Soul Hackers 2 is similar to Shin Megami Tensei and its increasingly popular spin-off series Persona. It has enjoyable turn-based combat, the monsters we all know and love, and vast dungeons to explore. It also tells a fairly gripping story that is complete with social links, character interactions, and a spin on hangout spots. The problem is that Soul Hackers 2 literally makes it all worse. It’s a good game, but it can’t hold a candle to the greats of Atlas.
As an entry in a series with just one other installment from the 1990s—which was remade for the Nintendo 3DS just in 2013—the game’s title at number two at the end may have some people concerned. After all, you won’t find a GameStop shelf full of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Copies in the year 2022.
However, you don’t need to worry because Soul Hackers 2 has no prior knowledge. You might have missed a little reference or two (we haven’t even played the original game), but it’s a standalone story that presents itself as if it’s a brand new IP where everyone is a newcomer.
That narrative centers on Ringo and Fig, two humanoids created by an AI named Aion. This artificial intelligence is designed to watch humanity from afar, except when it learns that the end of the world is near, it must intervene. Something known as the great is being invoked, and the couplets must prevent this by preventing objects of power called covenants from falling into the wrong hands.
When you embark on the journey alone, you’ll quickly assemble a party of four, full of oddballs and contrasting personalities. Much of the story is character-centered, explaining how the various Devil Summoner factions relate to each other and plotting around them. The antagonist’s motivations are also compelling, with the cool character design making them a real focal point for the plot as it unfolds. It’s the typical story of a JRPG, but it’s unlikely to go down as particularly memorable.
The cutscenes are engaging throughout and the story is enough to keep things interesting. However, they lack the intrigue of the Persona 5 plot point or the gripping nature of the Shin Megami Tensei twist. Although the narrative has its moments, it’s plainly clear that Soul Hackers 2 wasn’t given the same budget as Atlas’ flagship RPG. As a result, the story suffers to some extent.
So do the places you are able to explore outside the dungeons. During downtime, shops can be rummaged through to source new items and equipment, complete side quests for bonus loot and money, and interact with party members to improve their spirit level. One time visit can be done. These outlets and attractions are located in incredibly short and narrow streets, leaving absolutely no room for exploration outside of the random towns you might chat with.
It’s almost as if the game recognizes that the cobblestones outside don’t make sense: once you find them you can travel straight into every shop and business. There is little to do outside of war; The only characters with whom you can form any kind of bond are your main party members. And yet, they are limited to simple soul levels that rise through dialogue responses.
Once you get into a dungeon and harbor some monsters, however, Soul Hackers 2 takes a more positive turn. Its turn-based combat system is similar to other Atlus RPGs: it’s really fun to engage with the super stylish and addictive game where you’re actively exploring battles. It’s all too familiar if you’ve played recent titles from the developer, but it has a formula that works.
The usual selection of magical abilities and physical attacks are at your disposal. So are items, using your turn to block, and trying to escape from the scene. Taking advantage of enemy weaknesses is the key to winning the battle, which is discovered by experimenting and learning the skills they throw back at you. while a. not as hard Shin Megami Tensei WoMany challenging encounters await – especially boss fights with unique abilities.
There’s a new mechanic called stacking that sets the game apart from the rest. Instead of gaining an extra turn after aiming at the enemy’s Achilles heel, you’ll build stacks that will be an almighty attack after members of your party leave. It adds a whole new layer of strategy to the experience by letting you stack a strong enemy—even if it does hardly any damage—in order to drain the HP of every monster in front of you. Reach a high stacking count and it’s possible to wipe out an entire lineup of enemies at once.
With the added depth, the combat system doesn’t feel like a repetition of prior Atlus efforts. While it may seem almost indistinguishable from the outside, Soul Hackers 2 makes its own little corner that rewards aggression and experimentation with strong attacks down the line. Throw in some enemies that can change their elemental flaws on the fly and you have a monstrous power that keeps you on your toes.
All those encounters take place in the dungeon, which represents by far the worst thing about JRPGs. Some of the most nostalgic, lifeless, boring places with recycled corridors and hallways provide an incredibly dull backdrop for the battle at hand. These areas are not your style persona like 5 palaces; They are basic shopping malls and shipping districts without a hint of personality.
Some new mechanics are introduced partly to add a tiny hint of complexity, but they really force you to wander through the repetitive and mind-numbing path of dungeons. Can’t say how bullshit they really are. It’s almost as if Atlus forgot about them until the very last moment and then quickly slapped a few properties together. But, of course, this is not really the case. They were all designed that way from the start.
Even the map used to navigate the dungeons is rubbish. Its labyrinthine nature extends across the screen and manages to get in your way despite the screen being quite translucent. Because the enjoyable battles are inside the dungeon, everything you do in them outside the story is as monotonous as dishwater.
It’s actually a quirky contrast, as Soul Hackers 2 retains the stylish, colorful nature of an Atlus game in its menu and anywhere outside of a dungeon. The streets – as short as they are – are alive with activity and vibes. Stylish transitions let you switch between cutscenes and gameplay effortlessly, and the menus in between are trendy and hip. It’s a really cool game to watch in the right areas, and the amazing character art makes the dialogue pop.
However, the background scenes are the real stars of the show. Walk into one of the stores that stock combat supplies and you’ll be greeted by a flat yet stylish image that will have the shopper downright funky. Atlus knows what it is to excel in the art department, and its latest life lives up to those expectations most of the time. Why this fashionable approach was not carried over to the dungeons will forever remain a mystery.
conclusion
Soul Hackers 2 is a capable Atlus JRPG that will tick a lot of boxes for fans of the genre, but it falls short of being Japan’s next breakout star. With terrific dungeon designs and little else to do outside of them, it takes on a fascinating combat system and interesting enough narrative to pick up the pieces. It’s not the next must-see JRPG by any means, but there’s enough of Soul Hackers 2 to warrant a play.
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