Digimon Surviveis very much a game made for fans of the original anime, featuring a number of similar themes and moments. It is a tactical RPG / Visual Novel developed by Hyde and published by Bandai Namco. Taking inspiration from the original Adventure Anime but with a much darker tone,Digimon Survivefeatures a group of children being flung into a dangerous and mysterious new world, inhabited by mysterious creatures with incredible powers. In order to survive the team must explore and investigate the new world they find themselves in, hoping to uncover a path home.
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Since it’s a game made for fans, it includes a number of references toDigimon Adventure, Adventure 02, and theDigimon Worldgames. Here are some of the best Easter eggs that longtime fans of the franchise were delighted to see included in the game.
7Snow in Spring
Much like the original anime,this game begins with a camping trip gone horribly wrong.Despite the relatively warm weather typical of the time of year, our protagonists find themselves waylaid by an unexpected blizzard, forcing them to take refuge in a strange tunnel.
This bears a strong similarity to the storm that heralded the Digital Gate opening at the beginning ofDigimon Adventure, which also resulted in a group of kids getting lost in a world of monsters. InDigimon Adventure, the weakening of the barrier between worlds is heralded by a number of strange phenomena, including the appearance of strange shadowy figures, sudden flooding, and bizarre temperature shifts that are completely at odds with the current season.
6Partners?!
Another similarity to the original anime is the way in which Takuma meets his partner. Koromon catches Takuma off guard with a mix of friendliness and curiosity,immediately differentiating itself from the other monstersencountered up to that point. It warms to Takuma quickly, declaring that it’s been waiting for him for a long time, though it doesn’t remember why.
Those who have seen the first episode ofDigimon Adventurewill quickly draw parallels between Takuma and Tai’s first meetings with their partners, though Tai’s Koromon was certainly much more aggressively friendly when they first met.
5Meramon’s Movement Animation
This is a smaller one, butMeramon’s movement animation inDigimon Survive, with his arms outstretched behind him, is identical to the manner in which he runs during Episode 4 ofDigimon Adventurewhen he descends the mountain and crosses the desert to assail the DigiDestined.
Interestingly, he also enjoys it in negotiation when the player acts like a big eater, possibly referencing his status as a chef in theDigimon Worldgames. (He runs restaurants in bothDigimon WorldandDigimon World: Next 0rder.)
4(Un)familiar Woman (Spoilers for Part 3 of Digimon Survive)
Anyone who has seen Arukenimon inDigimon Adventure 02, or more recently inDigimon Ghost Game, will immediately be rightfully suspicious of the white-haired lady whom Kaito accuses of kidnapping during part 3. Her striking resemblance to Arukenimon’s human form is certainly more than mere coincidence, as the events of the chapter soon prove.
Whether her companion Mummymon will make an appearance later on in Survive’s story remains to be seen, but this familiar sight is certain to invoke dread in fans ofAdventure 02.
3We’re On an Island?!
After climbing a radio tower towards the end of part 3, the cast ofDigimon Survivediscovers, to their surprise and horror that the landscape is vastly different from in their world. More specifically, they discover that they are now on an island, much as Tai and the others did during the first episode ofDigimon Adventure.
The ensuing panic is handled in a more serious manner than it was in the anime, and indeed this serves as a crushing blow to the morale of the cast. But otherwise, it is very similar to the exchange from the show.
2Dark Evolution (Spoilers for Part 5 of Digimon Survive)
Another much more disturbing callback to the anime is a possible event during part 5, in whichLopmon undergoes a dark Digivolution. Despite Shuuji’s initial excitement at the new power that Lopmon displays as Wendigomon, it quickly turns to horror when he realizes that Wendigomon is completely out of control and cannot be stopped.
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Unlike Tai’s encounter with Skullgreymon inDigimon Adventureand Takato’s encounter with Megidramon inDigimon Tamers, Shuuji does not survive the encounter, as he is devoured alive by his own partner. The fog quickly swallows Lopmon once he is defeated, leaving no trace of either of them behind.
1Man-Made Objects In a World With No Humans
A recurring theme of the digital world across the entire franchise is the strange juxtaposition of the natural world and bizarre, unexplained, man-made elements. Anime viewers have come to expect this, and the new game does not disappoint.
From Cable Cars running up wild untouched mountains, deserted theme parks, and decrepit buildings with inexplicably functional plumbing, the other world ofDigimon Surviveis filled with these elements. Fans of the franchise should feel right at home here.
Digimon Surviveis available on PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
