Reviewed: November 8, 2005
Reviewed by: Megan Dyer

Publisher
Atlus Software

Developer
Atlus Software

Released: October 3, 2005
Genre: Turn-Based RPG
Players: 1
ESRB: Mature

9
10
10
10
9.8

Supported Features

Unfortunately, as a mainstream game (at least in the United States), it became rather rare quite quickly, and while fans of the game can see Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 lining the shelves at video game stores, I fear it won’t be long before it drops off the radar as well. And so it goes for Shin Megami Tensei. While well loved in Japan, it just can’t seem to really break through with its American audience on large scale.

Perhaps the ultra serious and dark plot that is typical of the Shin Megami Tensei series is a turn off for the average RPG gamer who is used to the whimsical fantasy world where only the bad guys die, and the hero will always come back and save the day. In Nocturne (the last Shin Megami Tensei game before Digital Devil Saga), there were no good guys or bad guys. Destroying the world was just as viable of an option as saving it depending on how you played. Digital Devil Saga’s bleak story ended on an uneasily unpredictable cliffhanger.

Digital Devil Saga 2 continues the story. It is full of plot twists and surprises, and not all of them turn out for the best in the end. While I find this type of RPG to be refreshing, it’s definitely not for everyone. Given the chance however, I think that Shin Megami Tensei could become a well loved and mainstream series, and the Digital Devil Saga games could sit on the shelves among the greatest of its genre.

Slowly, the people of the Junkyard begin to gain memories that they never knew they had, along with human emotions as well. As they struggle with their new found contradicting human and demonic behavior, a race to get to Nirvana, the promised land for the strongest survivors of the Junkyard, begins. The story follows the silent protagonist Serph, the aggressive and proud Heat, the compassionate and caring Argilla, the friendly and optimistic Cielo, and the calm and calculating Gale, along with the mysterious Sera, as they try to make sense of the world around them, and of who they are, and where they came from.

The first Digital Devil Saga game ends on a cliffhanger, leaving more questions than it answers, so Digital Devil Saga 2 is basically the second chapter of the same story. It’s easier to look at the two games as one, since the second installment is explicitly a continuation of its predecessor. Because of this, Digital Devil Saga 2 is very much the same as the first Digital Devil Saga as far as gameplay goes, so don’t expect anything too revolutionary in the battle system. Players will still be playing the characters’ demon forms mostly, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and occasionally as their human forms who fight with guns.

The battles are still turn based, and it is possible to take more turns when you exploit an enemy’s weakness, and protect your own. Leveling up is gained through battle experience (called karma in Digital Devil Saga), and stats are customizable on the main character, Serph. Abilities are learned through gaining Atma Points, or AP, after each battle (sort of a separate experience bar for abilities). More AP than normal can be acquired by devouring enemies. The same status ailments are present, such as stomachaches, which occurs when too many enemies are devoured a turn, or when a devoured enemy just doesn’t sit well in the character‘s belly.

However, there are a few new things thrown into the mix in Digital Devil Saga 2. Characters start over from level one (which only makes sense, but there is also a reason story wise, which I’ll get to), and while the “mantra” system of learning abilities is still there, unlocking its secrets is a bit different this time around. Instead of working on abilities down a line, characters will be unlocking abilities on more of a hex grid, and it is possible this time around to gain access to mantras that other characters have unlocked, instead of having that particular character work up to it through prerequisite mantras.

There are also secret mantras, which can only be unlocked when the mantras surrounding it have been unlocked. I found this system to work pretty well, and was glad that I didn’t have to waste precious money (which is rarer to come by in this installment of the game) to get my characters to important mantras by unlocking their prerequisites first. There are also some new abilities to watch for this time as well, although overall, players will be seeing more or less the same things they did the first time around.

There are also karma rings that can be customized and equipped. With jewels that can be found in battle and treasure chests, a ring’s stats can be boosted. Equipping that ring onto a character will grant him or her the ring‘s bonuses. Different jewels boost different stats, and only so many can be placed into a ring at one time. While some rings have auto-abilities attached to them even without jewels, others just have a standard stat boost. Once jewels have been placed into a ring however, the ring can only be re-customized by destroying the jewels already placed inside, thus making way for new gems.

And finally, topping off the list of new features, there is the half-demon fighting form. This happens when solar noise (remember the dial at the top left hand side of the screen?) is full. Your characters take on a new form, half human and half demon. All stats except for strength are drastically lowered, and magic and combo abilities cannot be used. Still, if you hit, your attacks can kill even the toughest of demons in one hit, and the karma gained through these battles is huge. Sometimes though, if you don’t hit on the first turn, it’s better to just retreat. Stats that decrease such as agility and vitality can make these battles go wrong very quickly if you aren’t careful.

This all being said, it looks as though Digital Devil Saga 2 doesn’t have much to offer in the way of new gameplay. While I myself don’t mind this, since the system is a good blend between challenge and fun, I could see Atlus not having too difficult of a time throwing just a few more new and exciting features in, just to mix things up a bit. There’s nothing wrong with sticking closely to a good thing when you have it (especially when the game in question is basically part 2 of a serial). But there’s nothing wrong with trying something new either.

Still, what do we RPG fans really play RPG’s for? That’s right, the story, and Digital Devil Saga 2 picks up right where the first one left off with its awesome storyline. After the showdown with the character Angel at the end of the last installment of Digital Devil Saga, the main characters find themselves violently ejected from the Junkyard, and separated from each other. They now find themselves in an even more terrifying world where the inhabitants live in fear of the sun, which is the cause of a disease that turns its victims into stone upon contact.

It would seem that this world is in fact the real world, one in which our main characters’ origins come into question. Are they real people? Are they AI? Are they alive? Were they alive at one point? What is their connection to this world, and how is it they came to exist in it? And why are they not nearly as strong as they were in the Junkyard? All of the pieces of the puzzle to Digital Devil Saga slowly begin to fall into place with some startling revelations and heart-wrenching conclusions.

I found myself playing for hours; eager to find out what happened next, and it didn’t take long before I remembered why I call Digital Devil Saga one of my all time favorite games. Its story loses no momentum as it draws to its conclusion, which can often be the most common downfall of sequels. If anything, the Digital Devil Saga world is even more intriguing this time around, as the questions the story posed before are finally getting their long awaited answers.

Another awesome aspect of the Digital Devil Saga games are the characters. Since most of them started out in the Junkyard with limited human emotion, it’s fascinating to watch them grow and develop as their stories unfold. Much to my annoyance, Serph remains the typical silent protagonist (Why can’t he speak? Just look at him! He practically begs to be given a voice), but the other characters develop noticeably. Gale, usually quiet and calculating, displays an intense array of emotions this time around, all the while still somehow remaining the old Gale that I know and love. Sera is a playable character in Digital Devil Saga 2 eventually, and her meek and gentle personality slowly shows some bravery and inspiring leadership quality.

A new playable character, Roland, also shows up, giving a unique point of view as an outsider who slowly becomes a comrade of the tightly knit Embryon. I came to love each one of the characters in Digital Devil Saga 2, even the ones that made it hard to do so. Fans of the first Digital Devil Saga shouldn’t be disappointed with how these guys turn out, or how the wonderful story ends.

Argilla has a friendly expression, but her intense pink eyes show her passion and conviction. Gale’s calm but intense demeanor can be seen in his expressionless face and bored looking eyes that suddenly flash with anger when he gets riled up. When characters give each other a meaningful look, it’s easy to tell what is meant by it. The degree of emotion displayed on the characters is awesome, and works with its unique style quite well.

Background graphics, while a bit on the minimalist side this time around; illustrate the post-apocalyptic world vividly and beautifully. Since much of the game takes place underground and inside processing plants and buildings (remember, the sun turns people to stone, so this makes sense story wise) backgrounds aren’t exactly breathtaking and awesome to look at. However, it wouldn’t make sense if they were, not in a world that’s on its last gasp. Because of that, the effects of the graphic actually play off of the story and overall mood of the game quite cleverly.

The voice acting is also superb. The same voice actors for the main characters are used this time around (what blasphemy it would be if they weren’t), and provide some of the best voice acting in a video game that I’ve seen to date. Even though Cielo may be a white kid with bright blue dreadlocks, his Rastafarian accent just fits him. The inflection of each character’s voice is superbly realistic, and only further enhance the immersive story and world that they exist in.

There are also all of those Mantras to unlock and the degree of customization that each character is granted through the Mantra system is quite high. It’s also worth noting that if players have the first Digital Devil Saga cleared game data saved, there are certain features in Digital Devil Saga 2 that are accessible.

All in all, Digital Devil Saga 2 is a sequel that rewards the fans of its predecessors. And for those who missed out of the first Digital Devil Saga game, you can still get into the story of part 2 fairly easily. But hey, it’s your loss if you don’t go find the first one.

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 is a wonderful game from a wonderful series, and hopefully someday, these games will get the recognition they deserve from a wider audience.