Soul Hackers 2 may send a more complicated message. It is very different from its predecessor in a lot of ways, from aesthetics to its gameplay, and that suggests other Megami Tensei franchises could get major reworks when Atlus decides to revisit them. There’s a good chance more Megami Tensei revivals are on the way given recent comments about expanding the Shin Megami Tensei brand, but fans shouldn’t expect predictable, traditional sequels to old games. Instead, Atlus may intend to develop some creative new takes on old IPs.
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Soul Hackers 2’s Evolution
The original Soul Hackers game is from the late 1990s, so it’s only natural that Soul Hackers 2 differs. For instance, while Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers had a dimly lit cyberpunk aesthetic that reflected classic 20th century sci-fi, Soul Hackers 2 has a far more colorful, flashy take on cyberpunk sci-fi that will likely influence its plot. Soul Hackers 2 also borrows some major mechanics from Persona, including social sim elements and a type of All-Out Attack called Sabbath. What’s more, the AI protagonist Ringo is a very different character from the original Soul Hackers’ human lead.
Soul Hackers 2’s differences aren’t so surprising given the franchise’s age. It’s been so long since its predecessor came out that Soul Hackers 2 is akin to a reboot of the original concept, bringing the Soul Hackers IP into the modern age. Atlus is wise to give this franchise a fresh coat of paint before reintroducing it to the Megami Tensei fanbase, and Atlus’ willingness to do so suggests other IP will get major reworks if they reappear. Should Atlus decide to bring back SMT spin-offs like Devil Children, Devil Survivor, or Majin Tensei, they’ll probably end up looking very different.
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Megami Tensei May Expand Greatly
There’s strong evidence that more Megami Tensei revivals are on the way. A recent Sega investor meeting suggested that Atlus’ parent company is pleased with the success of Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, and it wants to expand these franchises in the coming years. Shin Megami Tensei 5’s director also recently expressed interest in helping SMT grow through new games and revivals; that kind of internal enthusiasm for Megami Tensei is invaluable. Soul Hackers 2 may very well be the result of this growing excitement about the Megami Tensei family, meaning it’s only the first of many upcoming games.
No matter how many IPs Atlus revives, Megami Tensei veterans should be prepared for surprises. In order to make the IPs more relatable and compelling for modern audiences, Atlus will likely see to it that past Megami Tensei subfranchises will return with tons of new themes, characters, and mechanics that reflect current RPG archetypes and mechanics. There’s no telling what Atlus’ various IPs will look like in the end, but hopefully fans won’t have to wait long to find out. There’s only a few months to go before Soul Hackers 2 comes out, and after that Atlus is bound to start hinting at what’s next.
Soul Hackers 2 releases August 26, 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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