I'll keep this as spoiler free as possible.
Coming off the first game, expectations for the continuation to Digital Devil Saga were sky high, specially with all the build up done in the first game, and not only does this game deliver how it was promissed, it goes above and beyond to make it even better than expected.
So, lets get the things that are about the same first.
Gameplay remains the same, with the big change being the mantra grid being way more open as it follows a non linear structure to get skills, which imo, its better as it gives even more freedom, with the possibility to jump from 2° tier skill after following a line, into another one on the fly.
Dungeon design is as stellar as always, the OST is the best one of any game still, and it looks and animates beautifully.
Now, for the writing.
OMFG, EVERYONE IS INCREDIBLE.
The development they gave to Heat elevates him a lot more than how great he was, and the twists involving him, Sera and Serph are absolutely world shattering crazy.
Gale gets even more development and gets turned into a character that can genuinely be considered the best written one in all of MegaTen, Sera finally gets explained fully, and becomes incredible, Cielo and Argilla get scenes that show how amazing they are, we even get a new party member in Roland, who despite being for only 1 game, becomes an amazing character who can stand alongside the rest too, and Serph, I have never been too fond of silent protags in RPGs, but omfg, they even managed to make the SILENT MC incredible here. And the main antagonist in Angel becomes my favorite antagonist ever, in just how threatening and evil she is, as well as how you can sympathize on how she got there, and what exactly caused it.
All tied to a story that goes every single place possible, and manages to leave such an impact it feels unbelievable so many times, specially with how emotional it gets, I cried dozens of times to this game, specially on one ocation where I cried for 15 goddamn minutes.
This duology is a masterpiece, and this is the biggest payoff to everything that was built up, and was done beautifully.
It came at a trying period of my life, and helped me find comfort in regards to trauma I suffered months prior to playing it, it is easily my favorite work of art ever, and something I recomend to everyone.
Give it a try if you have even the slightest curiosity on it, you won't regret it.
Coming off the first game, expectations for the continuation to Digital Devil Saga were sky high, specially with all the build up done in the first game, and not only does this game deliver how it was promissed, it goes above and beyond to make it even better than expected.
So, lets get the things that are about the same first.
Gameplay remains the same, with the big change being the mantra grid being way more open as it follows a non linear structure to get skills, which imo, its better as it gives even more freedom, with the possibility to jump from 2° tier skill after following a line, into another one on the fly.
Dungeon design is as stellar as always, the OST is the best one of any game still, and it looks and animates beautifully.
Now, for the writing.
OMFG, EVERYONE IS INCREDIBLE.
The development they gave to Heat elevates him a lot more than how great he was, and the twists involving him, Sera and Serph are absolutely world shattering crazy.
Gale gets even more development and gets turned into a character that can genuinely be considered the best written one in all of MegaTen, Sera finally gets explained fully, and becomes incredible, Cielo and Argilla get scenes that show how amazing they are, we even get a new party member in Roland, who despite being for only 1 game, becomes an amazing character who can stand alongside the rest too, and Serph, I have never been too fond of silent protags in RPGs, but omfg, they even managed to make the SILENT MC incredible here. And the main antagonist in Angel becomes my favorite antagonist ever, in just how threatening and evil she is, as well as how you can sympathize on how she got there, and what exactly caused it.
All tied to a story that goes every single place possible, and manages to leave such an impact it feels unbelievable so many times, specially with how emotional it gets, I cried dozens of times to this game, specially on one ocation where I cried for 15 goddamn minutes.
This duology is a masterpiece, and this is the biggest payoff to everything that was built up, and was done beautifully.
It came at a trying period of my life, and helped me find comfort in regards to trauma I suffered months prior to playing it, it is easily my favorite work of art ever, and something I recomend to everyone.
Give it a try if you have even the slightest curiosity on it, you won't regret it.