Soul Hackers 2 Review: A Stylish JRPG Revival

Shin Megami Tensei is now greatest recognized for its Persona sequence of Japanese role-playing video games, however Atlus’ franchise has a wealthy historical past of various spin-offs. Whereas 1997’s Satan Summoner: Soul Hackers not too long ago acquired a second likelihood at glory as a consequence of a Nintendo 3DS port in 2013, a sequel appeared unlikely given it wasn’t one of the vital beloved titles (being launched on the Sega Saturn will try this). Nevertheless, the sci-fi setting that separates it from the extra grounded installments is tantalizing and winds up being the proper framework for Soul Hackers 2, which is a comforting entry with satisfying fight and respectable social components that doesn’t require taking part in the primary recreation.

The unique Soul Hackers was a first-person dungeon crawler, however the sequel takes place in a extra fashionable third-person perspective. Though the digital camera is tightly positioned behind the sport’s protagonist right here, which limits the sector of view fairly a bit and provides extra technique relating to basic motion as enemies can disguise behind corners and shock gamers. Like many components of the sport, presenting dungeons like it is a good combination of contemporary and retro components, particularly with the glitched-out aesthetic that matches its themes. It even borrows some welcome depth within the overworld from the Persona sequence as gamers can whack enemies with a sword to subdue them, permitting them to both keep away from fight altogether or acquire a bonus by damaging the foe initially.

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Later dungeons additionally characteristic a little bit of puzzle fixing, be it turning the facility on for elevators or determining easy methods to get previous limitations. Whereas the fight towards demons and different summoners is normally the spotlight, the dungeon exploration at all times has sufficient occurring to remain intriguing. Throw in all kinds of aspect missions that may be picked up and accomplished at any time, plus a useful quantity of quick journey icons, and also you’ve obtained dungeons which can be at all times pleasant to undergo whether or not it’s your first or twentieth journey — though it will’ve been extra streamlined if considerably weaker enemies have been simply mechanically killed by your strikes.

Soul Hackers 2 has fairly customary Shin Megami Tensei fight, however some extra layers maintain it feeling recent. Customers equip demons with a purpose to use acquainted spells, comparable to Bufu and Agilao, whereas focusing on the fundamental weaknesses of every enemy. The fight shines afterward, as new skills for the principle character and get together members start to unlock. Focusing on weak factors grant gamers a robust assault on the finish of a flip that inflicts injury on all enemies, so fastidiously utilizing these abilities and equipping skills that add extra perks like poison to those blows can change the tide of battle. It’s a splendidly thought-out battle system with so many variables that’s extremely gratifying to experiment inside.

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There are additionally character-specific dungeons that gamers traverse to unlock new abilities for his or her companions, which ties into the social ingredient of the sport that permits you to bond together with your get together over drinks. The forged is sort of likable, though the script is overly wordy in a really particular JRPG method the place it goes on for about 10 traces too lengthy after the purpose dialog has been established. Fortunately, a fast-forward button is on the proper bumper and the dialog log assist parse a few of the dense dialogue. This can be a downside in another SMT video games as effectively, however the characters aren’t fairly as memorable as Satan Survivor‘s forged, so there’s not an excessive amount of incentive to take in each line up dialogue right here.

Whereas the unique went in a extra conventional cyberpunk course with its world, Soul Hackers 2 goes extra near-futuristic with its setting and includes gamers controlling an A.I. creation that has taken bodily kind to save lots of the world from extinction (there are robots that make pizza, so it’s definitely a world price saving). It’s an fascinating setup, and gamers wind up bringing the not too long ago deceased again to life by the titular soul hacking, however the story merely winds up being serviceable quite than a standout. There’s a strong quantity of recycled materials and themes right here, significantly when in comparison with different Japanese video games about tech and A.I., however there are sufficient compelling character moments to maintain gamers eager to see the story to an finish, even when it isn’t one of many strongest SMT narratives.

That is primarily consolation meals for sequence veterans as many different options which can be customary fare in SMT seem right here as effectively, like fusing demons, recruiting them with bribes, and coming into contact with loads of acquainted faces like Jack Frost and different signature demons. There’s not a ton of innovation on provide, because it’s extra about refinement, however Soul Hackers 2 doesn’t disappoint with its stellar fight that rewards experimentation and evolving dungeons stuffed with bonus content material.

SCORE: 8.5/10

As ComingSoon’s overview coverage explains, a rating of 8.5 equates to “Nice.” Whereas there are a couple of minor points, this rating implies that the artwork succeeds at its aim and leaves a memorable affect.