Soul Hackers 2, the latest entry in Atlus’s Shin Megami Tensei universe, presents a futuristic, demon-summoning RPG experience distinct from both the mainline SMT series and the Persona spinoffs. While its premise of technology and humanity intertwined offers a unique sci-fi twist, the game ultimately struggles to overcome repetitive gameplay elements.
Players step into the digital shoes of Ringo, an agent of Aion, a sentient digital being. Partnered with Figue, another Aion agent, Ringo is tasked with preventing the end of the world. This unconventional mission forces the agents to intervene in human affairs, a departure from Aion’s typical protocol.
The narrative kicks into high gear when Ringo must use “soul hacking” to resurrect three deceased Devil Summoners: Arrow, Milady, and Saizo. Each possesses unique perspectives on the impending apocalypse, and their revival binds them to Ringo’s quest.
Gameplay revolves around exploring the Soul Matrix, a digital dungeon linked to Aion. Progressing through this matrix unlocks new skills for Ringo and her companions. Deepening the bonds with each character raises their Soul Level, allowing further exploration.
However, the Soul Matrix quickly becomes a monotonous grind. Navigating its twisting, featureless voids proves tedious, diminishing the excitement of leveling up and acquiring abilities. This repetition extends beyond the Soul Matrix, as even the non-digital dungeons offer little variety. Early gameplay consists largely of traversing seemingly endless, abandoned subway lines.
Despite the tediousness, exploring both the Soul Matrix and other dungeons is crucial for understanding the characters’ backstories and progressing through the narrative. Unfortunately, tying character development to dungeon progression creates pacing issues, with some revelations feeling either premature or underwhelming.
Thankfully, the combat system offers a refreshing take on the genre. Players equip characters with summoned demons, each possessing unique abilities and resistances. Weapons, known as COMPs, can be upgraded using materials gathered from defeated foes. Combat encounters are turn-based, initiating through random encounters in dungeons.
Soul Hackers 2 introduces the Sabbath mechanic, a unique twist on the weakness exploitation system common in SMT games. Exploiting enemy weaknesses charges a stack, culminating in a powerful all-out attack involving the player’s summoned demons. This mechanic adds a layer of strategic depth to each encounter.
While Soul Hackers 2 boasts a compelling mystery and engaging combat, the repetitive dungeons and pacing problems hinder the overall experience. The signature Atlus style shines through in the music and art direction, but the gameplay unfortunately lacks the depth to fully capitalize on its potential.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Soul Hackers 2 released on August 26th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC. This review was conducted using a PlayStation 5 review code provided by the publisher.
