Atlus has perfected the JRPG and is now reveling in it. Persona 5 is likely one of the finest video games of the 2010s, because of its endearing forged of characters and impeccably fashionable presentation. In the meantime, Shin Megami Tensei V was no slouch in 2021 because it supplied a darkish and hardcore demon-driven RPG expertise. After demoing the sport at Summer season Recreation Fest Play Days, t’s clear that Atlus has discovered a transparent sci-fi center floor with Soul Hackers 2.
Souls Hackers 2 is a tried-and-true Atlus JRPG with dungeon crawling, informal good friend hangouts and conversations, and polished weakness-driven JRPG fight. It hits lots of the identical notes as Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei V, so it received’t change what you consider the style. Nonetheless, if Persona 5 or Shin Megami Tensei V had received you over to this new period of Atlus JRPGs, then Souls Hackers 2 gives you dozens of extra hours of JRPG enjoyment.
What’s right here for Persona followers?
My demo of Soul Hackers 2 started within the Hangout, the place protagonist Ringo and her occasion can hang around and heal between dungeon-crawling escapades. Then, I proceeded to enter the futuristic sci-fi metropolis, purchase some weapons, gear, and therapeutic objects from eccentric shopkeepers, and get a drink with my occasion members named Arrow.
After Ringo and Arrow received to know one another higher by discussing what they favored to drink, they gained Soul Ranges to make them stronger. Proper off the bat, this was all very paying homage to Persona with the expectation of the futuristic sci-fi setting. The UI out and in of battles takes a cue from Persona 5 by attempting to look very fashionable, although Soul Hackers 2 leans extra right into a digitized model than Persona 5’s luscious anime-style menus.
I didn’t spend sufficient time with this a part of the sport or the small character moments inside it to get a sense of whether or not or not its narrative will come collectively in addition to Persona 5. Nonetheless, that recreation received me to fall in love with an eccentric forged of high-school cliche characters, so Soul Hackers 2 has the potential to do the identical with a forged that leans into sci-fi stereotypes.
General, the story and presentation of Soul Hackers 2 will remind you of Persona 5. As that 2017 recreation’s distinctive model is what drew in many individuals, it’s smart for Atlus to hit these identical notes with Soul Hackers 2. Nonetheless, there are some hardcore RPG hooks for the Shin Megami Tensei followers on the market.
What’s right here for Shin Megami Tensei followers?
After seeing the social and character features of Soul Hackers 2 in motion, I delved right into a dungeon and encountered Atlus’ trademark JRPG gameplay. I used to be in acquainted territory with its turn-based fight, the place gamers use demons they fused collectively or recruited in dungeons to assault enemies with elemental assaults, a few of which will be an enemy’s weak spot.
If you happen to like battles in Shin Megami Tensei V, there aren’t many causes you’d hate Soul Hackers 2’s fight. In truth, it’s a bit extra approachable. You’ll barter with demons to get them in your aspect in Soul Hackers 2, however from my demo, it appeared like all of those encounters have been easy yes-or-no requests for slight debuffs. When you’re in fight and uncover an enemy’s weak spot, the sport additionally makes it simple to take that enemy down with a menu possibility that robotically makes use of the simplest assault.
Skills that exploit an enemy’s weak spot will even stack into a strong assault that damages each foe within the opposing occasion on the finish of every flip. If Shin Megami Tensei V received just a little too hardcore for you, Soul Hackers 2 has the identical methods however makes them way more digestible.
In the end, by splitting the distinction between Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei V, it appears to be like like Soul Hackers 2 will likely be a hardcore JRPG expertise with a extra informal and approachable really feel than most video games within the style. Atlus is on the prime of its JRPG recreation proper now, and Soul Hackers 2 appears to be like like a melting pot of what works finest in its JRPGs.
Whereas being so just like each Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei V does make Soul Hackers 2 run the chance of not being distinct in its personal method, the sci-fi setting and any parts that return from the 1997 authentic ought to give it a singular aptitude and make it a biggest hits Atlus JRPG. Even from my transient Summer season Recreation Fest demo, I can inform that Soul Hackers 2 will please gamers who’re uninterested in enjoying Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei V for the millionth time.
Soul Hackers 2 will likely be launched for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Collection X|S on August 26.
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