Sequel to the Shin Megami Tensei spin-off game
Soul Hackers 2 is a roleplaying game that is a direct sequel to the Shin Megami Tensei spin-off game of the same title. Here, you are plunged into a war between the devil summoners, and it is up to your character, Ringo, and her tea to save the world.
Players will notice that Soul Hackers 2 took some notes from popular Atlus games, Persona and Shin Megami Tensei. It has the stylized UI and extravagant themes from Persona 5 Royal but also highlights high-ranking demons like Shin Megami Tensei. It also features weakness-driven JRPG combat like other Altus JRPGs.
What is Soul Hackers 2?
Soul Hackers 2 is a turn-based RPG that features a battle system patterned from the mainline Shin Megami Tensei games. As mentioned, you play Ringo, an agent of Aion tasked to save humanity from an apocalypse. To do so, you will investigate the end of the world. You will use your ability to harness the otherworldly powers of demons to fight your enemies.
If you have played Persona, you will find similarities in the settings of the game right off the bat. Both games come with a futuristic sci-fi premise as the characters are from a digital hive mind that has evolved into sentience. You will also find the UI and out-of-battles similar to Persona 5. However, this game leans more into a digitized style than Persona 5’s anime-style menu.
While it looks like a Persona game, Soul Hackers 2 retains the gameplay of Shin Megami Tensai. If you like battles in Shin Megami Tensai V, the matches here will be familiar. However, it’s more approachable. You barter with demons to get them on your side and exploit the enemy’s weakness to take them down. Note that, unlike its predecessor, hitting the enemy’s weakness does not extend your turn anymore.
A good mix of two great games
If you like both the Persona and Shin Megami Tensai series, then Soul Hackers 2 is for you. This JRPG has the familiar weakness-driven turn-based battles of Shin Megami Tensai. However, it brings you to a sci-fi setting that is clearly Persona 5. Mixing these well-loved aspects of the two franchises as well as adding other gameplay elements make it one of the greatest Atlus JRPG.
