Soul Hackers 2, the latest role-playing game in developer Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei franchise, offers a mix of classic elements from other Atlus games and brand-new innovations and gameplay modes. Although technically a sequel to the 1997 title Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, Soul Hackers 2 features a new setting, new characters, and an entirely new form of the titular Soul Hacking. Instead of hacking into the Internet, protagonist Ringo "hacks" with her party members to connects their minds and souls. Through their bound souls, Ringo can raise her Soul Level with each party member - an element which critics have both compared and contrasted to the Confidants and Social Links present in the Persona series.
Ringo can form and raise Soul Levels with three of her party members, and doing so gives her access to a metaphysical dungeon called the Soul Matrix. Higher Soul Levels allow Ringo and her party members to perform better in battles against enemy demons and Devil Summoners. While Soul Levels are superficially similar to Social Links and Confidants in that they serve as Ringo's primary method of increasing relationships with her party members, the two gameplay elements are mechanically quite different from one another.
Soul Levels are Exclusive to Party Members
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Social Links were first introduced in Persona 3 and have since appeared in the follow-up titles Persona 4 and Persona 5, the latter of which renamed the system to Confidants. Each Persona game features over 20 Social Links or Confidants, each corresponding to one of the Major Arcana of the tarot deck with the protagonist themselves representing the Fool Arcana. Confidants are not limited to the playable party members; the protagonists of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 can bond with their classmates, teachers, neighbors, parental figures, and even the supernatural residents of the Velvet Room.
Ringo, on the other hand, has only three characters with whom she can raise Soul Levels: the playable party members Arrow, Milady, and Saizo. The three are human Devil Summoners, with Arrow and Milady representing the clashing Summoner factions Yatagarasu and the Phantom Society while Saizo works as a freelancer. Ringo can interact with a number of other characters, including her fellow Aion representative Figue and key figures from both Devil Summoner factions, but she cannot form or raise Soul Levels with anyone who is not a member of her party.
Confidants Require Strict Schedule Management
With so many Confidants to form and a limited time to do it in, players of Persona games find themselves having to strictly manage their schedule in order to maximize their Confidants. Each Confidant or Social Link consists of ten ranks, and most ranks require hanging out with the Confidant during the protagonist's free time. Hanging out with Confidants is not the only way Persona protagonists can spend their free time -- they can also work part-time jobs, watch movies, explore dungeons, and more -- so on their first playthrough, players are often forced to make careful choices and prioritize only the best Persona Confidants rather than maxing every single one.
With many fewer relationships to worry about and much less time-based gameplay, Soul Hackers 2's social system may be far less stressful for players than Persona's day-by-day scheduling. It is much easier to balance which of the three characters Ringo will prioritize and spend time with. This is especially true as the main story encourages spending time with Arrow, whose Soul Level is required to progress the main story in a way that Milady's and Saizo's are not. Players who found themselves frustrated with Persona's Social Links and Confidants may find the Soul Level system to be a relaxing, welcome alternative.
Soul Levels are Tied to the Soul Matrix
Raising the Soul Levels of the three party members isn't just a way for Ringo to get to know her party members better. Each character's Soul Level is tied to a sprawling "dungeon of the human consciousness" called the Soul Matrix. Progressing through the Soul Matrix can help Ringo and the party level up, gain better equipment, and find items and side quests through the Demon Recon system. Certain levels of the Soul Matrix will be barred by gates, which require a certain Soul Level with a specific character to unlock. In order to progress through the Soul Matrix, Ringo needs to focus on raising the Soul Levels of all three available characters.
While Persona 4 and Persona 5 both feature dungeons tied to the human subconscious, they open as the main story continues and are not tied to Confidants. The Soul Matrix is instead more similar to Mementos, a many-floored side dungeon featured in Persona 5. Sets of floors open as the player progresses through the story, and Mementos serves as an option for level grinding outside the game's standard dungeons. While Confidants are not directly connected to Mementos, some Confidants require the completion of certain Mementos-based sidequests in order to progress them.
Confidants Rarely Level Up During the Main Story
In Soul Hackers 2, Ringo can increase her party members' Soul Levels in a variety of ways. Players can use the Demon Recon feature or complete certain side quests to earn Hangout Events, which will raise the Soul Points of all party members involved in the event. However, even if the player does not complete Hangout Events, Soul Levels can still be progressed by continuing the main story. Throughout the story's cut scenes, dialogue prompts and questions will appear and Ringo will be able to choose between multiple answers. Different answers will please different party members and increase the corresponding party member's Soul Level.
While some dialogue choices may appear during the main story that may allow a Persona protagonist to impress certain party members, Confidants generally require spending free time to level up. Solely focusing on the main story will leave the player with very few Confidants maxed out. There are a few exceptions, such as Goro Akechi's Confidant in the original Persona 5, but, in general, the Soul Level system is much easier to progress. Possibly for this reason, some fans and critics have described Soul Hackers as an easier or more newbie-friendly version of the infamously lengthy and complex Persona 5.
Soul Hackers 2 is currently available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.