polygon Mix: The maps are 3D, while individual units are represented by sprites. The rest of the game, including the battle screens, generally sticks to one or the other.
- Video Game 3D Leap: This is the first game in the Majin Tensei series to utilize 3D graphics.
- We Cannot Go On Without You: Applies to pretty much every human party member. If any of them die, it's Game Over.
