Soul Hackers 2 is so much like Shin Megami Tensei and its more and more common spin-off collection Persona. It has the pleasurable turn-based fight, demons we have all come to know and love, and huge dungeons to discover. It additionally tells a reasonably entertaining story full with a spin on social hyperlinks, character interactions, and hangout spots. The issue is Soul Hackers 2 does nearly all of this worse. It is a good sport, however it may well’t maintain a candle to the Atlus greats.
As an entry in a collection with only one different instalment from the Nineties — which was remade for simply the Nintendo 3DS in 2013 — the quantity two on the finish of the sport’s title could understandably have some individuals anxious. In any case, you are not going to discover a GameStop shelf packed filled with Shin Megami Tensei: Satan Summoner: Soul Hackers copies within the 12 months 2022.
Nevertheless, you needn’t fret as a result of Soul Hackers 2 assumes no prior information in any respect. Perhaps you will miss out on one or two minor references (we have not performed the unique sport both), however it is a standalone story that introduces itself as if it is a new IP the place everyone seems to be a newcomer.
That narrative focuses on Ringo and Figue, two humanoids created by an AI named Aion. This synthetic intelligence is designed to watch humanity from afar, besides it should intervene when it learns the tip of the world is nigh. One thing generally known as the Nice One is being known as upon, and the twosome should put a cease to it by stopping objects of energy known as Covenants from falling into the fallacious palms.
Whilst you begin the journey alone, you’ll rapidly assemble a celebration of 4, full of oddballs and contrasting personalities. A lot of the story is character-focused, detailing how the assorted Satan Summoner factions relate to at least one one other and crafting plot twists round them. The motivations of the antagonist are compelling too, with cool character design making them an actual focus for the plot because it unfolds. It is a neat story typical of a JRPG, however it’s unlikely to go down as a very memorable one.
Cutscenes stay partaking all through and the story does sufficient to maintain issues attention-grabbing. Nevertheless, they lack the intrigue of a Persona 5 plot level or the gripping nature of a Shin Megami Tensei twist. Though the narrative has its moments, it is abundantly clear Soul Hackers 2 wasn’t afforded the identical form of finances as Atlus’ premier RPGs. The story suffers considerably in consequence.
So too do the areas you are in a position to discover exterior of dungeons. Throughout downtime, retailers may be rummaged by to supply new gadgets and tools, facet quests may be accomplished for bonus loot and cash, and a bar may be visited to enhance your Soul Stage with occasion members. These shops and sights are located on extremely brief and slim streets that depart completely no room for exploration exterior of the random townsfolk you may chat to.
It is nearly as if the sport recognises there’s little level to the cobblestones exterior: you may quick journey instantly to each retailer and enterprise as soon as you’ve got found them. There’s little to do exterior of fight; the one characters you may create any form of bond with are your core occasion members. And even then, they’re restricted to easy Soul Ranges that improve by dialogue responses.
When you do get right into a dungeon and tough some demons up, although, Soul Hackers 2 takes a way more optimistic flip. Its turn-based fight system is so much like different Atlus RPGs: it is actually enjoyable to have interaction with, tremendous fashionable, and addictive to the purpose the place you are actively trying to find battles. It is all very acquainted when you’ve performed latest titles from the developer, however it has a method that works.
The same old choice of magical talents and bodily assaults are at your disposal. So too are gadgets, utilizing your flip to dam, and trying to flee the scene. Exploiting enemy weaknesses is the important thing to profitable fights, that are found by experimenting and studying into the form of expertise they throw again at you. Whereas not fairly as tough as a Shin Megami Tensei V, a lot of difficult encounters await — significantly boss fights with distinctive talents.
One thing the sport does in another way from the remainder is a brand new mechanic known as Stacking. As a substitute of gaining an additional flip after focusing on an enemy’s Achilles heel, you will construct up stacks that type one almighty assault as soon as your occasion members have had their go. This provides a brand new layer of technique to the expertise whereby you may nick stacks off a stronger enemy — even when it hardly does any injury — as a way to drain the HP of each demon in entrance of you. Attain a excessive Stacking depend and it is attainable to wipe a full lineup of foes in a single go.
With added depth, the fight system does not really feel like a rehash of prior Atlus efforts. Whereas it might look nearly indistinguishable from the skin, Soul Hackers 2 creates its personal little nook that rewards aggression and experimentation with stronger assaults down the road. Throw in some enemies that may change their elemental flaws on the fly and you have a demonic drive that retains you in your toes.
All of these encounters happen in dungeons, which characterize far and away the worst factor in regards to the JRPG. A few of the most uninspired, lifeless, boring areas await with recycled corridors and hallways offering an extremely uninteresting backdrop for the battles at hand. These areas aren’t like your stylised Persona 5 Palaces; they’re primary purchasing malls and delivery districts with out even a touch of character.
Some new mechanics are launched partway by so as to add a small trace of complexity, however all they actually do is make you wander the repetitive and mind-numbing passageways of the dungeons some extra. It can’t be overstated how genuinely crap they’re. It is nearly as if Atlus forgot about them till the final minute after which hurriedly slapped collectively some belongings. However, after all, that is not really the case. They had been all designed like this proper from the off.
Even the map used to navigate the dungeons is garbage. Its labyrinthine nature scrawls everywhere in the display and manages to get in your approach regardless of being pretty translucent on-screen. For as pleasurable fight is inside dungeons, anything you do in them exterior of the story is as uninteresting as dishwater.
It is fairly a weird distinction, actually, as a result of Soul Hackers 2 retains that fashionable, vibrant nature of an Atlus sport in its menus and just about wherever exterior of a dungeon. The streets — as small as they’re — are alive with exercise and vibes. Fashionable transitions seamlessly swap you between cutscenes and gameplay, and the menus in-between are fashionable and hip. It is a actually cool sport to have a look at in the best areas, and great character artwork makes dialogue pop.
Background scenes are the true stars of the present, although. Pay a go to to any one of many shops stocking fight provides and you will be greeted by a flat however fashionable picture full with a shopkeeper simply as funky. Atlus is aware of what it excels at within the artwork division, and its newest lives as much as these expectations more often than not. Why this trendy method wasn’t carried into the dungeons will perpetually stay a thriller.
Conclusion
Soul Hackers 2 is a reliable Atlus JRPG that can tick plenty of bins for followers of the style, however it falls properly wanting being that subsequent breakout star from Japan. With terrible dungeon design and little else to do exterior of them, it falls upon the partaking fight system and attention-grabbing sufficient narrative to select up the items. It is on no account the following must-play JRPG, however there’s simply sufficient to Soul Hackers 2 that warrants a playthrough.
