The gameplay is more of the same but better than DDS, with the revised mechanics making it a more polished experience. The story kept me hooked and the characters were fleshed out, which left me happy with the ending. The soundtrack from Shoji Meguro continues to impress with new tracks with the opening theme "Alive", the battle theme, the final boss theme, and end-credits theme being my favorites.Īll in all, Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 was a great sequel and fitting conclusion for the more story focused entries in the series. None of the voices felt out of place and I especially enjoyed the performances of Heat, Cielo, and Gale. The voice work is great though lip-syncing is still off. The game ran decently though I experienced some stuttering during cut-scenes in the PSN version, which was very distracting during story moments. It's still disappointing that the environments you explore like the airport and research centers were pretty boring though. I did like some of the new enemy designs and I enjoyed watching the game's action-packed cut-scenes, which hold up well. Visually, Digital Devil Saga 2 looks the same as its predecessor in terms of character models and backgrounds. Overall, there's little in the way of replay value aside of Hard mode and the optional secret bosses. Also, if you've transferred your DDS save data, then you will get some bonuses such as more money at the beginning of the game, extra stat boosting rings, and your story choices made. Much of that time was spent levelling up inside the last dungeon, which dragged on after a while but at least the encounter rate is toned down slightly. I prefer this simple layout over DDS's more archaic one as since everything is on-screen and clear.ĭDS2 took me around 40 hours to beat, which included exploring the game's areas, taking on a few side quests and optional bosses. Speaking of mantra, DDS2 streamlines the mantra grid, making it easier to get the mantras you want without having to master anything prior. They always offer a decent amount of experience and mantra points, so they're worth checking. That being said, I still found the environments to be bland and uninteresting.Ī new feature is Berserk mode where you receive a massive physical attack boost in human form at the cost of defense and accuracy. Exploration and puzzle solving still make up a large portion of the gameplay, with you flipping switches and avoiding traps in various areas of the game. When in demon form, each member has their own weaknesses and you'll have to be wary of enemy attacks as the Press Turn system makes a return. You equip skills with Mantras, which are basically capsules which contain magic spells, physical attacks, buffs/debuffs, and the like. You still control up to three party members, defeat enemies to level up, move to the next location and beat a boss. The gameplay is near identical to DDS, albeit with subtle tweaks. Being a sequel, your enjoyment of the story depends on whether or not you've played DDS since newcomers can get lost with the premise and callbacks to the first game. The game even wraps on a cheery note too considering all the depressing moments the gang went through, so the ending is a fulfilling one. I also liked some of the new characters like Fred and Roland, who offered their own perspectives on the state of the world. The characters also get a great deal of backstory as their pasts get revealed and the villain was more interesting this time around. The story was far more engaging and interesting as previous questions left by DDS get answered while new threats emerge. Does DDS2 deliver a better exprience than the first game? Let's find out.Īfter the events of Digital Devil Saga, Serph and his friends find themselves transported to another bleak and post-apocalyptic world- which turns out to be Nirvana! With no whereabouts of the other members and the sudden appearance of demon users, the Embryon gang must find out the truth behind Sera and the black sun that's plaguing the world. Serph and company's adventure continues, this time in a whole new world. Released months after its predecessor in 2005, the game continues the mysterious story while adding a few gameplay tweaks as well.
Developer Atlus continues its PS2 offerings with Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2, the follow-up sequel to the sleeper hit that was Digital Devil Saga.