Hijiri, Candles, Freedom: Maniacs' Retcon Woes (and the Atlus "Enhanced" Edition Formula)

For many years it seemed almost unthinkable to criticize the seminal and influential Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne in any way. Besides, any such criticisms could be easily excused. Re-rolling fusion skills? It just makes it all that more intense and satisfying to get exactly what you want. Random negotiation? It's just, uh, more fun that way, yeah! No story? Okay, that one is seriously illegitimate. Point is, an epoch-making, 15-year-old game like Nocturne will survive having its flaws exposed since it has a lot more to offer than RNG insanity.

The same goes for the vaunted Maniacs additions. Flat out, Maniacs made Nocturne a more fun game to play. Most of us across the Pacific or further will never know the difference, but I can't imagine a Nocturne with more ambushes and instant death and less Matador and Daisoujou becoming a cult hit. Its plot and backstory additions, though? It's open season.

I should state up front that this is article consists mostly of old material. It is the original survey of the writing inconsistencies of Hijiri's character (which the post permalink will continue to reflect) appended with two other older posts that dealt with iffy Maniacs creative decisions, like the guiding figures of the Freedom ending (a close reading of which contradicts Maniacs retcons of Aradia) and the kabbalistic theming attached to the Fiends' candelabra. Also, a new, somewhat meaty conclusion about the quality of the Atlus enhanced editions (re-releases, ports, whatever you want to call them) we'll continue receiving until the heat death of the universe.

And as of this update (December 2019), it's an extremely boring time to be a Shin Megami Tensei fan, so why not spend a quick 30 minutes reuniting with the writing tendencies of the team that will (eventually) bring us Shin Megami Tensei V? Hey, at least you know those improved gameplay mechanics are going to be pretty good...  

1. Jyoji Hijiri: Tragic Asshole (Jan. 27, 2017) [Updated Jun. 6, 2022]

What follows is a response written to answer this ask on Tumblr wondering what I meant by a previous statement, that Hijiri's expanded backstory in the Maniacs version of Nocturne conflicts with other aspects of the game's narrative.

My response got so long that I thought it best to post here rather than Tumblr, for better legibility. But click beyond and you’ll find a complete summary of Hijiri’s cutscenes, the Lady in Black’s extra backstory for him, and my comments! I never thought I’d get vibes of SMT4/A-level shenanigans from Nocturne, but some of the story additions from Maniacs are suspect...and I think I know exactly why. First, here’s a complete (for our purposes) game script: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/582958-shin-megami-tensei-nocturne/faqs/54926

And here is a summary of the scenes in which Hijiri appears and his actions within them. These should reflect everything that happens in the original, pre-Maniacs script (except once, where noted):

• Prologue, Yoyogi Park: Introduction to him as journalist; namedrops things like the Gaea cult, Scripture of Miroku, and the strange things happening at the hospital. Gives you issue of Ayakashi Monthly.
• Immediately after Conception, inside first Terminal room: Confirmation of Conception and that Hikawa used the Amala drums. As he’s too apprehensive about leaving the safety of the Terminal room, he asks you to be his informant on what’s happening in the Vortex World.
• After meeting Chiaki in Shibuya: An introduction to the warp feature of Terminals, the Terminals as “devices,” and the existence of the Amala Network. Persuades you to warp to Ginza.
• Amala Network 1: Helps you cross the Network into Ginza by manipulating the Terminal. (Possible edit to script to account for the first Labyrinth of Amala event when Hijiri says he “lost track of you for a while?” I honestly have no way of verifying this.) When you reach Ginza, he says he wants to track down Hikawa.
• At Assembly of Nihilo, after Mantra attack: Tells you about the Assembly’s purpose, collecting Magatsuhi, and where to find Hikawa. Seems to be gleaning information directly from the Amala Network.
• After Kabuki-cho, in Ginza: Now he’s definitely getting information from the Amala Network (he says “I heard...” twice. suspicious for a guy who never leaves the room), as he knows not only about Hikawa’s Nightmare System but also about the Manikins rebuilding Asakusa and tells you to go there to get to a Terminal outside the reach of the Nihilo.
• At Asakusa: Manages to reach the Terminal “after all” and is there when you arrive. What a dope. Tells you that the Manikins are made from local black mud and that he’s spying on Hikawa’s activities, using the Terminal and Amala Network like one would use a computer and the internet, true to his journalistic integrity.
• After meeting Sakahagi, Asakusa: Tells you about the Obelisk, the Nightmare System inside of it, and the “Maiden” said to be operating it. Commands you to go there and destroy the Nightmare System and restore the flow of Magatsuhi to normal. 
• After Obelisk, Asakusa: Jubilant at your success. Gives you an infodump about how Reasons work and the use of Magatsuhi. Says he met Isamu inside the Amala Network and warps you to him.
• Amala Network 2: Says he will go after Isamu within the Amala Network.
• After events with Hikawa and Futomimi, Asakusa: Scuttlebutt about Mantra and Futomimi.
• After Yoyogi Park, Asakusa: Says he can’t find Isamu, hints that something (Chiaki) is happening in Ikebukuro.
• After Chiaki’s transformation event, Asakusa: Goes cuckoo. Says the Terminal gives him omniscience and shows you other major events happening currently in the Vortex. Intends on keeping the power of the Amala’s information to himself and says he is the only one worthy of a Reason and creating a new world. Senses Isamu’s presence, who sucks Hijiri into the Network.
• At Amala Temple: Isamu reveals the truth about Hijiri, that he was manipulating you and intended on sacrificing you to access all the Temple’s Magatsuhi. Hijiri accepts his fate and is sacrificed by Isamu.

And now for the Lady in Black’s “expanded universe” story about Hijiri:

Let me conclude by telling you about a human who has crossed your path...one who is drifting, being kept alive by fate. It is my master's wish that you listen before deciding upon a path to take.

The man I am referring to was known as Hijiri in your previous world. He died, but as fate would have it, he carried on in the Vortex World. Think back to when you first met him, to when the Conception occurred. Yes, he did lose his life like all the others. As he was heading to the  hospital, where you already were, the Conception began...and his life ended. Did it not seem odd to you, that he was in the Vortex World unaffected, unchanged?

It was all because of the mortal sin which he committed... He was a being toyed with by fate, condemned to carry the burden of atonement forever. His punishment was to see with his own eyes all that happens in the world, to record the balance of events through all the ages. A task as endless as scooping water out of the sea with a cup... He was condemned to wander the infinite span of time.

Man can change the course of his next life, by his karma... But, that privilege was taken away from Hijiri. Though his body may perish, his soul will remain unsaved: he must continue on with his task. He lives a cursed eternal life, just like a demon.

'Watch, and record the history of the world... Witness the entirety of the endless war between order and chaos... That is your punishment for your unforgivable sin...' Do you understand now? By the will of Amala, he was given a life of torment...and emerged in the Vortex World, without realizing that he had died.

Soon after, your paths crossed again... That is probably because you have the potential to affect the course of the new world. So by accompanying you, he has unknowingly been fulfilling his destiny.

Tragically, he has no memory of his sin, his punishment, or even his death. He believes that he survived the Conception, and has acted accordingly. As for the result of his efforts... you already know the outcome. In the body of a Manikin, Hijiri challenged those vying for creation...and he lost his body once again.

He is now on a journey to a new land of suffering, but his will can never be freed, and his sin never redeemed...

Okay. There’s a LOT of stupid stuff here. But I’ll begin by mentioning that vanilla Nocturne credits Shogo Isogai and Nakaji Kimura as its scenario writers, while the Maniacs version credits for its additions Shogo Isogai, Shigeo Komori, and none other than Kazuyuki Yamai. Only Yamai’s name is important here. Let’s move on. 

Left: Nocturne's original writers and planners / right: the Maniacs version's writers (Isogai is also credited later as planner)

I would guess that Hijiri's background was chosen for expansion because he's probably the least fleshed-out among the other human characters. But that's just the thing--he's a supporting character. He exists to give you information, point you in the right direction, and act as a rival for Isamu, raising the stakes with his death. Though, since the knowledge of the Amala Network turns him into a grade-A megalomaniac, you don't exactly lament his demise; Hijiri is, again, just a Magatsuhi sponge for Isamu. He exists only to support you (and Isamu).

The first obvious contrast between Main Scenario Hijiri and Backstory Hijiri is that the backstory doesn’t expound at all on his in-game character and has zero bearing on the main plot. In other words, it is the epitome of “contrived” as it adds NOTHING of value to the narrative or his character. Let’s be honest, Hijiri is a total dickweed, and the backstory attempts to paint him as a sympathetic, “tragic” character. That’s completely silly when he is clearly shown to be a deceptive schemer! He is no more or less crazy than anyone else who made it to the Vortex World, and, like the others, is shown to change because of his experiences there, not some stupid event in the past he has no control over. Hijiri’s backstory as a journalist is much more meaningful to the plot than some invented eternal punishment. 

"Yeah, he tells me all about
the plot that's definitely not there!"

The backstory also attempts to primp his entry into the Vortex World. According to the Lady in Black, Hijiri actually died with all the other humans because he didn't make it into the hospital before the Conception. She then asks a moronic question: "Did it not seem odd to you, that he was in the Vortex World unaffected, unchanged?" No...because he doesn't seem any different compared to other characters when you first meet them, like Chiaki or Hikawa. He undergoes a personality change just like the others, too. He's also a coward who hides in the Terminal rooms because of the demons stalking outside. Whoever wrote this was really reaching here.

It’s worth noting that Nocturne deliberately threw a lot of traditions under the bus, namely Law and Chaos, as Okada and Kaneko knew they were creative dead ends. Some Reasons have shades of those philosophies, with a twist. For example, Chiaki’s Yosuga is ostensibly Chaotic, yet Lawful angels are the demons that side with her. The point is that the Vortex World doesn’t operate by those exact principles! Something is "off." I understand though that the intentionally topsy-turvy nature of Nocturne isn't particularly easy to grasp for players on our side of the Pacific, because it was our first game in the series and those traditions it was abandoning hadn't yet been established here.

So, of course, when Nocturne didn't live up to sales expectations (so the stories go), the Maniacs content added in LAW and CHAOS by the bucketload. Hence, the Lady in Black says of Hijiri's fate: "'Watch, and record the history of the world... Witness the entirety of the endless war between order and chaos... That is your punishment for your unforgivable sin...'" So Hijiri was sent to the Vortex World to record another Law/Chaos war...even though neither have any bearing on what happens there. What does Law affect when the angels have become the representatives of Darwinism? Additionally, Hijiri also isn’t privy to the actual Law/Chaos conflict going on with Lucifer’s scheme in the Labyrinth.

But wait! There's more nonsense with Hijiri's role as a witness! So his punishment is to record what happens for eternity, right? But just a few sentences after the Lady in Black says that, she notes: "Tragically, he has no memory of his sin, his punishment, or even his death." In other words, Hijiri has no idea what he's doing. He cannot recall his purpose. You might even say that this completely undermines this entire backstory, but it (surprisingly) doesn't explain what happens to Hijiri's soul after death--does he experience a recap of events like you'd see at the beginning of a TV show, which he then feverishly scrawls on parchment before being reincarnated again? Either way, another problem with this idea is that Hijiri dies before he can witness the resolution of the Vortex World's conflicts! It's like he was sent off to sea before the airing of the season finale, adrift in a vessel with no satellite signal, let alone a VCR or TiVo (hey, this is 2003). 

 

The face of integrity and impartiality

Moreover, the Lady in Black says Hijiri's actual form is that of a Manikin. This contradicts multiple things Hijiri says himself. He says of the Manikins' genesis, "Oh yeah, I found out something interesting about Asakusa. This is where the Manikins are created. They're made from the black mud that's scooped up from a river around here." However, Hijiri says of his Conception experience that "all of a sudden, I was blinded by a bright light and the next thing I knew, I was here in this room. I took a quick look around, and it looks like I'm in a hospital...Since you're here too, does that mean this is Shinjuku Medical Center?"

First, there are no other Manikins in the game that don't know they are Manikins. It would also be odd that Hijiri ended up in the hospital after being created in Asakusa, though the way things in the Vortex World are established it makes it seem that certain demon factions and the Manikins themselves existed for far longer than the few hours it takes you to be introduced to them. Nonetheless, Hijiri experiences the Conception in an instant and winds up in the hospital Terminal room. There is precedent for bodily transport, as you experience the Conception with Ms. Takao on the roof and wake up in the basement after being transformed; however, Lucifer may have moved you to the basement for symbolic "rebirth" purposes. (Come on, you know he would do something like that.) Overall, this bit of the extra scenario just seems unlikely for logistical reasons. The simpler explanation is that Hijiri, someone aware of the occult happenings at the hospital, followed your lead to investigate and got transported to the Terminal room when the Conception occurred, so he's still unsettled when he arrives. I mean, teleportation is associated with him, after all!

One last thing that would be remiss to go unmentioned. Though I’m anti-Hijiri-is-Aleph, I have to admit that during my Nocturne playthrough, the Lady in Black’s story definitely seemed to imply such a connection. I mean, who else could it be? Why mention a “mortal sin” without explaining what it is? And considering how the Maniacs content is eager to reference past games and offer the fanservice and traditions the original release intentionally denied, I honestly can’t dismiss it as a possibility. But does YHVH actually curse Aleph for defeating him? Check out his relevant dialogue from SMT2 for each route, expertly translated by Dijeh:

LAW:

Pre-battle, after Satan's betrayal: Judge Satan! Thou sayest thou shalt judge me, thou created being! If that be so, ye shalt be stricken by my lightning and fall in Hell! Burn in the eternal flames of Hell! Ye demons! Ye humans who walk by the side of demons!

Post-battle: Being judged by my own creation means that ye have already let go of my hand. Think ye that ye shall be able to find your way without the help of my unseen hand? Remember well. Humans can live with nothing to trust or rely on. But humans are not strong. Every time humans shall seek my help, the Great Will of the Universe shalt bring me forth countless times...

NEUTRAL:

Pre-battle: Praise my name! There is no one to rival my glory. Praise my name! Ye have finally showed to me. Accursed child of man, Aleph! Thou art a wicked human, a created being that cannot go against my law. Hiroko! Thou hast offered thy body to create an accursed human. Not only have ye both violated my laws, ye have even come to stand before me. The many sins ye have committed are worth certain death. Still, after that irredeemable death, after the continuous persecutions in Hell, your reincarnations shall be stricken by calamities and divine retribution until the very last! 

Post-battle: Ye accursed humans! Ye have finally committed the ultimate sin. Now there is nothing left for ye who have destroyed me, the Creator, the father of all, nothing to trust, nothing to rely on. Ye have even killed the Demon King Lucifer. What shall ye do by yourselves? Remember well. Humans can live with nothing to trust or rely on. But humans are not strong. Every time humans shall seek my help, the Great Will of the Universe shalt bring me forth countless times...

CHAOS:

Pre-battle: Humans, demons...in the end, they are all my creations. Your blades cannot even scratch me. If that be so, ye shall be stricken by my lightning and fall in Hell! Burn in the eternal flames of Hell! Ye demons! Ye humans who walk by the side of demons!

Post-battle: It is your victory. The Creator defeated by his own creations shall now vanish. I cannot bear to see the world that used to move under my law descend into chaos. Who shall be the leader of the new but chaotic world? Lucifer? Shall Aleph and Hiroko be worshipped as saviors? Remember well. Humans can live with nothing to trust or rely on. But humans are not strong. Every time humans shall seek my help, the Great Will of the Universe shalt bring me forth countless times... 

The most tantalizing of YHVH's lines are those before the Neutral final battle. This is probably the entire basis for the Hijiri = Aleph hypothesis. However, this appears to be an empty threat unless YHVH actually kills Aleph which, due to our bias as players, we assume doesn't happen. On the other paths, he threatens Aleph and company to eternal torture in Hell...yet we never hear any crazy theories about those ramifications. The common threat all three paths share is that, after defeat, YHVH says the Great Will (through human desire) will revive him. This is probably the actual "punishment": Humans need to tread carefully and depend on each other rather than the supernatural, as the specter of Law/Neutral/Chaos looms ever large.

But refuting the Hijiri-Aleph connection is that Japanese commentary on the subject, as I’ve researched, tends to be light and what few mentions exist could be influenced by the English fanbase; I have a Japanese Nocturne: Maniacs fanbook that, as far as I can tell, makes no overt mention of the connection even though the journalist Hijiri is used as a framing device to introduce the content of each chapter. There’s also the fact that SMT4, a game even more eager than Nocturne’s bonus content to reference the past, offers no clear Aleph analogue/infinite water scooper. There was even a perfect opportunity in SMT4A’s Heroes DLC for the Demi-fiend to say to Aleph that he “seems familiar,” but that didn’t happen. And speaking of that DLC, Aleph mentions that he was killed by the Megiddo Ark, which only fires on Law--meaning they incorporated the Aleph that would be damned to eternal punishment in Hell rather than reincarnated torture. Clearly this connection has never been important to Atlus. Hijiri's past self could just as well describe an original character as much as Aleph.

Just a dude and his oversized
Buddhist prayer wheel

Speaking of Hijiri's "mortal sin," if killing YHVH is truly what that is describing, then Lucifer and the Lady in Black are trying to recruit the Demi-fiend to do the very same thing, even if the initial goal is to stop the cycle of creation. Wouldn't the Demi-fiend be consigned to the same fate, then? The Lady in Black doesn't think so, as she says in the concluding lines of her Hijiri dialogue, "Do you want your life to be predestined as well, or would you rather choose your own actions? If you do not wish to be ruled by destiny... If you would prefer to walk with demons on a new, untrodden path, then please come visit my master. You can open the door ahead with the candelabrum I gave you... Will you come meet my master?" She is implying that the Demi-fiend's path as a True Demon will not come at a cost like Hijiri and that this new path will be unique to him. Of course, this hinges on Lucifer being a sympathetic, trustworthy character. LUCIFER. I'll pull a Shin Megami Tensei and let you interpret that yourself. But the answer could very well be that the "mortal sin" was never killing YHVH in the first place. Maybe you were meant to come to your own conclusion? Hmm.

Anyway, this is all why I think the Lady in Black’s commentary about Hijiri is just backstory for backstory’s sake! It’s supposed to sound cool--and that’s it. No thought given to what else it impacts. You could substitute Hijiri for Futomimi or Sakahagi and it would affect nothing. Sloppy writing at the conceptual level! What else is there to say?

This sloppiness is also why Hijiri’s extra origin story reminds me of SMT4, because it seems every bit as contrived and overwrought as that game’s worst bits. And honestly, it’s the only one of the Lady in Black’s dialogues that’s even particularly egregious, but it all has to do with how little it has to do with the actual narrative. And given that Yamai is the only one of the Maniacs writers to also have a hand in SMT4, I’m seeing a connection. It’s sad to say, but I think Yamai, the guy in charge, might be the weak link in the Maniacs Team chain.

 

UPDATE: Even before publishing this initial version in 2017 there was something about the Hijiri-Aleph theory worming through my brain that I couldn't quite place and it took until compiling last year's Fan Myths articles to we know: we know exactly where the theory came from. 

Turns out that it originated from the author of Nocturne's most monumental FAQ from back in the day, Ian Kelley. Here's what he wrote in his FAQ: 

 

It's never said what Hijiri's crime exactly was, but I strongly suspect that he is a reincarnation of Aleph, the hero of Shin Megami Tensei II. Reason being, the description of the torture that he's going through sounds EXACTLY like what YHVH (ie, God) threatens Aleph with in the Neutral Path in SMTII. A short synopsis for those that haven't played SMTII and don't mind being spoiled--at the end of the Neutral path in SMTII, Aleph thwarts YHVH's plan to wipe out all life on Earth and kills Satan, his instrument of destruction. YHVH is royally pissed at this and summons Aleph directly up to him, where he says that he will kill him, torture him in Hell, reincarnate him and torture him and his descendants in life, then torture his soul in Hell some more, reincarnate him again for more living torture, etc. This is a pretty good parallel to what's happening to Hijiri. Of course, in SMTII, Aleph normally goes on to kill YHVH (who's the last boss) but in his death-speech YHVH accuses Aleph of committing the "ultimate sin" (as per Hijiri's "ultimate sin") and claims that the universe will bring him back to life so long as people keep believing in him. One can only assume that if Hijiri really is an incarnation of Aleph, that YHVH either came back to life and is getting revenge on Aleph, or that he killed Aleph in the final battle of SMTII in the official" SMT canon. And of course, all the stuff that went on in Aleph's world would have to be in a different Vortex than the one in SMTIII. Keep in mind, there's a high probability that I'm dead wrong on this. :P 

Bolded emphases my own. This bit was written no later than August 2004, the last time Kelley's FAQ was updated, and at the time just a fun thing to think about, not gospel to take as fact. This means it predates even the English release of Nocturne the following October. It can't be overstated how good Kelley's FAQ actually was, in these days before 99.99% of the people interested in the series had even heard of it (or were born yet). In the demons index, he even got Gurulu's name correct! In 2003/4! Kelley also contributed to the English Nocturne guide by DoubleJump books, though sadly not its localization. 

But seeing as Kelley didn't seem to take the Hijiri/Aleph theory all that seriously to begin with, he had the following to say about it on the SomethingAwful forums nearly a decade later in 2013, as the series had ballooned in popularity: 

Kelley is "Masakado" here, just as he was in his credited email in the FAQ. Amongst other things, he says of the theory, “I was never really serious about it in the first place and never expected people to latch onto it but welp.” Between how poorly Nocturne retcons the extra backstory of Hijiri and this provable provenance of the theory itself, it's quite clear that "Hijiri is Aleph" was never intended by anyone at Atlus. And let's say even if it was--based on what we have, it's not something particularly rewarding or worth your precious time, anyway!

2. Skeletons and Their Not-Menorahs (Aug. 20, 2017)

A long time ago I was asked by @nagabenang about Nocturne’s use of Kabbalistic elements, mainly the names representing the candelabra/menorahs. I was interested as well, so I looked up how the names corresponded but unfortunately had to shelve the idea of diving any deeper… until now.

Here’s how the candelabra and their Fiends match up to their respective sephirot on the Tree of Life, as seen above:

• Demi-fiend: Sovereignty (王国のメノラー); Malkuth
• Matador: Foundation (基礎のメノラー); Yesod
• Daisoujou: Eternity (永遠のメノラー); Netzach
• Hell Biker: Dignity (威厳のメノラー[栄光]); Hod
• White Rider: Compassion (慈悲のメノラー); Chesed
• Red Rider: Insight (理解のメノラー ); Binah
• Black Rider: Wisdom (知恵のメノラー); Chokhmah
• Dante: Knowledge (知識のメノラー); Daath
• Pale Rider: Majesty (王冠のメノラー); Kether
• Mother Harlot: Beauty (美のメノラー); Tiferet
• Trumpeter: Godliness (神威のメノラー[神々しい力]); Gevurah

The assumption you might make (I know I always did) with the incorporation of sephirot symbolism is that Nocturne is making a statement about the Demi-fiend’s journey or overall spiritual development as a result of Lucifer’s candelabra game. With the Candelabrum of Sovereignty given to him by Lucifer, representing Malkuth, the lowest sephira and the one farthest away from Kether, the “crown” and highest emanation, you infer that the Demi-fiend is at the bottom of the pecking order but expected to move along the “board,” so to speak, in a way that reflects internal development as the physical struggle illustrates external development.

But to save myself some writing and you some reading: this doesn’t actually work, sadly. It seems to be on the right track up until White Rider at Chesed, but the idea of some secret, ordered kabbalistic subtext falls apart at Pale Rider’s placement via his candelabrum. It just doesn’t make sense for him to be at the highest level of the Tree when he isn’t the last one you fight; Trumpeter should have been the Majesty/Kether rep instead.

I also included and analyzed two other “journeys,” also included in the photoset, that show the orders in which you can collect the candelabra (based on earliest possible opportunity) and the placement of the candelabra on each of the five pedestals in the Labyrinth of Amala. The collection order shows just how weird the intended fight order is while the placement order reveals that there is no adherence to the 22 paths of the Tree of Life or even a linear advancement on the Tree’s “rows.”

All told, this was a neat concept but inconsistently executed. I am by no means a Kabbalah expert, as there’s a density and intensity to the subject of which I can’t match from my mere casual interest, but I do know that you wouldn’t reach the goal (Kether) and then take a sharp turn around to a lower level. A little more careful placement and consideration and this could have been as resonant as as some of the themes found in the core game.  

3. Baby Lucifer, Freedom, and How It's Easy to Forget Dialogue from 30 Hours Ago in RPGs (Jan. 28, 2019)

Early in 2019, I was asked about the soundness of Nocturne’s Maniacs additions and my reply prompted multiple responses. Those responses in turn prompted me to deep dive into certain aspects of Nocturne’s narrative, resulting in this mini-analysis.

To start, in the vein of the Hijiri character breakdown I wanted to run through Nocturne’s script and summarize the appearances of the Old Woman and Child (or any aspect of Lucifer) in the original, non-Maniacs version:

1. Vision in the hospital, pre-Conception. A mere introduction to both.

2. Immediately post-Conception. Child feeds you the magatama. Old Woman says the “little master” watches you.

3. After exiting the hospital. Introduction to Kagutsuchi, the Vortex World environment, and the idea of creation.

4. After Aradia appears in the Obelisk. The Old Woman says Aradia is trouble. That’s honestly kind of a weird line, we’ll come back to it. But it’s worth copying most of her subsequent dialogue verbatim:

The time of creation for this  Vortex World is near. War will erupt amongst those who spread their Reason  in hopes of shaping the new world. As a demon, you are forbidden to conceive your own Reason... Which Reason will you side with? Which will you oppose?   Will the Reason you choose persevere, or fail? Your suffering is my little master's delight. Struggle as hard as you can; You are free to follow  whichever Reason you like. My only wish is that you do not disappoint my  little master with a dull ending...

5. Activating the way to the Tower of Kagutsuchi at Amala Temple. The Old Woman explains what the tower is and that it’s creation time. However, she also shills for the True Demon Ending, which feels like it’s appended to the original expository dialogue. I don’t feel like finding and comparing the Japanese vanilla version dialogue now, so let’s just ignore this appearance for the time being. With a bit of extra time, I looked into it and her dialogue is indeed different. I've screencapped the dialogue and provided videos below: 

• Original JP: https://youtu.be/YZbWKJgcGkk?t=1h51m58s
• Maniacs JP: https://youtu.be/X9FLKychZWM?t=16m42s
• English: https://youtu.be/VlXBLL6QWbY?t=1m25s

Diverging after the ゾロゾロ (streaming) line, it's most obvious that Maniacs adds significantly more dialogue to the scene, while the original version has three extra text boxes that weren't ported over. If someone is willing to provide a translation of those three additionals, I'd appreciate it! Just from the little I can understand it does look like there is a little bit of overlap with the Maniacs dialogue that doesn't specifically mention the new content. Soren was kind enough to provide a rough summary for these three boxes: "She says that you've done well up to this point, cautions that the final act begins now, and wonders what the end will be like for you." 

6. After the regular Demon ending. Noteworthy that this is the ONLY time the Child speaks directly outside of the TDE. He says:

A demon born in exchange for the world... There's no other quite like you. Kagutsuchi may have cursed you, but I give you my blessing. Light no longer shines upon you. But, you can do without it, can't you? Darkness is the source of your power now... I'm afraid I have to go now. I won't forget you, though. We'll definitely meet again... You should get going, too. Chaos will reign, as you desired, since no new world was forged. Indeed, it shall be the millennial kingdom of demons...

7. In the Neutral Human / Freedom ending. An unspecified but absolutely Lucifer voice says: “You have chosen to follow your will and tread the path of thorns... like myself. In time, your true adversary will appear before you.  Until that  day, stay strong...”

Now, to the asks! 

Note that the rest of this section is basically just a rambling answer to all three even beyond their initial questions as there was a lot more to investigate under the hood. 

For #1, I honestly feel like it’s the opposite, that the Demon ending has the stronger appearance of Lucifer; for one, the Child actually appears and says something, and not for something insignificant but the heralding of a continued chaotic existence for demons. For #2, yes, the Demon ending is technically Neutral I think, but maybe only on a technicality. It’s otherwise very Chaos-friendly or, at the very least, strongly anti-Law. I also agree that it represents an indecisive, vacillating stance--and is basically an indictment of the Isabeau School of Neutrality. #3, before looking up the dialogue I might have agreed but since there are multiple references to Child merely wanting entertainment with no real goal (other than possibly screwing things up, see below), the idea of Lucifer desiring the Demi-fiend emulate him seems more Maniacs.

When you consider the reaction Aradia earned from the Old Woman, Freedom doesn't seem like it was a goal for the Child either. While she says the “little master” wants to see any ending the Demi-fiend can achieve, Aradia’s appearance “can only mean trouble.” Bizarre, right? But even though it’s ultimately abortive, Aradia is Yuko’s Reason sponsor and influencer of the Freedom ending; to get it, you must answer both of Aradia's "flag" questions correctly, in addition to rejecting Isamu, Chiaki, and Hikawa when they go full demon. Another way to look at earning the Freedom ending is:

• Initially agreeing with Isamu, Chiaki, Hikawa while they’re human to at least show them you’re listening (i.e., even though you’re a demon, you haven’t lost your humanity)
• Sympathizing with Yuko (it’s ultimately her Reason, you’re just its agent)
• Disagree when Isamu, Chiaki, Hikawa go off the deep end (reject their demonic selves)

So, Aradia appearing means Freedom is possible, meaning that the world might just turn back to the way it was; the Old Woman’s reaction also implying that this result was unexpected. Even though Probably Lucifer interjects in the Freedom ending with some vague warning about the future that is probably more about humanity screwing itself over again than anything supernatural (SJ has something similar, IIRC), returning to reality’s status quo is a big loss for the demonic, as to have free rein again they have to wait and hope that some dunce reads a banned book or opens a dimensional portal.

It’s also worth noting that Maniacs’ backstory retcon for Aradia is-- completely expected at this point--mostly rubbish that contradicts what happens in the main story. The Lady in Black names her an outsider from another Vortex World, an intruder; “There is little that she can do in a Vortex World where her existence is forbidden.” This ignores a few things:

• Aradia affects Yuko, who can affect you and the outcome.
• Aradia powers you up, giving you two more demon slots. The game literally says: “> You received power from Aradia. > You can now employ 2 additional demons.” I think this one’s hilarious.
• Aradia has either foresight or omniscience, as she informs you to find Chiaki in Ikebukuro before she fuses with Gozu-Tennoh.
• In the showdown with Hikawa in the Diet Building he calls Aradia “powerless in this warded area” where he summons Ahriman. You know, the cool one that looks like an acid trip. This appears to be true, as Aradia sets off of her own volition after Yuko refuses to go with her. He then calls her a “false god,” which allows the spicier takes to enter the ring but hardly implies extra-dimensional being; indeed, from Hikawa’s perspective it’s also a true statement since Aradia herself was not powerful enough to pair with Yuko and establish a Reason--the whole point of the Vortex World exercise. But because she’s “powerless” in a specific area, the implication is that she could have achieved more if the circumstances were different or she had a home field advantage.

This may seem like minor stuff in the grand scheme of things. But what are Baal Avatar, Noah, or Ahriman affecting? They have more potency and are actual bosses, but they have a far weaker impact on the unfolding narrative than Aradia. Aradia only appears “weak” because she is reflective of Yuko’s own state and her influence on the Vortex World, which seems insignificant compared to the others at the surface level. Isamu is using the Amala Network to his advantage (i.e., guzzling Magatsuhi), Chiaki is just beating up fools (guzzling Magatsuhi), and Hikawa is the Man with the Plan and the Magatsuhi. Yuko is less of a guzzler but nonetheless remains the human link to the most important player in the story--you, of course; she somehow has the Magatsuhi-filled Yahirono Himorogi (she's the sacrificial Maiden, I guess is why), which she gives you after she's already dead... somehow. It’s meaningful that Aradia’s representation is just Yuko with a Rorschach inkblot over her face--the game is asking you to interpret Yuko’s words and place in the story, which is crucial for a sane outcome. Yuko and Aradia have power than transcends raw strength.

This is why the Maniacs content has emerged to me as a clumsy dog and pony show. It basically just casts aside all this awesome, carefully planned story for the sake of another rote power fantasy. I say that only because the TDE has effectively subjugated all other endings in the discourse and even received official validation with 4A’s DLC. It’s all quite discouraging for those who want just a tad more complexity or variety from their RPG stories--not asking for Moby Dick or Finnegans Wake here, just something more ambitious or differently flavored than Shonenpunch Godwars!

Some extras: 

It hit me while writing this that the Lucifer avatars in Nocturne don't have heterochromatic eyes like SMT1's Louis Bowie has. This seemed significant (was the Child even originally envisioned as Lucifer or was it a red herring?) but then Soren reminded me that all subsequent Kaneko Lucifer avatars just have two grey eyes, too, until Doi's Lucigirl revived blue and red.

And lastly, I want to say it’s amazing how that, even in a game you’ve played a half dozen times, you obtain a much clearer picture of plot details by just reading the script or watching a movie of the cutscenes. It seems it's a real challenge for the brain to recall seemingly minor but ultimately significant details when they are separated by dozens of hours of gameplay! I would have never remembered these finer details of Nocturne cutscenes on my own.

4. And Now, the All-New Conclusion: Patterns in Atlus Enhanced Edition Content (Dec. 11, 2019) [UPDATED 6/7/22 with commentary in brackets]

 

We've weathered how many Atlus special expanded editions now? One-dozen... thousand? Seems like that many. Most follow a disturbingly similar formula: new dungeon/path with new final boss, new girl related to new dungeon/path. Oh, and some polish to the gameplay mechanics + new demons/personas.

Toki, an Atlus Enhanced Edition Girl in a game
that's (technically) not an enhanced version

It's great when gameplay is improved and such refinements are where Atlus excels. However, as this post compilation shows, it's the added story that falters more often than not. It can feel unnaturally grafted on without concern for the original script (Maniacs), intrusive to the original narrative (Strange Journey Redux, Persona 4 Golden), or just plain unnecessary (take your pick of games). It's extra content for extra content's sake, to encourage double dipping or provide a few more bullet-points to persuade fence-sitters to shell out for the full-priced special edition instead of the discounted original. And since these editions are like clockwork, there's honestly little risk at this point to wait for the upgrade. That we constantly fail at waiting is why Atlus keeps getting away with it.

But back to Nocturne. It already has one special version under its belt, two if you count the Raidou Chronicle one. However, it's undoubtedly going to be re-released again for modern consoles sooner or later. The question is, will they stuff it with even more garbage? [This was written half a year before Nocturne HD was announced!]

Maybe we could get off easy and they'll only tinker with the mechanics, some of which could really use a tune-up. Here are some ideas:

• Skill selection during fusion [We got it! In a post-release update!]
  
• Field icon battles instead of random battles; or maybe some other way of addressing the random battles because Nocturne environments without complete emptiness just wouldn't be Nocturne! [Nope, too much work!]
  
• Demi-fiend's learned skills infinitely swappable instead of disappearing forever once swapped out [Nope!]
  
• New magatama and skills, the latter including the now requisite severe almighty + debuff (Jihad, Antichthon) [There's a pattern forming...]
  
• The demon conversation quality of life improvements from SMT4 and 4A; or some kind of "app" system like those games or Strange Journey [Of course not]
  
• Maybe a good dozen or so extra Kaneko demons; Mara, Alice, Moh Shuvuu worth it if we can get some actually interesting faces like Lugh, Zaou Gongen, etc. [Sadly...]
  
• A new, well-designed demon or two [It was a lot to ask for, really]
  
• The option to turn off the inevitable story voice acting without it affecting the amazing original demon battle voices (this is such a small thing that will be tragic to lose and inevitably so because I can't help but feel the acting in any language will be rote and mismatched to the game's tone) [Yes! This was possible! Monkey paw: the demon voices were mostly re-recorded for the worse]
  
• Unsure about the Demi-fiend's death not being an instant game over, but making that at least an option would be welcome; or, make that a feature of a new Easy mode that would allow more people to experience the game [Easy mode was added!]
  
• Similarly, save anywhere? The palpable tension between save points and healing springs would be lost, but that's probably no big deal [Suspend save added!]
  
• Fuse anywhere? I miss the atmosphere and commitment of the Cathedral of Shadows as a location and I doubt they'd completely expunge it from the game where the protagonist has no COMP, but a limited capability version for convenience could work [Nope, would have required something new]
  

There's potentially more, but that's plenty. Any of these ideas would objectively improve the gameplay experience for one or all.

Atlus USA on janitorial duty, but covering up
for Atlus Japan's sins in the process

But let's be real, we won't get off easy. The human characters will be slightly redesigned to match Doi's own style for the inevitable new girl. It doesn't even seem possible for Nocturne but they will shoehorn her in somehow. But where? They can't pull an Alex or Marie because the Amala subquest and the Fiends are already using the "intrusion" gimmick. Don't expect a female Demi-fiend either; Atlus' tendency to avoid easily-implemented character customization in their largely silent protagonist-filled games is legendary. And never forget that the last time an internally-developed Megami Tensei game gave players a gender selection--P3P--its Japanese script allowed the female protagonist implied pedophilia with a 10-year-old boy. At a loss for words here.

Still, I think there are two possibilities for a Nocturne new girl: a new friend or a girl sick in the hospital. It wouldn't take too much effort to add an introduction to a new friend pre-Conception, either on the Tokyo map or somewhere else in the hospital; Chiaki and Isamu never interact in the hospital and with an extra line from both mentioning this new friend, she could be quickly established. Sick girl would make less sense but there are a lot of rooms in the hospital and maybe one was... locked? And Hikawa and Yoko overlooked it? But post-Conception, bam, she's no longer sick and wanders the Vortex World. Either girl adds a new Reason and a new world map location and dungeon that unlocks the Reason (and post-Kagutsuchi final boss), hopefully different enough from the Labyrinth to feel distinct.

Maybe this hypothetical is a bit overly-optimistic for one of Atlus' worst trends, but imagining it this way honestly doesn't seem that bad. It's unnecessary, yes, and new girl's Reason and the philosophy behind it will probably poorly match the original script and story, yes, and... well, that's still the entire point. How much restraint can they show? How much faith do they have that the Maniacs Team's eponymous product is worth re-releasing as-is (excluding gameplay fixes) 15+ years later? The answer to both: very little. [This prediction of new "Atlus girl" in Nocturne's "inevitable remaster" had its biggest failing in assuming they would want to spend a lot of money on it... obviously, this didn't come to pass, and for the better. But based on the trends at the time, it seemed like an easy bet. In fact, Yamai said of SMT3HD that its concept was that of "respect for the original work," which seems pretty fair overall.]

What an adorable rapist Atlus/Sega have available for sale!

More than plot, mechanics, music, etc., Atlus is in the character business. Their characters drive their games' (read: Persona's) popularity in spite of weak narratives and/or unsatisfying conclusions with questionable execution and bare minimum character development where one change is all characters tend to (canonically) get. And Atlus is very happy to oblige with character merchandise and character-focused spinoffs like the Persona Q series or Strikers, which will probably have more cutscenes than the average Musou game (which would only be respectful to the original IP).

To put this into perspective, think of Shin Megami Tensei IV or Apocalypse and how different their characters seemed from traditional SMT characters, particularly Apocalypse's. It's the same philosophy of excessive dialogue to make the characters seem more personable but really to hide the lack of genuine growth, vignettes with attempted humor or awkward sexual innuendo, and trait-based characterizations and motivations to give a cast "character"--but not depth. So far, this hasn't really panned out for Shin Megami Tensei, from Atlus' perspective or from ours, probably because of the series' extremely unrealistic setting. But will they keep trying? You betcha. SMT5 just needs to sell 3.2 million copies and its characters will automatically become iconic. Them's just the rules.  

All this is to say that when Atlus has an opportunity to sell another character, they're gonna take it. Quantity over quality--surely one or more will stick eventually. And art isn't art when the "wrong" art doesn't follow current company values and could impede product sales; Strange Journey Redux proved that nothing is sacred. Historical sales failure Nocturne is just asking to be profaned.

Skill selection, though? A sanctification.