Soul Hackers 2is a plot-driven fantasy adventure JRPG that will have fans putting in numerous hours to complete. Players can use many familiar role-play game mechanics to be successful, and one of the most important is learning how to level up party members and Demon allies.
Players are introduced to Ringo and Figue at the beginning ofSoul Hackers 2. They are twins born from Aion, an uninvolved observer and all-powerful being. They are shown visions of someone summoning a terrifying god-like creature to destroy the world. Their mission is to stop the world from ending, and they work with a group of Demon Summoners: Arrow, Milady, and Saizo. Every party member is selfishly motivated to join Ringo and Figue, but they all want the same result.
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Players continuously level up as they move through the game and enter combat. Each party member and Demon can level up. Having a high level makes battling and beating the main storyline easier. Here are some of the quickest ways to level up.
Enemy Encounters
Players will make their way through key locations called dungeons throughoutSoul Hackers 2. Each dungeon introduces new Enemy encounters, and players can grind out some battles to raise their party’s level. Whenever enemies spawn, they will chase players and engage in battle upon contact. Players can knock them down with their swords to trigger an ambush andattack offensively at the beginningof the fight (this mechanic also allows players to run away if battling isn’t the best idea at the time).
Enemies are groups of Demons that often appear in groups of 2-4, but there are instances where up to 5 will attack. Players will earn EXP points every time they win, but the amount increases the stronger the Demons are compared to the party. It takes a little work, but if players take on every Demon they come across, they can raise their level surprisingly fast.
Risky Demons
Sometimes, Demons called Risky Demons will spawn. Unlike regular Demons, they can not be struck down, and players will have to enter into a battle with them. Risky Demons are typically 3-4 high-level and unpredictable Demons. Party members will usually encourage players to attempt to Escape, but if prepared and ready, players can fight and raise their level significantly faster when victorious against these stronger enemies. Risky Demons are indicated by their purple appearance and larger size, but they spawn less than their red counterparts.
Boss Fights
During each arc, Demons aren’t the only enemies players will have to fight to unlock new areas. Other Demon Summoners also pose a threat. Players should expect a tough battle as each Summoner travels with solid and unique Demons. They can also summon Demons in battle; even if players defeat all the Demons, they must still take out the Summoner to win the match. Otherwise, their opponent will keep spawning Demons.
Prepare for these fights by upping party members' levels beforehand, maxing out MP and HP, and keeping Expendable Items on hand.
The Soul Matrix
Players can also explore the Soul Matrix, an otherworldly area in the Axis. It is home to Flamma, a messenger for Aion, and the Soul Matrix directly connects the main protagonists to their party members' souls. This is a bonus from the Soul Hacking Ringo does at the beginning of the game, so she can travel through each of her party members' Soul Matrix and unlock memories to unlock character Skills that can be usedwhile exploring or in battle. In the Matrix, there are Enemies and mini-boss battles that players can use to train.
Level Perks
Leveling up has a few different perks and benefits outside stronger combat. Players unlock new battle aspects and allies to work with by getting stronger.
New Skills
As Demons battle and level up, they learn new Skills. Standard Skills require small amounts of MP but don’t dish out too much damage. When Demons raise their levels, they will get a variety of stronger Skills, and players can experiment with different battle strategies to havemore consistent success when fighting. Whenever a Demon learns its max amount of Skills, it gifts players with a valuable item that either boosts attacks or has healing abilities.
Demon Negotiation
Whenever Demons scout new areas, they will sometimes find other Demons wanting to negotiate a contract and potentially join the player’s party. These negotiations are more successful the higher Ringo’s level, as Demons refuse to travel with her unless her level is equal to or greater than theirs.
Demon Fusion
Eventually, players unlock the ability to fuse two of their contracted Demons to create an entirely new Demon. Certain fusions are only possible by combining specific Demons, but again if Ringo’s level is lower than those Demons aren’t available to players through fusion.
Soul Hackers 2is available now on Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
