Soul Hackers 2 Review – Bland Sabbath

A group of bounty-hunters gathers at their bar again. Ringo notices for the first-time the beautiful cherry blossom decorations from the rooftop. Ringo’s friends claim that the real cherries are just as beautiful, while her friends joke about the possibility of Devil Summoners sitting down and enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossoms. The friendly mockery leads to a funny yet endearing message: “I think we oughta show Ringo the fun side of being human, don’t you?” Sadly, Soul Hackers 2 doesn’t seem to agree with the sentiment.

Soul Hackers 2 is the sequel to 1997’s Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, an RPG spun from the Shin Megami Tensei series. 25 years later, after games like Persona 5 put the SMT universe in the spotlight, the landscape couldn’t be more different.

Two clans of Devil summoners are fighting for an ancient power in 21st-century London. As a result, Aion, a highly developed artificial intelligence far closer to reality than I’m comfortable with, predicts that doomsday is forthcoming. Ringo, Figue and Figue in flesh are the only ones who could stop it. Both can hack people’s souls to bring them back to life and give them a second chance while serving as key pieces to prevent doom.

Although the premise of the book is intriguing, the villains aren’t sufficiently significant to make them stand out. However, the plot kept me interested. The pasts of all three characters who join Ringo in her quest are interwoven with the bigger story. There are glimpses about the meaning of mortality around Ringo’s gift, as well as how the soul-hacked choose to act when allowed to settle a long-standing score or recover a bond with a partner. However, the plot points that are most intriguing feel too rushed to make meaningful emotional or financial tolls. The few moments that do stand out are therefore unearned.

Gameplaywise, Soul Hackers 2 doesn’t offer an incentive to stray off the main path and spend more time in its otherwise interesting world. Side quests are unremarkable and based around revisiting areas that aren’t interesting to explore. Persona 5’s combat system is better than Shin Megami Tensei V. You can upgrade your skills and get more customizations to make the experience even more enjoyable. Only that it’s far more streamlined, lacking the enticing press-turn mechanic from the mainline games that add turns when you exploit an enemy’s weakness. Instead of stacking attacks, you can add a stack to your Sabbath. This acts as an attack at the end. The arena becomes engulfed by a vibrant aura as you stack more attacks. It’s quite a spectacle. This can lead to lengthy encounters and little risk, but it is also unavoidable. Enemies can’t exploit your party’s weaknesses, either, so you can always just heal up afterward.

I struggled to find the parts that were working throughout the 30-hours it took to get to credits. Soul Hackers 2’s saving grace lies in its main characters, each with a distinct personality that often clashes with the rest. Witnessing the group’s growth by putting their differences aside and opening themselves up to camaraderie was a joy. As much as I enjoyed their discussions on Devil Summoners freelancing, the group was also a joy to watch over the meal and drink. But there’s not a seat on the table for the player to take it all in.

During that night at the bar, the group wondered if they’d still be alive by the time the flowers bloomed again. Because I made the effort, I know they’ll be able to do it. Just wish that I could be rewarded with more humanity and meaning in my efforts by watching them make this moment for me.