The group of bounty hunters once again gathered at their favorite bar. For the first time, protagonist Ringo notices the lush cherry blossom decoration on the terrace. Her friends say the real pictures are even better and laugh at the idea of a group of Summoners having a picnic and looking at the flowers. The friendly mockery leads to a funny but endearing message: “I think we should show Ringo the fun side of being human, right?” Sadly, Soul Hackers 2 doesn’t seem to agree with this view.
Soul Hackers 2 is the sequel to 1997’s Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, an RPG revolving around the Shin Megami Tensei series. 25 years later, after games like Persona 5 brought the SMT universe to the fore, the landscape couldn’t be more different.
Set in the 21st century, two clans of the Devil Summoner battle for an ancient power. Thus, Aion, a highly developed artificial intelligence much closer to reality than I see it, predicts that the apocalypse is coming. The only ones capable of stopping it are Ringo and Figue, two incarnations of Aion in the flesh. Both can hack people’s souls to bring them back to life and give them a second chance while serving as vital pieces to prevent doom.
The premise was interesting, and although the villains weren’t heavy enough to stand out, I was invested in the story. Naturally, the pasts of the three characters who joined Ringo on her quest are intertwined with the larger story. There are glimpses into the meaning of death surrounding Ringo’s gift, as well as how the person whose soul has been hacked chooses to act when allowed to settle a lasting score or restore a relationship with a partner. . But the most interesting plot points feel rushed without enough room to make meaningful stakes or emotional charges. As a result, a few standout moments feel unnoticed.
In terms of gameplay, Soul Hackers 2 discourages you from straying from the main road and spending more time in its otherwise exciting world. Side quests are unremarkable and are based on re-visiting uninteresting areas to explore. The fight is on par with Persona 5 rather than Shin Megami Tensei V, offering a variety of upgrades and skills to tailor your experience. It’s just that it’s much more streamlined, lacking the engaging turn-tap mechanics from the main games that add turns when you exploit an enemy’s weakness. Instead, doing so adds a bonus to Sabbath, which acts as a total attack towards the end of your turn. It creates a beautiful sight as the arena gradually sinks into a colorful halo, the more attacks you can stack. But it also makes for unnecessarily lengthy encounters without much risk. Enemies also can’t exploit your side’s weakness, so you can always recover later.
Over the course of 30 hours to gain credit, I kept trying to capture the elements that worked. Soul Hackers 2’s saving grace lies in its main characters, each with a distinct personality and often in conflict with the rest. Witnessing the growth of the group by putting their differences aside and opening up to a close friendship is a joy. I love their conversations about freelancing as a Demon Summoner as well as their tough conversations about the people they lost over a meal or a drink. But there is not a seat on the table for players to participate in.
During that night at the bar, the group wonders if they will still be alive by the time the flowers bloom again. And I know they will because I worked hard to make it happen. I just wish I could be more human and meaningful for my struggles by seeing them create that memory for themselves.
