Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
Encyclopedia
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2, known in Japan as , is a direct sequel to the video game Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
, directly continuing the story where it left off. The game marks as the final chapter in the series and answers certain questions left from the open-ended prequel. In 2010, Digital Devil Saga 2 and its predecessor Digital Devil Saga topped RPGFan's "Top 20 RPGs of the Last Decade" list.
on a quantum level. The Embryon tribe have emerged from the Junkyard with physical bodies due to the intervention of God. In the real world, the sun has turned black, resembling an eclipse
, and sent out malignant "solar data", causing those exposed to be petrified. People with the Demon Virus, however, are immune. Cielo is taken hostage by the Lokapala, a resistance group against the powerful Karma Society, which sends out soldiers possessing the Demon Virus to harvest humans to devour. The Embryon manage to convince the Lokapala's leader, Roland, to free Cielo and join the team, and are also accompanied by Fred, the son of the former leader.
The Embryon infiltrate the Karma Society's city, which is protected by a giant sun-shield. After releasing all the prisoners from the Detention Facility, they try to rescue Sera from the Medical Ward, but discover a trap set up by Madame Cuvier, the Society's leader, who has brainwashed Heat into fighting the party. While Cuvier plans to impose a new world order, she is secretly opposed by Jenna Angel, the Chief Technical Director and antagonist of the previous game, who wants to use the Demon Virus to weed out the weak.
The Embryon reach the E.G.G., a giant device used to communicate with God
, and rescue Sera; however, Heat shows up and critically wounds Serph, sending them both into the device itself. As God begins to absorb the entire planet, Angel murders the despondent Cuvier. The remaining team shut down the Power Plant, but are unable to stop the E.G.G.. Angel releases Meganada, which Roland and Argilla sacrifice themselves to kill, and Sera gains Serph's Atma. The team re-enters the distorted E.G.G. facility and defeat Heat's new form. Serph, who was kept alive by the device, has details about the past revealed to him by a black cat named Schrödinger
.
A group of scientists founded the Karma Society to study God. Children who had the psychic ability to speak with God were located, and the scientists created the E.G.G. to enhance their power. However, many of the children were driven insane from prolonged exposure to God and die. Only one survived: candidate number 19, a girl named Sera. One of the scientists, Heat O'Brien, rebelled against the project because of Serph's unethical treatment of the test subjects. A fight ensued, and Sera accidentally witnessed Serph's true, evil nature, which he had hidden from her. After God felt Sera's sadness, he caused the sun to turn black and flooded the world with data, turning people into stone. Serph, becoming a demon, devoured his colleagues. Due to Sera's direct link with God, the data of many of those who perished was "copied" into the Junkyard, creating new AI programs.
A virtual paradise was created by Sera to escape from the pain she felt having to live in the real world. Every person and every location are copies of what she had seen in her life or things she wanted to see. Her perceived personalities of Serph and Heat are polar opposites of their actual personalities, due to Serph's manipulation. However, the military found out about her virtual world and demanded that she turn it into a battle simulation program for developing combat AIs; thus her paradise became the Junkyard. Jenna Angel later used the Junkyard as a testing ground for her Demon Virus. Sera entered the Junkyard to try to stop her, as the human personalities of the AIs within began to awaken.
The Embryon rush to the airport in a final gambit for survival. Gale perishes while killing Angel, while Cielo dies protecting Serph and Sera's fighter jet. The two arrive at the HAARP
facility, beaming their individual data to the sun, and, in the process, merging to form a supreme being called Seraph. Reunited as solar data, the team makes a final plea to God for salvation. Defeating Brahman
, they are able to calm God and return the sun to normal. Seraph, reaching enlightenment
, travels with Schrödinger to a different universe, while the others are reincarnated as children on the renewed Earth, with their caretaker and narrator revealed to be Fred.
A comic anthology was also published by Japanese fans of the game series. Inserting humorous plot twists related to the game's story progress.
except for the ending song composed by nao and arranged by Koichi Yusa. The soundtrack was released on December 22, 2005 by Five Records as discs 3&4 of the 4-disc set DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA ~Avatar Tuner~ 1 & 2 Original Sound Track: Integral. However, the soundtrack is missing several tracks notably the piano version of Atonement and the battle theme which is played against Jack Frost and Omoikane.
A CD containing a selection of tracks was provided as a preorder bonus with the NA release. The same CD was bundled with the European Collector's Edition when it was released.
Opening Song
Ending Song
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga, known in Japan as , is a PlayStation 2 role-playing game developed by Atlus and first released in Japan on July 15, 2004...
, directly continuing the story where it left off. The game marks as the final chapter in the series and answers certain questions left from the open-ended prequel. In 2010, Digital Devil Saga 2 and its predecessor Digital Devil Saga topped RPGFan's "Top 20 RPGs of the Last Decade" list.
Gameplay
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 retains the "Press Turn" battle system from the previous installment. The mantra grid was altered and enhanced into a hex grid - when one skill is unlocked, the surrounding skills can be unlocked as well. More enemy types are included, as well as a "Karma Ring" system in which Karma Rings can be equipped to add stat boosts to characters. These can be customized using gems. In the new Berserk Mode, the characters enter a half-human, half-demon state, giving them high critical rates, but also increased vulnerability.Plot
Before the game begins, it is explained that everything in the real world was discovered to be composed of dataData
The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...
on a quantum level. The Embryon tribe have emerged from the Junkyard with physical bodies due to the intervention of God. In the real world, the sun has turned black, resembling an eclipse
Eclipse
An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer...
, and sent out malignant "solar data", causing those exposed to be petrified. People with the Demon Virus, however, are immune. Cielo is taken hostage by the Lokapala, a resistance group against the powerful Karma Society, which sends out soldiers possessing the Demon Virus to harvest humans to devour. The Embryon manage to convince the Lokapala's leader, Roland, to free Cielo and join the team, and are also accompanied by Fred, the son of the former leader.
The Embryon infiltrate the Karma Society's city, which is protected by a giant sun-shield. After releasing all the prisoners from the Detention Facility, they try to rescue Sera from the Medical Ward, but discover a trap set up by Madame Cuvier, the Society's leader, who has brainwashed Heat into fighting the party. While Cuvier plans to impose a new world order, she is secretly opposed by Jenna Angel, the Chief Technical Director and antagonist of the previous game, who wants to use the Demon Virus to weed out the weak.
The Embryon reach the E.G.G., a giant device used to communicate with God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, and rescue Sera; however, Heat shows up and critically wounds Serph, sending them both into the device itself. As God begins to absorb the entire planet, Angel murders the despondent Cuvier. The remaining team shut down the Power Plant, but are unable to stop the E.G.G.. Angel releases Meganada, which Roland and Argilla sacrifice themselves to kill, and Sera gains Serph's Atma. The team re-enters the distorted E.G.G. facility and defeat Heat's new form. Serph, who was kept alive by the device, has details about the past revealed to him by a black cat named Schrödinger
Schrödinger's cat
Schrödinger's cat is a thought experiment, usually described as a paradox, devised by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. It illustrates what he saw as the problem of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics applied to everyday objects. The scenario presents a cat that might be...
.
A group of scientists founded the Karma Society to study God. Children who had the psychic ability to speak with God were located, and the scientists created the E.G.G. to enhance their power. However, many of the children were driven insane from prolonged exposure to God and die. Only one survived: candidate number 19, a girl named Sera. One of the scientists, Heat O'Brien, rebelled against the project because of Serph's unethical treatment of the test subjects. A fight ensued, and Sera accidentally witnessed Serph's true, evil nature, which he had hidden from her. After God felt Sera's sadness, he caused the sun to turn black and flooded the world with data, turning people into stone. Serph, becoming a demon, devoured his colleagues. Due to Sera's direct link with God, the data of many of those who perished was "copied" into the Junkyard, creating new AI programs.
A virtual paradise was created by Sera to escape from the pain she felt having to live in the real world. Every person and every location are copies of what she had seen in her life or things she wanted to see. Her perceived personalities of Serph and Heat are polar opposites of their actual personalities, due to Serph's manipulation. However, the military found out about her virtual world and demanded that she turn it into a battle simulation program for developing combat AIs; thus her paradise became the Junkyard. Jenna Angel later used the Junkyard as a testing ground for her Demon Virus. Sera entered the Junkyard to try to stop her, as the human personalities of the AIs within began to awaken.
The Embryon rush to the airport in a final gambit for survival. Gale perishes while killing Angel, while Cielo dies protecting Serph and Sera's fighter jet. The two arrive at the HAARP
High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program
The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program is an ionospheric research program jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ....
facility, beaming their individual data to the sun, and, in the process, merging to form a supreme being called Seraph. Reunited as solar data, the team makes a final plea to God for salvation. Defeating Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
, they are able to calm God and return the sun to normal. Seraph, reaching enlightenment
Enlightenment (spiritual)
Enlightenment in a secular context often means the "full comprehension of a situation", but in spiritual terms the word alludes to a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God, profound spiritual...
, travels with Schrödinger to a different universe, while the others are reincarnated as children on the renewed Earth, with their caretaker and narrator revealed to be Fred.
Manga
A manga of Digital Devil Saga titled Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner - Shinen no Matou was released in Japan in 2005 which was published by Jive. The story revolves around a new cast of characters not related to that of the game series. The manga however, was completed only in one volume and was not licensed outside Japan.A comic anthology was also published by Japanese fans of the game series. Inserting humorous plot twists related to the game's story progress.
Japanese
- Kenji NojimaKenji Nojimais a Japanese seiyū who was born in Tokyo. He is employed by Japanese voice talent agency Aoni Production. He is the son of veteran seiyū Akio Nojima and is the younger brother of seiyū Hirofumi Nojima...
as Serph Sheffield - Hikaru MidorikawaHikaru Midorikawais a Japanese voice actor from Otawara, Tochigi who is represented by Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Softon in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Tamahome in Fushigi Yugi, Seiran Shi in Saiunkoku Monogatari, Heero Yuy in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Kaede Rukawa in Slam Dunk, Zelgadis Greywords in...
as Heat - Houko KuwashimaHouko Kuwashimais a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is capable of playing a variety of roles, ranging from young boys to feminine women. Kuwashima is currently affiliated with Aoni Production. Her given name, , is sometimes misread as Noriko, even in Japan...
as Sera/Seraph - Yumi Touma as Argilla
- Hori Hideyuki as Gale
- Hiroaki MiuraHiroaki Miurais a Japanese voice actor from Nagano Prefecture. He is affiliated with the studio Aoni Production and has starred in several voice-over roles for anime, video games, and film since 1998.-Anime:* Air Master...
as Cielo - Kanna Nobutoshi as Roland
- Naomi Shindo as Fred
- Michie TomizawaMichie Tomizawais a Japanese voice actress born in Nagano and raised in Takasaki, Gunma. Her real name is .She is most known for the roles of Matsuzaka-Sensei , Linna Yamazaki , Rei Hino/Sailor Mars , Sumire Kanzaki , and Emi Ogasawara .Tomizawa retired from voice acting before getting married in 2002...
as Jenna Angel - Hiroko EmoriHiroko Emoriis a Japanese voice actress whose works for Aoni Production.-Notable voice roles:*Armitage III as Bronski*BS Tantei Club: Yuki ni Kieta Kako as both Toshie and Sachi Tachibana*Caroline the car in the Japanese version of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends...
as Margot Cuvier - Banjo GingaBanjo Ginga, sometimes credited as his real name , is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Kofu, Yamanashi. Ginga is currently affiliated with Aoni Production...
as Terrence E. Beck
English
- Yuri LowenthalYuri LowenthalYuri Lowenthal is a voice actor that has voiced several anime and video game characters. He also voiced Kamal for the alternate reality game I Love Bees....
as Serph Sheffield - Crispin FreemanCrispin FreemanCrispin McDougal Freeman is an American voice actor, and Mythology scholar. His roles have included Alucard from Hellsing, Kyon from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Karasu from Noein, Togusa from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, as Holland Novak from Eureka Seven, Touga Kiriyu in...
as Heat - Wendee LeeWendee LeeWendee Lee is an American voice actress. While she has done voice work for many video games as well as several episodes in the Power Rangers franchise, she is particularly prolific in the dubbing of anime. As of April 2009, with 223 credits to her name, she has more credits in this medium than any...
as Sera/Seraph - Amanda Winn Lee as Argilla
- Steven Jay Blum as Gale
- Dave WittenbergDave WittenbergDavid Richard Paul "Dave" Wittenberg is a prolific South African-born American video game and anime voice actor with nearly one hundred titles to his credit. While Wittenberg was born in a hospital in South Africa, he was primarily raised in Boston...
as Cielo - Kirk ThorntonKirk ThorntonKirk Thornton is an American voice actor.-Bio:He is known for playing tough or grouchy men in English-dubbed anime and video games. His career includes Hotohori in Fushigi Yūgi and Jin in Samurai Champloo...
as Roland - Mary Elizabeth McGlynnMary Elizabeth McGlynnMary Elizabeth McGlynn is an American voice actress, ADR director, writer, and singer best known for her extensive English-language dubbing of various anime, and her singing in multiple games from the Silent Hill series, as well as the movie adaptation and Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME. She has...
as Jenna Angel - Bob PapenbrookBob PapenbrookRobert DeWayne "Bob" Papenbrook was an American voice actor. Fellow voice actors often nicknamed him "Pappy". He was very well known in the worlds of anime and video game voice-overs for his voice acting of "gruff" characters...
as Terrence E. Beck
Music
The soundtrack was entirely composed by Shōji MeguroShoji Meguro
is a Japanese video game composer and director who joined Atlus in 1996 and has composed music for many of their games, mainly those in the Megami Tensei series.-Biography:...
except for the ending song composed by nao and arranged by Koichi Yusa. The soundtrack was released on December 22, 2005 by Five Records as discs 3&4 of the 4-disc set DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA ~Avatar Tuner~ 1 & 2 Original Sound Track: Integral. However, the soundtrack is missing several tracks notably the piano version of Atonement and the battle theme which is played against Jack Frost and Omoikane.
A CD containing a selection of tracks was provided as a preorder bonus with the NA release. The same CD was bundled with the European Collector's Edition when it was released.
Opening Song
- ALIVE by Kayoko Momota
Ending Song
- Time Capsule by as
External links
- http://www.digitaldevildb.com General Megaten website with DDS and DDS2 sections
- Megaten Wiki A wiki devoted to Shin Megami Tensei games and spin-offs
- http://digitaldevilsaga2.co.uk Official Ghostlight Website for Digital Devil Saga 2