Soul Hackers 2, the new JRPG from Atlus, the company behind classic series including Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, puts you in charge of preventing the end of the world. As Ringo - a being created by a powerful AI in an attempt to avert the apocalypse - you'll have to work alongside your allies to develop your summoning skills and save the world.
To do that, you'll need to meet some demons. Thankfully, that's a relatively easy task as every dungeon you explore in Soul Hackers 2 will be filled with demons that can come with you on your journey. As you get stronger, you'll have access to more demons, but be careful - not every demon will agree to accompany you. Keep an eye on your level and your party to see whether or not you'll be able to claim a new companion.
In combat, the most important thing you'll need to do is figure out the strengths and weaknesses of every character you come across. Both allies and enemies have their own advantages and vulnerabilities against different damage types, so you'll want to make sure you're focusing in on your enemies' type disadvantages and protecting your allies from theirs.
To help out with that, you'll want to take advantage of Mystiques. These are items that can be equipped to your party members that will buff a specific attack type. Right at the start of the game, for example, Ringo can call on the electrical powers of a character named Pixie - equipping an electric augment to Ringo will boost Pixie's electric-type attacks, letting you pack more punch early on. As you progress, you'll want to look out for those combos across your entire party, but pay attention - if you can't apply a specific Mystique to a certain character, it means that they're weak to that damage type, so make sure to keep them safe.
On top of Mystiques, you'll be able to use each party members' COMP - a signature weapon used to channel their summons' power. You can't swap one COMP for another, but you can upgrade them, so make sure you're not just hoarding money. In addition to COMPs, you can buy more accessories at the Zafiro boutique, further enhancing your characters' skills.
Of course, much of your power comes from Ringo and company's ability to interact with demons. There are a number of ways you can improve those skills, from making sure you keep on top of registering each demon you come across to ensuring you make the most of fusing demons - combining two demons together to make a more powerful being - at every opportunity. You won't be able to do that until you reach Cirque du Goumaden in the Roppo Realm, but it's still important to keep using the registry as you level up each demon, as you'll be able to further enhance their fusion abilities as you improve their entries. Fusion won't always work - some demons don't play nice together - but Goumaden's Victor will give you some advice as to the most powerful fusions you can create to help turn the tide in your favour.
Finally, this wouldn't be an Atlus game without a little social interaction. You'll have your party by your side, of course, and you'll want to make sure you keep each of their Soul Levels creeping up equally as you progress. To do that, talk to your friends as much as possible, exploring everything that Arrow, Milady, and Saizo will talk to you about, and making use of Hangouts whenever they appear. As Soul Levels increase, you'll get more access to each characters' Soul Matrix - a specialized dungeon in which you'll find new abilities for your party to take advantage of.
Of course, you'll also need to talk with demons. Every time you enter a dungeon, Ringo will send a few devils out on reconnaissance missions, scattering them across the map for you to find. Make sure to seek all of them out - talking to a devil could grant you items, healing, money, or even access to a new devil to join your roster.
With all these tips to help get you started, you're all set to become a devil summoner worthy of saving the world. Soul Hackers 2 released worldwide on August 26, on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One.
