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.

This game is absolutely crazy, literally Mega Man X and Zero combined, incorporates so much from both series, and comes out with an incredible execution. It really boils down to does Mega Man X and Zero stuff, takes its own spin on certain parts, nails it.
You can just feel this was made by fans of Mega Man, the movement is on top, the level design is amazing, the boss design is amazing, the graphics are very pretty, the writing is great for what we get, the music is awesome, really incredible game, its a must for ANY Mega Man fan out there.

Absolutely masterful, this game gave us an even more vivid version of the artstyle of Origins, and a lot of new fantastic levels to go through. A lot is carried from Origins, except now all powers are available from the get go, so level design for all levels factor them in.
Idk what to say that's new, this game fucks, and everyone should play it.

Its a good game, very flawed in a lot of areas in balancing, gimmick approach, writing, etc.
However its not bad, the variety of pokemon here is unmatched, its still fun to traverse it, and the online was incredible while it was still up.
The core experience is still solid, even if its not the best.
There's better options, but this one's still good.

Absolutely nothing special here, but its also nothing egregious, it just exists, except the writing, holy fuck every time I see a clip from it its baaaaaad, thank god my standars for writing were non existant back then cause otherwise I would've fucking died seeing those cutscenes.

I don't like party games like these, but its fine for some rounds with friends, just, nothing to write home about AT ALL.