Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2
North American Nintendo DS cover, featuring (from left to right) Io, the protagonist, and Daichi
Developer(s)	Career Soft (DS) Atlus (3DS)
Publisher(s)	JP: Atlus NA: Atlus USA EU: Ghostlight (DS) EU: NIS America (3DS)
Director(s)	Shinjirō Takata
Producer(s)	Shinjirō Takata
Designer(s)	Fūma Yatō
Programmer(s)	Tomohiko Matsuda
Artist(s)	Akiko Kotō Suzuhito Yasuda
Writer(s)	Shinji Yamamoto Osamu Murata (Record Breaker)
Composer(s)	Kenji Ito Atsushi Kitajoh Toshiki Konishi Ryota Kozuka Kenichi Tsuchiya Shoji Meguro (Record Breaker)
Series	Megami Tensei
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS Nintendo 3DS
Release	Nintendo DS JP: July 28, 2011 NA: February 28, 2012 EU: October 18, 2013 Nintendo 3DS JP: January 29, 2015 NA: May 5, 2015 EU: October 30, 2015 AU: November 5, 2015
Genre(s)	Tactical role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2^[a] is a tactical role-playing game in the Megami Tensei series developed by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. It is a sequel to the 2009 Nintendo DS role-playing game Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor. It was released in Japan in July 2011, in North America in February 2012, and in Europe in October 2013. An enhanced version for the Nintendo 3DS, titled Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker,^[b] was released in 2015.^[1][2]

The setting of Devil Survivor 2 spans the whole country of Japan. It tells the story of Japanese high school students who enter a pact, enabling them to summon demons and fight mysterious creatures invading and destroying the country. The plot may unfold differently depending on the player's actions who assumes the role of a silent young demon tamer involved in this incident. The game is a tactical role-playing which takes after its predecessor as it involves controlling several demon tamers in their fights against different enemies and gaining new skills in the process. It has new additions such as the Fate System where the player can relate with other cast as well as the upgradeable racial skills.

The game was designed to bring several improvements to the original Devil Survivor. It received positive critical reception by video game publications which praised the story and improvements over its predecessor but criticized the game's high difficulty and lack of innovation. It has sold a disclosed total of 106,000 units. The game also received two manga series, as well as an anime television adaptation by Studio Bridge, Devil Survivor 2: The Animation, which aired in Japan between April and June 2013.

Devil Survivor 2 is a tactical role-playing game. Like in the previous Devil Survivor game, in combat situations, the player takes on the role of a young demon tamer and is free to interact with other characters at the cost of time going by or to engage in free battles that do not make time continue. In fights with the computer opponent to defeat enemies and satisfy certain objectives such as helping other characters, while avoiding conditions that will end the mission in failure. In three versus three battle phase, the battle is presented in first-person and traditional turn-based battles, player controls one human and two demons, allowing the player to select one action for each squad member, and the computer doing the same for its squad; combat is then resolved after this selection. Players can get their "Extra Turn" or "Double Extra" in the battle if the player has attacked the enemy's weaknesses or launched critical attacks, and when a leader's health become zero, the battle ends. Also, the player can crack enemy skills. Once cracked, the player can assign these skills across all of their parties' human characters. In addition to demon fusion, the player can acquire new demons, up to 24 in total, by attempting to win demon auctions using the Macca collected in battle.^[3]

Outside battle, the player can explore the country or save their game. Devil Survivor 2 has a new feature called the "Fate System". The player can develop relationships with other characters, starting at Rank 0. The stronger the relationship, the more that character becomes effective in battle, can share the same skillcracks, and also unlocking certain demon fusions.^[4] In the sixth day of the game, the player must choose an available ending, which the player can unlock by answering some questions from the other characters or help them during battle.

The game takes place in several parts of Japan that are facing destruction at the hands of the demons. The cast features a young silent character whose thoughts and actions are decided by the player. He is initially accompanied by his best friend Daichi Shijima, and the reserved and apologetic girl Io Nitta. The three are found by a woman named Makoto Sako, a member of the secret government organization JP's which is led by the young and strict Yamato Hotsuin. There, they meet Fumi Kanno; a scientist who leads JP's Nagoya branch, Hinako Kujou, a carefree dancer, Keita Wakui, a young boxer who is obsessed with getting stronger, Jungo Torii, a sturdy and quiet chef, Airi Ban, a lively girl, Otome Yanagiya, a physician in charge of JP's Osaka Branch, Yuzuru "Joe" Akie, an airheaded salary man, and Ronaldo Kuriki, a detective who strongly opposes JP's.^[5] Throughout the story the protagonist also meets the mysterious young man simply known as the Anguished One.^[6]

After downloading a death prediction app dubbed Nicaea onto their phones, the protagonist, Daichi and Io are nearly killed in a predicted train crash, then must fight past demons who can be recruited using Nicaea. A series of natural disasters has struck Earth, and soon after a being not recognised as a demon begins killing Tokyo's residents. The group are taken in by JP's, where Yamato Hotsuin explains the new creature is one of the Septentriones, beings from outside reality who are triggering the disasters. The protagonist meets other Devil Summoners, including a group opposing JP's led by Rolando Kuriki, and can save them from their predicted deaths. The protagonist is also regularly contacted by the Anguished One, who is observing events and seeking for humanity's victory by granting them the Nicea app. As the Septentriones destroy magical barriers protecting Japan from the Void, an expanse that is swallowing the planet, Yamato reveals the Septentriones were sent to test humanity by Polaris, their leader and current Administrator of Earth.

After defeating the sixth Septentrione, the party splinters into different factions who want to restore the world in different ways: Yamato seeks a meritocracy, Ronaldo and egalitarian society, and Daichi wants to restore the world. The protagonist can side with any of these factions, or with the Anguished One who reveals defeating Polaris can allow him to become Administrator and create a new world for humanity. The protagonist can also choose to kill Polaris, leaving the world ruined by humanity free from divine control. The winning party opens a path to the Akashic Record, the divine realm overseeing Earth; in routes where the protagonist does not side with him, they must fight the Anguished One−revealed to be Alcor, the seventh Septentrione who broke from their ranks. In the Akashic Record, the party fight Polaris, either winning their wish by showing their strength or killing her to fulfil their desired plan. In each ending, a final message is received through Nicaea.

In the "Triangulum Arc", which follows a scenario where the party decided to roll back history and restore the world with Alcor's aid, the protagonist gradually reunites with his initially-amnesiac companions after a new force dubbed the Triangulum begin attacking humanity. They find Yamato has vanished, replaced with Miyako, who insists on both preventing the party from getting into danger and captures rather than destroys the Triangulum. During the campaign, the current world is revealed to be the third reality: after the initial reversion of history, the Akashic Record's controller Canopus removed the protagonist from the world and deployed the Triangulum, leading to the deaths of everyone but Alcor and Yamato. Since history was reverted a second time, Yamato has been in the Akashic Record preserving the protagonist from the Triangulum's attacks, while Alcor was captured by Miyako, later revealed to be Cor Coroli, an agent of Canopus who inherited Yamato's role in history.

The party rescue Yamato from the Akashic Record and defeat the final Triangulum, eventually confronting Miyako. Miyako wants to sacrifice the party, who share the administrative authority to use the Akashic Record, to turn Alcor into a new administrator and prevent further actions from Canopus. If the protagonist refuses Miyako's plan, he persuades her to join their side after fighting her. While Canopus is supposedly invulnerable, an error created by Yamato and Miyako existing at the same time exposes a weakness that can be used to destroy it. Depending on character relationships, three endings can be chosen. Rolando seeks to continually roll back history and defeat each Administrator when they attack; Alcor suggests repurposing the protagonist into a new permanent Administrator; and Yamato proposes using the wishes of all humanity to create a new world freed from the Akashic Record. In Yamato's route, depending on the strength of their relationships, Alcor and Miyako are reborn in the new world as humans.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 was published and developed by Atlus who first announced it in the magazine Famitsu in March 2011.^[7] Its director Shinjiro Takada said all of its predecessor's gameplay features were upgraded so that players would notice the improvements. He also expected players to clear the game several times.^[8] The human characters were handled by Suzuhito Yasuda, while the demons were designed by Kazuma Kaneko^[9] and the Septentrions monsters were created by manga artist Mohiro Kitoh.^[10]

Devil Survivor 2 was released in North America on February 28, 2012 by Atlus.^[11] For the European release, Ghostlights announced in April 2012 they would handle it.^[12] However, it was delayed with the company claiming "the market for DS games is quite difficult at the moment."^[13] In February 2012, Ghostlights revealed they were intending to do a limited run printing of Devil Survivor 2. The company had now set a target of 1,800 pre-orders before August 30, 2013. If the target was reached by then, the game should have been released by the end of September 2013 and the game was released in October from the same year.^[14] By September 2013, the target was reached.^[15][16]

Following the popularity of the game, just like its predecessor, the art book of the game is released in June 2011 named Devil Survivor 2 Official Design Works. The art book contains account of how the story unfolds, concept art and profiles of the characters, designs of the Septentriones, environment art, all of the endings with miniature screenshots, and other game specific information.^[17]

The music of Devil Survivor 2 was composed by Kenji Ito, who is better known for his role in the SaGa series, and the Atlus sound team (Kenichi Tsuchiya, Atsushi Kitajoh, Ryota Kozuka, and Toshiki Konishi). An original soundtrack composed of thirty-five themes was released on August 24, 2011.^[18] Another "Special Soundtrack" was released on March 23, 2014.^[19] The game's opening theme is "World of Illusions" by Kinuco Saga.

The music of Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker contains arrangements from the original game, along with new compositions by Shoji Meguro.^[20] An arranged soundtrack featuring four of Meguro's new tracks for the game was included as a pre-order bonus in both Japan and North America.^[21] Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Original Soundtrack was released on July 22, 2015.^[22]

An enhanced port of the game, Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker (デビルサバイバー2 ブレイクレコード, Debiru Sabaibā Tsū Bureiku Rekōdo), was announced in March 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS.^[23] Its scenario, Triangulum Arc is set after the original Devil Survivor 2 ending and is accessible from the beginning of the game. It follows a new demon invasion as well as a new character associated with JP's.^[24] Citing quality issues, the game's release date was delayed from Fall 2013 to January 2015.^[25] It includes characters from Durarara!! as downloadable content along with a survival missions, Beginner's Map, and Paid Maps.^[26][27]

Following the game's popularity, Devil Survivor 2 -Show Your Free Will- was given a manga adaptation. It is written by Nagako Sakaki, the artist for Devil Survivor 2's manga, and started serialization in Earth Star Entertainment's magazine Comic Earth Star in September 12, 2011. Another manga is also in serialization but as part of the animated adaptation media.^[28] A light novel focused on Yamato Hotsuin was also published.^[29]

An anime television series based on the game aired on MBS between April 5, 2013 and June 28, 2013 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. It was produced by Studio Bridge and directed by Seiji Kishi who also directed the anime adaptation of Persona 4.^[31] Makoto Uezu is in charge of the scripts, with Kotaro Nakagawa responsible for the soundtrack.^[31] The series began release on DVD and Blu-ray volumes beginning June 19, 2013, with the first volume including the first episode as well a bonus CD containing the series' original soundtrack volume 1. Following volumes will each contain two episodes and as yet unknown bonus CD offerings. The anime was licensed on DVD by Sentai Filmworks in North America, MVM Entertainment in the United Kingdom, and Hanabee Entertainment in Australia.^[32] The opening theme is "Take Your Way" by Livetune feat. Fukase whilst the ending theme is "Be" by Song Riders.

The game was generally well-received, garnering an aggregate score of 79/100 on Metacritic, based on twenty-one reviews.^[33] Although the depth and quality of the battle system and story were praised, the game was criticized for being unfairly difficult at times.^[3][36] Heidi Kemps from GameSpot praised the consequences of the player's actions and commented that "Devil Survivor 2 is a great game. Combat is strategy-laden and engaging; amassing and preparing your demon companions is loads of fun; and the story is filled with memorable characters and set pieces that keep your eyes glued to the dual screens."^[36] RPGamer's Mike Moehnke the stated that "Devil Survivor 2 remains an addictive experience for a large chunk of its length."^[3] Gaming Age writer Dustin Chadwell praised the story as he viewed the Devil Survivor 2 cast more likeable than the ones from the first game which had a great influence in liking the game due to the story's impact in enjoying it but he would have preferred if Atlus had given the gameplay more additions to make the game more innovative.^[38]

The Fate System was well received for helping in the characterizing the cast members by RPGamer although RPGFan found it often "almost devolves into a quasi-dating-sim" due to the choices the player has to make in order to increase the points.^[3][37] Dale North from Destructoid noted how the Fate System appeared to be influenced by the latest Shin Megami Tensei: Persona games and praised it for its effect on the story and gameplay.^[4] The final part of the game was criticized for the increased difficulty with the reviewer from Gaming Age not recommending it to player who are not tolerable to these challenging fights.^[3][37][38]

The game was often compared with its predecessor, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor. Despite noting multiple similarities between Devil Survivor 2 and its predecessor, Jeremy Parish from 1UP.com noted that "Perhaps the most pleasant surprise about Devil Survivor 2 is that it doesn't feel like a massive backward step despite its predecessor's having been ported to 3DS."^[35] Amanda L. Kondolojy from Cheat Code Central mentioned "Though the structure is almost the same, there are some key differences in the story this time around" and complained about several similarities between the two games.^[39] Dale North noticed several improvements in the game claiming "I'm pleased to report that Devil Survivor 2 is more of the same, this time bringing an even better story, better characters, more demons to collect and a bunch of gameplay improvements."^[4] Bob Richardson from RPGFan criticized there was "nothing new" despite citing "Tremendous variety, lots of dialogue choices and paths, challenging gameplay."^[37]

Devil Survivor 2 sold 63,000 copies during its first week of release.^[40] By the end of the year it had sold 99,748 units in Japan.^[41] In October 2011, Atlus announced that the game reached a total of 106,000 units sold.^[42] Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker sold 53,264 copies in its first week of release in Japan.^[43]

• Official website
• Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker official website