Amanozako isn’t the only new demon joining the roster in Shin Megami Tensei V. People will also get to see a new Genma character. To help introduce Fionn mac Cumhaill, Atlus shared commentary from SMT V Character Designer Masayuki Doi about this addition. Essentially, Fionn was designed to be the game’s “demon heartthrob.”
As well as mentioning the goal was to make Fionn good-looking in SMT V, Doi went over how the character’s design and concept changed during development. While he almost had a futuristic look, due to appearing after Cu Chulainn in terms of lore, they decided to go with a traditional look for the “demon-hero.”
Here’s Doi’s full statement on Fionn and his appearance in SMT V.
Today, I’d like to introduce Fionn mac Cumhaill. His concept during selection was that, simply put, we wanted a good-looking, demon heartthrob. (An unsophisticated reason, sure; but it’s still an important thing to keep in mind, haha.)
Fionn mac Cumhaill is the hero of the Fenian Cycle in Celtic mythology. He appears in the collection of stories depicting the period following that of the Ulster Cycle, which centers around Cu Chulainn, another fan favorite in the series.
As the hero fabled to have lived after Cu Chulainn, we initially conceptualized his design so he would appear not only fantastical, but also futuristic, with a slight sci-fi twist. However, because I personally also wanted to capture the unique color of the folklore for SMT V’s demons—as wel as the diversity in the cultures they represent—after much deliberation, we ultimately decided to go with a straightforward design that kept him true to his roots.
During battles and cutscenes, Fionn lives up to his role as our resident demon-hero. It’s mesmerizing how his cloak and hair dance in the wind, and his sword skills are polished, sharp, and powerful.
Shin Megami Tensei V will come to the Nintendo Switch in Japan on November 11, 2021 and worldwide on November 12, 2021.
