Soul Hackers 2 Review Summary

Strong character design and development: The game features well-designed characters with unique and memorable appearances. Players appreciate the character development and relationships throughout the game.

Enjoyable and fun gameplay: The gameplay is described as fun and enjoyable, with good variety and depth. Players find the overall experience engaging and entertaining.

Decent story and plot: The story is considered decent and well-paced, with some interesting elements. Players find the plot satisfying and entertaining.

Visually appealing graphics: The game is praised for its beautiful and distinctive visual design. Players enjoy the appealing graphics and artistic choices.

Ringo as a standout protagonist: Ringo is highlighted as a well-written and enjoyable protagonist. Players appreciate her design, personality, and development.

Repetitive and boring dungeons: Players consistently report that dungeons are repetitive, boring, and monotonous. The design lacks variety and interest, making the dungeon-crawling experience tedious and unengaging.

Poor map and dungeon design: The map and dungeon design are criticized for being poor, confusing, and linear. Dungeons are often described as generic, simplistic, and lacking variation.

Game overpriced: Many players feel that the game is not worth its full price and is only worth purchasing if it is on sale for more than 50% off. The DLC is also criticized for not being worth the cost.

Tedious and unrewarding side quests: Side quests are frequently mentioned as tedious, repetitive, and unrewarding. They are often seen as fetch quests that lack guidance and are not enjoyable.

Worst Atlus game: Some players consider this to be the worst game developed by Atlus, citing various flaws in story, gameplay, and design that make it inferior to other titles in the franchise.

Dungeon crawling and exploration: The game includes dungeon crawling with linear layouts and side quests. Players can explore and map dungeons, although some find the design repetitive and monotonous.

Turn-based combat mechanics: The game features a turn-based combat system with mechanics similar to the Press Turn system. Players can speed up combat and customize characters, simplifying actions while maintaining strategic depth.

Demon fusion and customization: Demon fusion and customization are significant aspects of the game. Players can collect, fuse, and customize demons, as well as inherit their abilities through a registration system.

Persona-like combat system: The combat system is inspired by Persona and other similar games, featuring turn-based mechanics and a weakness system. This includes elements like demon abilities and strategic combat.

Character development and customization: Character development is a key focus, with extensive customization options for skills and progression. Players can tailor their characters' abilities and equipment to suit their playstyle.

Game runs smoothly: The game runs well without bugs, frame drops, or technical issues. It has a stable frame rate and performance across different platforms.

High performance on various hardware: The game runs great on high-end hardware like RTX 4060 at max settings and 4K 120 FPS. It also performs well on different operating systems and hardware configurations.

Loading times and screens: The game has quick loading times but also has issues with atrocious loading screens and frequent loading occurrences.

Visual and technical issues: While the visuals are praised for looking astounding, there are some technical issues with aliasing and a lack of polish in small details. Some players also report stuttering and graphical shortcomings.

Frequent crashes and freezes: Some players experience frequent crashes, especially during specific boss battles, and game freezes. There are also issues with the game crashing the entire PC.

Recommended for fans on sale: The game is frequently recommended for fans of the series, particularly those who enjoy Atlus games, but only if purchased during a sale. This suggests that while the game has its merits, it may not be worth the full price.

Recommended for JRPG fans: The game is often recommended for fans of JRPGs, especially those who enjoy specific niches within the genre. It is suggested for those who like difficult RPG combat and classic dungeon design.

Not recommended at full price: Several reviews explicitly state that the game is not recommended at full price due to various issues, including lack of interesting content and numerous problems.

Recommended for specific audiences: The game is recommended for specific types of gamers, such as those who enjoy deep stories, trophy hunters, and fans of the developer. It is also suggested for those new to the MegaTen series.

Caution advised for DLC: Reviews suggest caution regarding the purchase of DLC, indicating that they may not be worth the investment. Some recommend specific DLCs for reducing grinding.

Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00.

Game completion: 30.0h.

Session length: 1.5h.

Endgame: 5.0h.

The game's fun is significantly hindered by its repetitive and tedious dungeon design, which players find boring and complex.

Friction: Repetitive dungeons; Tedious dungeon design; Complex and long dungeons; Boring and samey dungeons.

Accessibility Advocate: Casual, enjoys the game for its simplicity and accessibility. Motivation: Accessibility and ease of entry into the SMT/Persona series. Stance: sale.

Franchise Supporter: Story-focused, willing to overlook gameplay flaws for the sake of the narrative and characters. Motivation: Support for the SMT/Persona franchise and enjoyment of the story and characters. Stance: sale.

Story-First Explorer: Story-focused, may skip or endure grinding and dungeon sections. Motivation: Engagement with the story and characters. Stance: deep sale.

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with stability and DRM, leading to frequent crashes and unplayable conditions. However, there are also positive reports regarding compatibility across different platforms. The overall experience is marred by critical technical barriers that need to be addressed.

Linux and Proton: The game exhibits strong compatibility with Linux through Proton, with users reporting a seamless experience on both Ubuntu and Steam Deck. There are no notable issues mentioned, indicating a well-supported game on Linux platforms.

Monetization: The game has significant issues with its monetization strategy, particularly around Day-1 DLC and the locking of convenient gameplay elements behind paywalls. Users feel that the game is overpriced and that significant content is being withheld to force additional purchases. There are also reports of DLC not being delivered as promised, adding to the frustration.

Buy complete edition on sale: Players suggest purchasing the complete edition of the game when it is on sale to save time on grinding.

Translation resource available: A link for translation resources has been provided, which could be helpful for non-native speakers.

Child voice actor annoyance: Some players find the child voice actor's performance annoying or irritating.