Well, getting people to play Shin Megami Tensei II has now become a full time job for me, so I decided that rather than having to help them look all over for workable patches and emulators each time, I'll just write down an easy set of instructions I can keep around to link them to. So I'll keep the instructions here for the time being.
-PATCHING THE GAME-
Now the first thing you need to realize is that this game is not in English; it's in Japanese. It was never released outside of Japan. So you'll need to download four separate things, before you can play it. Unless you speak Japanese, in which case you don't need 2 and 3.
1: The game itself. (In Japanese.)
2: The patch to translate it into English.
3: A patching tool.
4: An emulator, to actually play it with.
Now, Don't think that having it patch it is an incomprehensible task which you're not going to be able to do. If you follow these ludicrously simple instructions, it's fairly straightforward, and you won't make any mistakes. First, make a folder to keep everything in. Then download...
1: the game. (Here are several links, in case one of them doesn't work.)
[link][link][link](...Even if none of these links work, you could easily find a rom by looking in Google. So that shouldn't be a problem.)
and 2: The patch. (This link definitely works.)
[link]Now after you download them and put everything in your folder, what you need to do is make ANOTHER folder in your first folder called "originals," and make copies of the game and patch in it. This is so in case the patch is installed wrong, you won't have to download them again. Don't put anything else in the "originals" folder.
But back to your regular folder, now you have to download...
1: Zsnes. (It should work for all main operating systems. If not, find a forum to discuss alternate SNES rom players, though this is the best one. Links are on top left.)
[link]and 2: The patching device.
(Windows)
[link](And here's a list of ones to use some of which are for macs. Don't be discouraged by the amount, many of them are likely fairly easy to use.)
[link]Now for the windows one especially, how to use it is straightforward, and you should have little trouble. Even if you're using the mac one, the patchers are meant to do the work themselves, so you don't have to worry about a difficult time.
Keep in mind though, since there's a slim chance a mistake may be made, make sure to ONLY try it with your files which AREN'T in your "originals" folder. IF you mess them up (Which is unlikely) copy them from the originals, and try again. Since these programs are meant to be straightforward you likely won't mess up too many times, so keep trying it until it works. Note, for each time it says it completed patching, try opening the game with Zsnes to see if it's in English. (Note; if it fails, you can't try to patch the same copy more than once. Delete that one, and make a new one.)
...And that should be that.
-USING ZSNES-
However you still need to know how to use Zsnes in order to play. Here are a few tips.
1: Even after loading the game, you can freeze it, and bring up the menu by pressing "Esc." Pressing this again takes the menu away again.
2: You can reset the controls on the menu. This is useful, so that you can decide what they will be. Also somewhere on the menu there's ALSO an option to set a button whereby when you press it it speeds up the game. This will become HIGHLY useful later on, so you should get used to it.
3: You can save and load states not only in the game, but from the emulator itself, with the menu. Since save-stations are fairly rare in the game, make sure you know you can also do this. Just don't screw yourself by this. You can save in multiple slots, to make sure you don't
Also, make sure you don't mix up which method of saving you used last. You may get confused, and use the wrong one.
-IMPORTANT HELPFUL GAME TIPS-
1: The game makes no effort to tell you this, but having things "summoned" drains your MAG meter every time you take a step. (Mag is shown on top left, or somewhere.) The more things are summoned, the more it drains. If you run out, it starts damaging you. And you refill it by defeating things. So if you're low, you need to put your summons away, and defeat things by yourself. Your summons don't gain levels, so you don't lose anything by putting them away.
2: After you get automap, you can access it instantly by pressing whatever you set for "R," I believe.
3: On your map screen, you can place markers, for places you want to remember. For big maps you won't be able to remember yourself, this is important, especially in later areas.
4: You may need to go out of your way level up at times. Fortunately you have the speed-up button to help you out with that, so it's never a large hassle.
5: Spells which raise your stats or lower enemy's are far more useful than you would expect them to be. They also stack.
6:Fusing new demons is generally more useful than using ones regularly obtained. They retain skills through fusion, so you can use this to create spectacular skillsets.
6: You will need an INT of 10, eventually. Don't wait up for it, and then need to get it all at once.
6: Everything you do alters everything you will be able to do. Every time you go to a specific church, temple, etc... you slowly shift over to the ideologies of that religion. Every enemy has a specific alignment, and killing one will push you away from that specific one, and into the opposing one. Befriending said one will make you slip toward that one, and using them does even more. If you are too far away an ideology from them, they will NOT join you, and will give no explanation, even if you bribe them. What weapons and gear you use does this too, as well as random answers you give to in-game questions.
And there will come a time when you will no longer be able to change your ideology, and will have to live with the decisions you made throughout your life. So it's best to pay close attention to what you choose to do early.
Great Will be with you.
Sta.sh
Not Impressed 
Neutral 
Anger 
Pain 
Tired 
Eager 
Zest 
Noble 
Anxious 
Add Media
Style