Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Review for Nintendo DS (DS)

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Box Art

System: DS
Dev: Atlus
Pub: Atlus
Release: February 28, 2012
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: N/A	Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence

However, the game's soundtrack is one area where attention and care was given. Devil Survivor had a rockin' J-Pop fusion sound going for it, but if you are expecting more of the same from the sequel, you will be surprised. The music in Devil Survivor 2 is much more moody, and there's a lot more variety this time around. The songs are still quite catchy, and you'll definitely be humming battle and dialog themes for weeks.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Screenshot

Devil Survivor 2 is a great sequel to an awesome game. Really good JRPGs are few and far between these days, and the DS was the platform of choice for these titles. The only real complaint I have about Devil Survivor 2 is that it plays a little too closely to its highly-successful predecessor. The nearly identical setup, battle system, and copy-and-pasted visuals will definitely annoy those who have fond memories of the original and are expecting something completely new. However, if you can forgive these grievances, you are in for a wild ride with a compelling story, plenty of demons to collect and create, and branching paths that allow for plenty of replayability.

I can't imagine this game not being successful, but hopefully when the time comes for Devil Survivor 3 (I refuse to believe this won't become a long-running franchise) there will be a bit more new content for fans to discover. Simply adding new characters and story elements doesn't make for an amazing second game, and it would make for a truly disastrous third entry. I'm willing to overlook some of these flaws this time around, but I don't think fans will be as forgiving if it happens again. The ball's in your court, Atlus.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.5

Graphics
Visuals look good, but fans may be disappointed at the amount of recycled content from the first game.

3.8

Control
Button-based controls are intuitive and menus are easy to navigate.

4.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The soundtrack is amazing and features a wide variety of tunes.

4.0

Play Value
The story is long and branching, and will take at least 20 hours the first time you play through.

3.9

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

What if you could see people's deaths before they happened? The spread of a mysterious website that offers a preview of people's deaths, and the great calamity that suddenly strikes Japan—mere coincidence, or part of something larger?

Recruit your party, Build Bonds adding tons of dimension to traditional party mechanics. Players recruit new members to their team and then invest time into developing relationships with them. The closer the connection, the more effective they'll be in battle.

Collect, Customize, Barter, and Fuse every last demon! Endlessly addicting, the task of discovering and enlisting new demons to aid you in battle is a staple of the Shin Megami Tensei universe.