Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga 2 | List Price: $49.99
Discount Price: $71.50
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Platform: PlayStation2
Brand: Atlus
Binding: Video Game
Release Date: 2005-10-05
ESRB Age Rating: Mature
Features: - Devour your enemies and absorb their devastating powers and special abilities
- Explore a gritty sci-fi world brought to life with breathtaking cel-shaded graphics
- Take part in a battle system that will satisfy even the most hardened gamers
- Customize and develop your characters using the unique Mantra Flow system
- Play through more than 50 hours of story
Good, but it is part 2 of a two-parter. [Posted on 2007-04-11]
So, I finally finished the second Digital Devil Saga game. The question may be, should you play the first game before this one? My answer is YES, as they are part of one story and playing them in the wrong order would make nonsense of the plot. Playing the second one alone would also drastically dilute the experience, as there are many references to the events of the first one. So this game is really not for anyone but players of Digital Devil Saga 1.
Ok, with that out of the way, I guess my advice would be to treat DDS1 and DDS2 as a two-disc single game - and buy them both. I think it's a bit of a shame that they did not release both games as a double pack, at least for a limited edition...maybe they will in the future. So for players of the first game, the story continues here. The five main characters have reached "Nirvana" and found that they are no better off than where they first started. So now they want answers, and the story concerns the revelations behind what the Junkyard actually was and where your team has now ended up. As plot twists go, it's actually been done before (I can't tell you which games it resembles to avoid spoilers!), but the resolution of the story is very mature and some scenes are extremely sad.
I won't go into any more detail about gameplay as it's all the same as DDS1 - turn based RPG action with the "press turns" system still as great as ever. You'd have to really like the Shin Megami game world by now though, as this is the third (I'm including Nocturne/Lucifer's Call, here) game for the PS2 so far to use many of the same monsters and battle skills all over again. By now I was starting to feel the repetition slightly, and when some of the monsters re-appeared, my mind went back to Lucifer's Call where I was able to employ them as team members, and I remembered how good that was. But DDS2 is still great fun to play, and at least they have brought in two brand new playable characters. Another different aspect is the way you access the Mantras (skills). You still have to buy them but the grid is now a big honeycomb rather than lots of single paths, so characters can cross more freely into each other's areas. The best skills are still waa-aay out of reach until you've done an incredible amount of levelling up, or are playing a second time through, whioch is a bit frustrating. And some of the top level skills only appear after fighting optional bosses, but I guess that's fair.
While on the subject of options, you will be doing yourself another big favour by playing DDS1 first and KEEPING THE SAVE DATA! This game can read your memory card for a DDS1 file and a clear game save will allow several handy bonuses. Some of these are money based, but others allow you acces to some extremely useful Karma Rings, which act as equippable shield/support items in this game. If you defeated the optional bosses Metatron and Beelzebub in DDS1, you'll get free rings that shield you from the two most annoying status attacks, Death and Expel. There are other rings too, none of which can be found or bought in DDS2 otherwise, and are extremely useful in fighting some tricky boss fights. Of course defeating those bosses in DDS1 was no mean feat, so if you managed to do so, you've earned these valuable accessories. Another bonus is that in the final dungeon, three of your characters may (depending on some simple choices in DDS1) each get a new super-strong skill for free, but these are so expensive to cast that I tried them out one or twice each just to see them and then never touched them again.
What I found lacking was no decent side quests or mini games. The "Space Invaders" style game was horrible and the Hee-Ho quiz was interminable, I never got anywhere near answering them all as Jack Frost appeared so rarely. There are some optional bosses, but not many, and they seem stuck on as an afterthought. They are, however suitably difficult, and only the dedicated player will defeat them, and doing so without the aid of a guide is almost impossible! Again, the game ends with a frustrating maze-like level of winding passages and warp-points, but luckily it's not as bad as the final area in the first game.
What's still good is the depth of the characterization. All the major cast members have real personalities, and there are several heavily dramatic scenes along the way which are very well depicted and voiced. As I mentioned earlier, this is a gloomy story with little feel-good atmosphere, but it certainly feels well written. And the graphics and design are still the same cool style. So, when added together with DDS1, it makes for a sizeable epic, but alone, both games fall short of the length I would expect for a single RPG game....still, its a great experience to play both, and now that both are available, interested gamers could embark on a marathon single venture, although the dropping of all stats back to starting levels halfway through (at the start of DDS2) might be a bit galling. But thats how it has to be. Enjoyable none the less.
Yet Another Shin Megami Tensei Success [Posted on 2007-04-18]
Atlus makes some of the darkest RPG games in the business. They play in worlds haunted by demons and disasters, with characters that are often ambivalent at best. Lots of violence as well. Just the thing to attract and hold my attention. Digital Devil Saga 2 is no exception and my only regret is that I never bought the original game, so it took a bit to figure out what was going on. Suddenly you are running and fighting and a bit too busy for idle conversation. But, gradually, the pieces of an intricate and multi-layered tale unfold - as full of betrayals and maneuvering as they are with difficult battles.
Character development hinges on leveling up and acquiring mantras, which are a bit like battle programs. Gradually the player will add strengths and techniques until the characters work well individually and in combination. This isn't a simply process and is one of the strength's of the game. One frequently has to think about how to approach a battle rather than just running in and slaughtering everything in reach. And your choices really do affect outcomes rather than just change the battle graphics.
The story development is handled quite well too. Characters have interesting dialog and the plot (there actually is a plot) contains a much to interest the player. The idea of a digital universe with its own spiritual basis is intriguing. Atlus uses call shaded graphics, which may take a bit to get used to, but these allow a stylishness to the illustration and animation that are often lacking in the heavily CGI laden realism we've been getting used to. I enjoyed the game visually and the soundtrack as well, although it was a bit to raucous for my tastes.
I really don't feel that playing the games out of order is a serious problem. Although there is some initial confusion most of the story falls easily into place, and I'm not all that sure that knowing the reasons behind some of the questions in the first part would really be a spoiler. You still have to play the games, defeat the 'other' monsters, and solve the puzzles. Truth be told, part one is getting harder to find and part two is too much fun not to play it just because it's out of order.
Different. [Posted on 2007-05-15]
Having unable to obtain the 1st Digital Devil Saga, I opted to get the 2nd anyways. Pretty interesting game to say the least. I enjoyed it. But then again I like strange games such as this.
Can't Move 2 inches [Posted on 2008-06-03]
I'm glad the other reviewers got so much out of the game.
I found it frustrating that I couldn't move more than 1/billionth of a micro-inch without attracting another monster encounter on maps. It got to the point that I got turned around and confused as to which corridor I was trying to go, because you are attacked 2-3 times even in one room! That's ridiculous.
I got stuck part way through the game where you try to evade a Jailer. With no save point possible on each map level, you have to sit through several minutes of cut scenes every time you die, over and over and over again.
I took the disc out, held it tightly till it SNAPPED IN HALF, then tore the box and manual in half and threw it in the trash. The best place for such time-wasting junk. I wouldn't even sell this used to anyone.
Please note I answered RATE GAME QUESTION directly after finishing part one [Posted on 2008-06-17]
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
SO here we are in a game that would explain what happened in Digital Devil Saga and put characters in final episode of the story. I really liked how game sets off. You are about to protect humans as lower caste from demonic high caste (I like being good guy). It is not raining anymore. There are kids in the game and normal people. There is Matrix-Dune-BladeRunnerish feel to the ambient.
AND THAT'S IT. Technically, You have to start leveling up from level one and bying mantras from the beginning. No importing of old characters into new game. Even mantra grid is not the same so that you can navigate easily if you played part one. Even if you had 3 million macca (money) at the end of DDS1 and spells like Magic Repel, Dyne elemental spells, rich inventory, it is ALL GONE!!! Sniff!!! NO DEVOURER , TOO!!!
Labyrinths are vast like in first part, bosses are smart, there are puzzles with switches...as much as I liked first part because of it, second one is too similar and I said 'NOT AGAIN' after seeing same schemes/templates again.
I decided that this game be my last Atlus title to complete but I am really bored. If I don't post more in my review, it's probably because I stopped playing this sequel after JUST four hours. Too similar to part one and no fun.
They should have done FF type of thing or SMT Nocturne type of thing, similar environment and 'weirdness' in game but new characters connected little better into story of part one. This way, you can learn after 2 hours what was point of DDS one and loose interest.
Do my impressions originate in fact I beat Persona 3 and Digital Devil with small pause in between, so I got bored of Atlus RPGs?
IF YOU STILL DECIDE TO PLAY,
---READ SOLUTIONS TO ANSWERING DIALOGUES. HERE, YOU CAN MAKE MISTAKE LIKE THAT
---CIELO AND GALE ARE ONLY ONES WHO WON'T LEAVE YOU, OTHERS LEAVE AND COME BACK
---GET MANTRA GRID FROM FAQ OFF THE WEB OR BUY GUIDE
---GET DEVOURER, NO DEVOURING NO ATMA POINTS
---IF YOU CAN GET CRIMSON BOX AND HAVE 10000 IN CASH, SAVE, BUY BOX IN CITY AND HOPE TO GET RICH RING. MONEY IS SCARCE!!!
---GET ESOTHERIC MANTRA 1 UNLOCKED QUICK, IT IS PURPLE ONE , DOWN RIGHT OF PROTECTION OR IN OTHER WORDS SOUTH OF DEVOURER.
---READING FAQ I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU HAVE TO DO MOST IMP THINGS BEFORE COMING TO SUN. SUN HAS BIG AND SMALL NODES AND SHOP AND NODES ARE EQUAL TO TERMINALS. SUN IS GOOD TO LEVEL UP, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NULL CHARM, DYNE MAGICS, NULL DEATH AND EXPEL. YOU NEEDED THEM TO BEAT AIRPORT ANYWAY.
----------------------------IMPRESSIONS AFTER BEATING GAME-----------
GOOD
Last level was WOW. I liked the ending, I liked how main boss looks like. Thumbs up for graphic designers. If whole game had been like this...
BAD
You spend a lot of time , 50% , to level up and when you have right spells and good stats, you can devastate next boss, and then you read FAQ to see what you need for next boss... I wish I didn't have to hunt for Mantras , game system where you level up Personas or Parasites by using them or getting experience was better.
BOSSES I BEAT, SPOILERS AHEAD:
**Elephant guy: Have EARTH REPEL and TERA.
**Eight arms: attack w whatever except 'attack' command and do MEDIA
**Horse-like guy in concentration camp: have MEDIA, FORCE REPEL and ZIO ready. For me , chars were at LVL 13. No need to level up to 16
AFTER THIS GET MUTUAL KARMA FOR EVERYONE, SPEND 2 HOURS OR SO
**HELIODROME, INSIDE KARMA SOCIETY, TRIO OF MONSTERS TAKE ONE
Argilla must have tera or terazi AND media, Roland must have Agilao, Cielo Media and some attack. Roland shoots Agilao to kill dog-like creature who heals (left side of screen); Argilla does tera against snake woman and media sometimes, Cielo supports. Don't leave snake last, she does DYNE!!! Kill healer=the dog , with fire, paralelly hit snakewoman with tera and kill stone-like guy last. SET MUTUAL KARMA FOR GALE AND SERPH.
*TRIO TaKE TWO
Watch out! They will hit with Zio-type Magic Combo so have someone do Void Electricity.
*FIRE BOSS WITH TWO FIRE DOGS
Kill dogs, do Void Fire. IF YOU DO REPEL FIRE BOSS' ENERGY WITH RECOVER. Keep using this strategy till boss is down.
**Big green frog:
Phase one use Zanma/Force magic + Electric magic,
After forg swallows your companion use Earth and bolt
At the end, use Fire + Electric offensive spell
Both my Argilla and Cielo had heal magics
**Mechanical bosses, three of them:
One char uses void fire, Cielo Bolt type magic, and Argilla heal and buff magic
**End of Power Plant level, when lotsa spear an shield monsters jump out in a cut scene!
Boss' weakness is fire, but helpers cast void fire. Anyway, get Gale, Argilla and Roland. Roland uses Void Electricity, Argilla heals or takes out helpers with Tera (Terazi for instance) and Gale uses Force, it hits both boss and helpers. If you have extra turn and Void Fire expired , hit boss with Roland's Agi.
***BIG FIRE MONSTER
Just have someone use Void Fire and Zio will be good if I remember
***Chernobog
Before you get to him, have null nerve.
Chernobog IMITATES you . Get Mediarama and DON'T get nasty spells like Hama, Mudo and so on. Have Null Death and, if you for instance play with Gale and Cielo, have Cielo cast Elec Drain or Elec Void since Gale is weak to Electricity...make a team so that nobody has attack that could hurt comrade, since Chernobog will imitate you and use mentioned fact.
BOSSES AT SUN ARE REPLAY OF SOME DDS ONE BOSSES.
***Asura Camaztotz - this one is little different
You don't have to wait while he is in defensive stance: use Terazi or Teradyne.
***Meganada
You need Elec Drain and Void Phys. When he changes appearance, you change defensive magic. It can be tricky, you need Null Ailments on all 3 chars.
***Brahma
It is nice to have around 15 healing units and same number of magic point restore units.Somas are also welcome, although I didn't use much.
Characters and what is important (Im not 100% sure for all spells):
CHARACTERS THAT ARE AT LEFT SIDE OF SCREEN:
HEAT
EQUIP Null Expell & Fire Drain
Cielo
Elec Drain, Ice Drain, Null Expell, Null Death, Null Ailment, Dekunda, Force Amp, Zandyne
Argilla
Null Panic, Null Mute, Null Charm (MOST IMPORTANT), Null Death, Null Nerve, OR Null ailment, it substitutes all five. Add Dekunda, Earth drain
Seraph, character you don't change, the one in themiddle
Bufudyne, Null Expell, Null Death, Null Ailment,Dekaja, Ice Amp, Mind Charge , Last Word, I did Mind Charge last word together
Gale, to right
Mediarahan, Null Expell, Null Death, Null Ailment, Zandyne, Force Drain, Force Amp, Debilitate
Tactic is that LEFT character drains brahma's elemental attack, Seraph does Mind Charge and Last Words and Gale does Mediarahan or Zandyne. If you get Eternal Zero-ed , you do dekaja, dekunda, skip Gale and do Drain magic.
Brahma has five fases:
1. Fire using fase(dominantly)
2. Force using fase(dominantly)
3. Earth using fase(dominantly)
4. Electricity using fase(dominantly)
5. Ice using fase(dominantly)
All of my characters were about level 73. Seraph's magic stat was around 70 and other stats about 50.
I know you could read FAQ instead of my post, but I am trying to show some things that FAQ writers overlooked or more economical solution.
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