Preta originates from Buddhist and Hindu texts, they are the spirits of greedy or jealous people who have become demons with an insatiable appetite. In China, they are known as E-Gui, or hungry ghosts. The Japanese word for the demon, gaki, borrows from this. In the modern Japanese language, spoiled children are called "gaki", as a reference to this demon.
A Gaki is the very first demon that the protagonist actually encounters in Shin Megami Tensei, where he rips out a civilian's throat in the Kichijoji Mall and then proceeds to attack the protagonist, leaving the scene after inflicting substantial damage.
This event also leads the hero to obtain his first weapon in the game from the dead man's body—an "Attack Knife"; and his wrongful accusation of the man's murder that leads to his temporary incarceration and meeting the other main characters.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
A team of three Pretas is fought in the Shinjuku Hygienic Hospital in order to retrieve a necessary keycard.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
"A ghoulish demon of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of Hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Compendium
As an enemy, Preta sports the infamous Macca Beam which cut down 20% of the player's total Macca.
