The group of bounty hunters gather again at their favorite bar. For the first time, protagonist Ringo pays attention to the lush cherry blossom decorations overhead. Her friends say the real ones are even prettier and laugh at the idea of a bunch of devil charmers having a picnic and watching the flowers. The friendly taunt leads to a funny but endearing message: “I think we should be Ringo’s funny side, don’t we?” Unfortunately, Soul Hackers 2 doesn’t seem to agree with this opinion.
Soul Hackers 2 is the sequel to 1997’s Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, an RPG in the Shin Megami Tensei series. 25 years later, after games like Persona 5 put the spotlight on the SMT universe, the landscape couldn’t be more different.
In the 21st century, two clans of Devil Summoners fight for an ancient power. As a result, Aion, a sophisticated artificial intelligence far closer to reality than I’m comfortable predicting that the doomsday will occur. The only ones who can prevent this are Ringo and Figue, two personifications of Aion in flesh. 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 fate.
The premise is interesting, and while the villains don’t carry enough weight to stand out, I was invested in the story. Of course, the pasts of the three characters who join Ringo on her quest intertwine with the larger narrative. There are glimpses of the meaning of mortality surrounding Ringo’s gift, as well as how the soul-chopped act when they’re allowed to settle a longstanding score or rekindle a bond with a partner. But the most interesting plot points feel rushed, without enough room to create meaningful stakes or emotional delivery. As a result, the few moments that stand out feel undeserved.
Soul Hackers 2 is no incentive to stray off the main path and spend more time in its otherwise interesting world. Side quests are unobtrusive and rely on revisiting areas that aren’t interesting to explore. Combat is more Persona 5 than Shin Megami Tensei V, and features plenty of upgrades and abilities to customize your experience. Except it’s far more optimized and lacks the enticing press turn mechanic from the main games, which add twists when you’re exploiting an enemy’s weakness. Instead, this adds a stack to Sabbat, which acts as an all-out attack at the end of your turn. It’s a pretty spectacle, as the arena slowly takes on a colorful aura the more attacks you can stack. But it also makes for unnecessarily long encounters without much risk. Enemies also can’t take advantage of your party’s weaknesses, so you can always just heal yourself afterwards.
Throughout the 30 hours it took to get the credits, I kept trying to stick to the elements that work. Soul Hackers 2’s saving grace lies in its main characters, each with their own distinct personality that often ties in with the rest. It was a joy to watch the group grow as they put their differences aside and opened up to camaraderie. I loved their chats about freelance devil summoning as much as the tough chats about the people they lost over a meal or drink. But there is no place on the table where the player can record everything.
During that night at the bar, the group wondered if they would still be alive when the flowers bloomed again. And I know they will because I’ve made an effort to make it happen. I only wish I was rewarded for my struggles with a little more humanity and meaning by seeing her create that memory for herself.
