In one of the earliest trailers for Shin Megami Tensei V, fans were treated to the sight of Lucifer, lord of Hell and master of Chaos, presiding over a decimated Tokyo, with the words, "The God you worship is dead" booming out throughout the wreckage. The spectacle has since gone on to become one of the most iconic images of the upcoming game, as its very existence implies that the cosmic war between God and the devil has finally come to an end. This is a conflict within which the entirety of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise takes place, so it reaching such a shocking conclusion has tremendous implications for the series.
Yet, despite this dramatic imagery, recent trailers have cast some doubt on the issue. Not only are the angels continuing to fight in the name of YHVH, either directly with their own armies or through human proxies like the Bethel organization, but several characters also speak of him as though he is still alive. This raises the question of just how dead YHVH truly is -- and whether the shot of the triumphant Lucifer was the setting's establishing shot, a hint of things to come or perhaps even a possible ending.
The 2020 trailer for Shin Megami Tensei V was the first piece of promotional material to suggest that God had finally died. Not only did it feature a victorious Lucifer and the voice, presumed to be his own, declaring his success, but it also teased players with the line, "In a world without its Creator, which path shall you choose?" Since YHVH is consistently depicted as the being who made SMT's world, it seems logical to conclude that the player will either have to take up his mantle or carve a new path through what remains of his world.
However, later trailers have indicated that story is more complicated. One mentioned that the "God of Law" and his forces were still fighting to assert their authority. Bethel, the human organization that protects people from the demons, is backed by the angel Abdiel, who loyally serves YHVH and invokes his name while carrying out her duties. This is interesting because, when God was defeated in past SMT games, angels did not necessarily remain loyal. Gabriel in SMTII was content to let Aleph and his followers inherit the Earth, and the judge Satan frequently turns on YHVH if he feels he's overstepped his boundaries; even if doing so means his own death.
It's possible that God has simply refined his control over his angels, keeping them loyal even after his end. However, YHVH has been defeated several times throughout different SMT games, and each time he has been reconstituted by humanity's belief in him. It's possible that the angels are simply waiting for his next resurrection, keeping the forces of Chaos busy while their master returns to life. If so, then Lucifer may be in for a rude awakening, as his proclamation of victory will ultimately be a premature declaration.
However, it's also possible that God has fragmented, and that different pieces of him will be found over the course of the game. This may seem the most outlandish possibility, but it's not without precedent. Games like Strange Journey and Shin Megami Tensei IV have shown that God has many different aspects, from the Demiurge to the Ancient of Days, and that each contain varying amounts of his power. If YHVH was indeed broken apart, then Bethel's mission may involve seeking out his fragments to reconstitute the divinity. This is of course just speculation, but given the series' history, these aren't unreasonable conclusions.
Shin Megami Tensei has frequently featured God dying or being defeated, so it's entirely possible that this is just another of the series' many fake-outs. On the other hand, if YHVH really has been killed, this could pave the way for a brand new narrative direction. SMT's apocalyptic identity is unique among JRPGs, but the genre has popularized killing God to the point that it no longer carries the gravity it once did. If SMT is to remain distinct from its competitors, truly taking him out of the equation for good may finally help Megami Tensei experience a true rebirth.
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