Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Soul Hackers

 3DS
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Apr 16, 2013
User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 276 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 117 out of 276
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 276
  3. Negative: 136 out of 276
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  1. O_OLokiO_O
    Feb 9, 2014
    10
    This is a wonderful game with a great story, good voice acting, great characters, good gameplay, and a weird and quirky spirit. It's one of the most bizarre SMT games out there, but it's fun. The mechanics have aged, the graphics are a pile of waste, but that did not stop me from enjoying a thoroughly good story. It was fairly challenging. Also, you should keep backup saves, because atThis is a wonderful game with a great story, good voice acting, great characters, good gameplay, and a weird and quirky spirit. It's one of the most bizarre SMT games out there, but it's fun. The mechanics have aged, the graphics are a pile of waste, but that did not stop me from enjoying a thoroughly good story. It was fairly challenging. Also, you should keep backup saves, because at certain points you discover that a decision you made an hour ago has screwed you out of the easy path. Also, post game, there is quite a lot of content if you want it. Different endings, EX dungeons. Lot's to do. The characters are all wonderfully written, the comedy is great, the voice acting is excellent. Not the best in the series, but still good. I give it a 9, then I bump that up a point to offset for trolling.… Expand
  2. criticguy22
    Apr 17, 2013
    8
    A great game that has almost everything going for it. I would highly recommend this to RPG lovers. I was excited when they released information about a Shin Megami Tensei with full 3D visuals. The 3D really makes the locations stand out and look more like a piece of art than just a building. This game is excellent. With a few shorthands now and then, the game is still quite impressive.
  3. godef
    Mar 15, 2014
    10
    A great game.Shin Megami Tensei is one of my favourite sagas,and this game,it's one of the best games in 3ds.The 3D effect looks nice in this game.I recommend you this game.I'm never tired of playing it in my 3DS.I'm waiting for Persona Q,I think it will be even better than this SMT.
  4. Sir_Pantyson
    Feb 1, 2015
    10
    I've beaten this game three times. Got 100% of demons in the compendium. Beat the extra dungeon three times. Fulfilled every trade request in the Nemechi shop thing, and I still feel like replaying it again.
  5. smasherwolf
    Jul 20, 2013
    8
    Fun, and also a very challenging game. Its super satisfaying to kill that pesky boss using some strategic moves.
    It does feel a bit outdated since its a "re-release" of an old Megaten game, and its a bit fast at the beggining (kinda makes you go WTF), but overall its a really good game, worth every $
    I give it an 8.5. (I cant give that score actually T_T) Also, it comes with a    Fun, and also a very challenging game. Its super satisfaying to kill that pesky boss using some strategic moves.
    It does feel a bit outdated since its a "re-release" of an old Megaten game, and its a bit fast at the beggining (kinda makes you go WTF), but overall its a really good game, worth every $

    I give it an 8.5. (I cant give that score actually T_T)

    Also, it comes with a little OST CD, so its even better!    … Expand
  6. Foxi4_Qnet
    Feb 20, 2014
    10
    I'm giving it a 10/10 because it's exactly what I expected from it - a great SMT experience. The game obviously has its issues - the 3D and the monster sprites are clearly simplistic, but that's not because the game is underdeveloped - it's simply a faithful port of the Saturn original which I personally couldn't enjoy as I don't know Japanese. I was eagerly awaiting this release as it wasI'm giving it a 10/10 because it's exactly what I expected from it - a great SMT experience. The game obviously has its issues - the 3D and the monster sprites are clearly simplistic, but that's not because the game is underdeveloped - it's simply a faithful port of the Saturn original which I personally couldn't enjoy as I don't know Japanese. I was eagerly awaiting this release as it was the only way in which I could experience Soul Hackers in an enjoyable way and I was not disappointed by it. The animated FMV's are charming, the demon-collecting (or rather, chatting with them) mechanics are fun (especially because the demons can actually *leave* or disobey you if you don't follow the moral guidelines they believe in) and fun, the combat is diverse (Close-range attacks, ranged attacks, magic, status effects, front and back row - things that you're familiar with if you play dungeon crawlers, all executed great), demon fusing is as much fun as it always was and I can't wait to dig deeper into the game. I haven't finished it yet, but I'm a good couple hours in and so far I'm very satisfied with it. The only thing that could possibly make the game better would be a new coat of paint - remade sprites, environments and whatnot, but that'd make it a remake, not a port.… Expand
  7. midipon
    Dec 31, 2014
    5
    The dungeon visuals are flat and drab, the demon loyalty system is a pain, Magnetite is just an annoyance, demon fusion limits inherited skills, Zoma fusion is also a pain, heck, most of the mechanics are just a pain in the neck. It's an alright game, but it's definitely the worst MegaTen game I've played. Only get it if you like the series in general.
  8. ihatecheez
    Jul 18, 2013
    5
    if you're a hardcore shin megami fan, then chances are you've already bought this game (like me). but i was disappointed, the story isn't interesting, the characters are flat and the gameplay is frustrating because you can't really control your demons, they have an a.i. and their very annoying most of the time. they have a specific ai that lets them do specific moves. i gave up halfwayif you're a hardcore shin megami fan, then chances are you've already bought this game (like me). but i was disappointed, the story isn't interesting, the characters are flat and the gameplay is frustrating because you can't really control your demons, they have an a.i. and their very annoying most of the time. they have a specific ai that lets them do specific moves. i gave up halfway through the game and i'm going to start smt 4 or pokemon conquest instead.… Expand
  9. mrfroglegs
    Mar 7, 2019
    8
    this is a fantastic game, with a great voice cast, one of the most unique story lines and an amazing soundtrack by Shoji Meguro. I would not recommend this game for casuals, since it's brutally hard, enemies do obscene amounts of damage and the loyalty system will definitely a source of constant frustration until you figure it out. I'd recommend it ten fold!
  10. BasilZero
    Jul 1, 2021
    8
    Game: Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Atlus Publisher: Atlus USA System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS) Year of Release: 2013 Length of Playthrough: 41 Hours Total Score: 83/100 Value Score: 8.3/10 • Story: 8/10 • Characters: 7/10 • GamePlay: 8/10 • Graphics: 7/10 • Sound: 9/10 • Music: 8/10 • Length: 9/10 • Replay Value: 9/10 • Player    Game: Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Atlus
    Publisher: Atlus USA
    System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
    Year of Release: 2013
    Length of Playthrough: 41 Hours

    Total Score: 83/100
    Value Score: 8.3/10

    • Story: 8/10
    • Characters: 7/10
    • GamePlay: 8/10
    • Graphics: 7/10
    • Sound: 9/10
    • Music: 8/10
    • Length: 9/10
    • Replay Value: 9/10
    • Player Value: 8/10

    Pros
    +First time western localization
    +New changes added to 3DS version such as animated sprites, new intro, improved controls, smoother animation and new artwork
    +Quicker load times than previous versions
    +30 new demons exclusive to this version
    +Nemechi system which works with Street Pass, offers exclusive Demons
    +New Game+ mode

    Cons
    -High difficult spike
    -Dungeons are bland and at the worst large mazes
    -Personality system makes the game not as fun as Persona or SMT mainline games
    -Visuals are outdated despite this game being a remaster/re-release
    -True ending requires players go through the game in New Game+

    ---

    Series Scorewise comparison sake

    Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS): 95
    Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS): 83
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 1 Portable (PSP): 88
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 2 Innocent Sin (PSP): 85
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 Portable (PSP): 95
    Shin Megami Tensei Persona 4 (PS2): 97    … Expand
  11. Flame_Noir
    Jul 5, 2017
    8
    Great game for fans of Shin Megami Tensei or Etrian Odyssey, but not a good intro game for those new to the series. Most of the bad user and critical reviews for this game come from simple ignorance and/or lack of appreciation for staple game mechanics of Shin Megami Tensei; things like Magnetite and Demon Negotiation demand judicious decision making a careful strategy, and players who goGreat game for fans of Shin Megami Tensei or Etrian Odyssey, but not a good intro game for those new to the series. Most of the bad user and critical reviews for this game come from simple ignorance and/or lack of appreciation for staple game mechanics of Shin Megami Tensei; things like Magnetite and Demon Negotiation demand judicious decision making a careful strategy, and players who go in expecting to "throw a pokeball and catch a 'mon" are going to be frustrated by the skill required to do those things in Soul Hackers.

    There is one unusual game mechanic in Soul Hackers that is unique to the Devil Summoner series: Loyalty. Demons have varying personalities, and these affect how they react to different commands; giving the demon commands they dislike will often result in loss of loyalty, which in turn increases the chance of future disobedience. However, once the player acquires even a superficial understanding of the quirks of the six personalities, the mechanic loses most of its frustration-factor. In short, most demons can either be appeased with gift items that are commonly dropped by enemies, can be easily "farmed" up to max loyalty in one or two battles simply by repeatedly giving their preferred command, or can be given Sake to (briefly) change their personalit6y and make it easier to "farm" their loyalty. Once at max loyalty, demons almost never disobey, so it is no longer problematic once you get acquainted with the system.

    Overall, the game has good voice acting, decent are, some nice fully-animated cut-scene sequences, and loads of interesting demons to use and battle, each complete with a background page in the compendium--basically, like a demonic pokedex. (very fun to read). Pros and cons as follows:
    Pros:
    -Good voice acting
    -Numerous options to adjust difficulty, allowing less-experienced players to enjoy the game
    -Good art/music
    -Good characters, and a decent story that unfolds around them.
    -Tons of demons, many with unique and interesting skills and spells to try out.
    -huge world to explore, with several intricate and amusing side-quests

    Cons:
    -Demon fusion can be irritating in some ways; for example, the "search" function is antiquated and not as well-designed as later titles (like Devil Survivor), and demons' skill inheritance is finicky and annoying.
    -Menu interface shows its age; while it can be partially excused as, essentially, a ported SNES game, the menu design has some very annoying aspects. For example, you can view a list of your demons' skills from the menu, but you can't see their effect description unless you're already in battle.
    -While not as bad as it may seem to impatient newcomers, the Loyalty system has its share of problems; namely, Calm demons, which cannot be bribed to raise loyalty, and have no specific "preferred" actions... instead, they like you to pick the "best" or "smart" move as determined by the computer, which is often so subjective that raising their loyalty is a guessing game. They can still be given Sake to simplify things, but that costs money and requires a trip to the shop.

    So, all in all, 8/10. The 'cons' section may have a higher word-count than the 'pros,' but the cons are limited to specific annoyances and frustrations that don't affect enjoyment of the game much in the long run. Not really the best SMT game for beginners, and maybe not even the best SMT game in this style (Strange Journey actually fixed most of the cons back in Nintendo DS days, though it lacked voice acting and had no difficulty options), but a great experience for anyone who is a fan of Atlus' style of dungeon-crawlers.    … Expand
  12. shokaiko
    Oct 15, 2020
    6
    After beating Persona 5 I got interested in the SMT series and decided to try other games. I did not expect much tbh but I was exited to try this game and for the first few hours I was having fun, but after 30 hours of playing this game I was forcing myself to keep going. Once I reached Algon Main pretty much at the end of the game I just couldn't keep playing, that dungeon is one of theAfter beating Persona 5 I got interested in the SMT series and decided to try other games. I did not expect much tbh but I was exited to try this game and for the first few hours I was having fun, but after 30 hours of playing this game I was forcing myself to keep going. Once I reached Algon Main pretty much at the end of the game I just couldn't keep playing, that dungeon is one of the worst things I've ever played through so tedious and boring. Never going to finish this one, that's for sure.
    I can see a hardcore fan loving this game but for someone like me who just wanted a fun gaming experience this was not it.

    Overall it's an above average game.    … Expand
  13. Maverick_63
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    Es un grandioso exponente del trabajo experimental y arriesgado que Atlus imprime a sus obras. Uno de los mejores RPG de 3DS y una excelente forma de entrar al universo de Shin Megami Tensei. Recomiendo jugarlo para entender el porque esta Saga y sus sub sagas son tan queridas por los amantes del rol japones.
  14. INU4SH4
    Jun 23, 2020
    9
    It surprises me how low this game is rated. Soul Hackers is one of the best 3DS JRPG games I played so far. it's hard to believe a game like this was originally released in 97' and plays and plays and looks so good today. This port was truly a success and a complete surprise for me. For the incredibly cheap price tag, I never expected anything as good as this.

    The story feels unique and    It surprises me how low this game is rated. Soul Hackers is one of the best 3DS JRPG games I played so far. it's hard to believe a game like this was originally released in 97' and plays and plays and looks so good today. This port was truly a success and a complete surprise for me. For the incredibly cheap price tag, I never expected anything as good as this.

    The story feels unique and its cyberpunk futuristic esthetic is just incredible and makes this a game on par with the great of its series like SMT Nocturne and P4G. Most characters were pretty good as well and some performed some fine roles in this plot.

    I guess its merciless and punishing combat is not for everyone. You have to really enjoy hardcore JRPG games. You have tons of demons and skills at your disposal so if you've ever played other SMT games before you probably know how to maximize their use and breeze through the dungeons. The game might feel a bit unfair at times but to be honest, as long as you get a good melee weapon for your protagonist and pump up every Nemissa skill point into magic and intelligence you can wreak havoc.

    I definitely recommend this gem to every SMT fan who owns a 3DS.It's dirt-cheap and it beats every other SMT game in this console.    … Expand
  15. DebiSamaMan
    Jul 4, 2020
    9
    Amazing game!! Playing this after coming off of Devil Summoner 1 did not disappoint.......... the music is great, atmosphere is great, combat is great, characters are great, story are great play it its epic
  16. MunhozMCM
    Oct 20, 2022
    6
    My Score:

    (6) - Fine.

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Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best 3DS Game of 2013
22
#22 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2013
19
#19 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 46
  3. Negative: 1 out of 46
  1. XGN
    Nov 15, 2013
    50
    Quite a difficult game, but it still has it charms. However, it feels outdated – it came out in Japan in 1997 – and it can overcome that fact. The voice acting is really magnificent in this game, but that’s one of those spare pros.
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  2. games(TM)
    Nov 14, 2013
    70
    There is a steep learning curve within Soul Hackers. [Issue#141, p.111]
  3. The Digital Fix
    Nov 11, 2013
    70
    Fans of retro JRPGs will find a lot to like in a game that at its core is quite traditional despite the unusual atmosphere and complex gameplay mechanics.
    Read full review
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