Time and again Soul Hackers made me wonder if Japanese Saturn owners struggled as much as I did, but without fail, those moments would immediately be followed by the same SMT charm and wit that's hooked me on the series in the past. It's not the best entry point for newcomers, but anyone dedicated enough can find a lot to love in the 3D corners of dungeons, the Spookies trailer, or even the Astro Museum.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
Atlus · Apr 16, 2013
About
The missing entry in the classic Shin Megami Tensei RPG series finally arrives in North America! Never before released in North America, this long-awaited entry in the acclaimed Devil Summoner series takes players into a future in which technology and otherworldly forces meet in a macabre fusion of cyberpunk futurism and gothic horror. A first-person sci-fi RPG epic, Soul Hackers tells of a city held up as a beacon of humanity's triumph of technology, but with an infernal secret. In this would-be utopia, a group of hackers takes on a centuries-old mystic society, and a battle for control over humanity's fate is about to begin...
Trailers & screenshots
Scores by platform
7.7
Critic reviews
- 7.0Soul Hackers comes with caveats: it's tough to get into initially and is far from the prettiest role-playing game on the 3DS. But once you make it past those hurdles and the game clicks, there's a lot to love in its demon collection, customization, and retro-cyberpunk setting. If you have the patience to deal with its old-school flaws, Soul Hackers will reward you with an engrossing portable RPG experience.
- 9.0For Shin Megami Tensei or Persona fans, this is a no brainer — Soul Hackers is a fantastic entry in the series and you won't be disappointed. Even better, it's an excellent place for newcomers to jump in, with a relatively smooth difficulty curve and user-friendly hacks to help you out of tight spots.
- 7.8If you dig MegaTen (or classic RPGs in general), Soul Hackers is worth a look. Put on some Radiohead and sip an Orbitz to put yourself in a proper '90s mood and enjoy an oldie that still proves to be a goodie.
- 5.0Back in 1997 Soul Hackers was well reviewed in Japan, and if you can put yourself in a throwback mindset, it’s a fun romp through a lost Saturn classic. But when played outside a vacuum, it’s just too dated for its own good, and the clever writing, interesting sci-fi setting, and SMT’s addictive demon-collecting aren’t enough to overcome that.
- 6.2There's still dozens of hours of content if you're interested in a full demon roster. The story is outdated, though, and there's no multiplayer.
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