2022 video game
Soul Hackers 2[a] is an upcoming role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus. It is the sequel to Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (1997) and the fifth installment of the Devil Summoner series, itself a part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise. It is planned to be released worldwide in August 2022 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Premise
Soul Hackers 2 takes place in the 21st century and is set during a war between the Yatagarasu and the Phantom Society, two opposing factions of Devil Summoners. The story follows two supernatural "Aion" beings named Ringo and Figue, who descend into the human world from their birthplace in the data stream of information, in order to avert a cataclysmic event that they predict will doom humanity.[1]
Gameplay
Soul Hackers 2 is a turn-based RPG that features a battle system derivative of the Press Turn system featured in the mainline Shin Megami Tensei games.[2] Battles involve a party of four characters and the element affinities present in other Megami Tensei titles. Characters take turns using a combination of physical attacks and magic Skills that summon demons to perform elemental attacks. Should the player manage to successfully exploit an enemy or enemy group's weakness to a particular Skill, they are able to perform a Skill known as "Sabbath", which targets every weakened enemy in battle and deals immense damage involving every active party member. It is conceptually similar to the "All-Out Attack" Skill that appears prominently in the Persona series. Additionally, demon encounters can alternatively be resolved through negotiation, allowing the party to raise said demon's enthusiasm for recruitment into their party. New demons can also be manually summoned by virtue of demon fusion, allowing two or more recruited demons to be fused together to summon a new demon type while carrying over selected or randomized Skills from either respective demon.
Another aspect carried over from the Persona games and Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE (2015) is the implementation of light social simulation elements. Outside of battles, the player controls the main protagonist, Ringo, allowing her to freely roam around the main city setting and visit various landmarks such as shops to purchase and equip new clothing, armor, items and various weapons that can be used in battle. Additionally, the player can also elect to spend time with other party members outside of combat, strengthening their bonds and enabling specific abilities that can thereby be used between party members in combat.[3]
Development
Soul Hackers 2's development team comprises various returning staff members from other Atlus and Megami Tensei titles. A selection of staff involved in the game's development were announced alongside the game's reveal. It is directed and produced by the duo of Mitsuru Hirata, who previously helmed the Atlus RPG Radiant Historia (2010), and Eiji Ishida, who previously directed the original Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (2009) and served as a gameplay designer on Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (2003) and Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army (2006).[4][5] In addition, both previously worked together on Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE.[6] Ishida remarked that prior to the game's announcement, a sequel to the original Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (1997) was oft-requested by fans, but feared that the game itself was at risk of becoming obscure due to the original game's age, compounded by the time between the game's re-release on Nintendo 3DS in 2012, and the decision made to revive the series. He further expressed concern at the reaction that would be drawn from the game's new aesthetics and mechanical changes to gameplay, stating that he was "nervous about whether people will accept them or not". Hirata observed that the original game had a dedicated fanbase surrounding it, but claimed that there were likewise, a number of players that only knew of the original Soul Hackers in passing and were interested in it. Ishida stated that he had begun planning to develop a sequel to Soul Hackers due to its distinct aesthetic among the other Megami Tensei titles, suggesting that "[I thought] it would be possible to make use of the technology, people, and occult elements of the first game, as well as the relationship between those elements, to create a new game with a modern feel".[7][8]
The game's music will be composed through an external collaboration with the production team Monaca,[9] which previously supervised the creation of numerous anime and video game soundtracks. Japanese manga artist Shirow Miwa will serve as the game's primary character designer.[10][11]
Release
Soul Hackers 2 is scheduled to be released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in August 2022.[4][12] It will launch in Japan on August 25, 2022, and overseas the following day in English and Japanese audios with English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) subtitles.[4] In Japan, the game's release will also be accompanied by a Soul Hackers 25th Anniversary Special Edition Box Set for the PlayStation versions of the game, featuring commemorative packaging, an art book featuring concept illustrations, setting art and various staff interviews, an arrangement album featuring modern compositions of songs from the original Soul Hackers, and a figurine of a Jack Frost variant called Ai-Ho kun, modeled after the game's main protagonist, Ringo.[13] Ai-Ho kun will also be available as a summonable demon in the game as downloadable content (DLC), accompanied by another DLC set featuring accessories that customize Ringo to resemble Mary,[14] a supporting character in the original Soul Hackers.
A first-print edition of the game available on launch day will be bundled with DLC costumes modeled after the main cast of Persona 5 (2016),[b] in addition to accompanying music DLC that enables the option to play Persona 5's miniboss theme "Keeper of Lust" as the main battle track.[13]
The game will be published by Atlus themselves in Japan, and its Atlus West subsidiary will release the game in North America. Meanwhile, parent company Sega will publish the game for European territories, as has been done with recent Megami Tensei titles.[15]
