Shin Megami Tensei II

Shin Megami Tensei II kicks off in a postapocalyptic Tokyo, now called Center Millennium, a dystopian city ruled by a religious cult known as the Messians. If we assume it follows the Neutral ending of the first game (yes, it contains spoilers, so complete it first if you haven't), then this is what happens when that «utopia» goes wrong. The messians have created a rigid caste system where the poor suffer, and dissenters are crushed. You play as Aleph, a silent protagonist and a hunter in the slums, who gets dragged into a rebellion after a mysterious woman named Beth tasks him with assassinating the messiah, the one from the first game. Turns out, even in a «perfect» world, corruption thrives, and now you’re caught in a war between God’s forces, rogue demons, and human factions trying to survive.  

The story spirals into a wild ride of betrayals, cosmic horror, and philosophical debates. You’ll meet returning faces like the enigmatic Stephen, the creepy guy who runs the demon summoning program, and new allies like Hiroko, a scientist fighting the system. The plot twists hard, what starts as a simple mission turns into a battle over the fate of existence itself, with multiple endings that question whether Law, Chaos, or Neutral is the «right» path. Spoiler: none of them are sunshine and rainbows.  

SMT II builds on the first game’s foundation but polishes it up. The dungeon crawling is still brutal, expect maze layouts, random encounters every five steps, and enemies that’ll wreck you if you’re unprepared. The Press Turn system isn’t here yet (that’s a later thing ), but combat is strategic. You recruit demons through negotiation (some beg for money, others demand your HP, classic SMT jank), fuse them into stronger monsters, and exploit weaknesses to survive.  

The alignment system is back, and your choices matter. Help the Law factions? You’re siding with a tyrant. Embrace Chaos? You’re unleashing anarchy. Go Neutral? Congrats, you’re playing janitor for the universe! The game doesn’t hold back on consequences, and some endings are bleak as hell. The difficulty is unforgiving, but if you love tough, old school JRPGs, it’s satisfying as hell when you finally crush that boss who’s been stomping you for hours.  

This game oozes nihilism and existential dread. The endings from SMT I? Yeah, it’s a disaster here, this kingdom is a fascist nightmare, and the messiah you’re supposed to kill is a tragic figure stuck in the mess they helped create. Chaos isn’t much better, it’s bloody, Darwinian madness. The game forces you to ask: Is any ideology worth the cost? The writing is sharp, with gnostic and occult themes woven in, because of course there’s a YHVH boss fight.  

The atmosphere is oppressive, rusty slums, eerie synth music, and demons spouting cryptic philosophy. It’s not scary, but it’s kinda unsettling in a way few RPGs are. The pixel art is gritty, and the enemy designs range from cool (Cu Chulainn obviously) to nightmare fuel (Mara… just look it up).  

SMT II is a cult classic for a reason. It’s rough around the edges, the dungeons can feel tedious, the difficulty spikes are brutal, and the translation is… of its time. But if you can stomach the old-school jank, it’s a gripping, thought provoking ride. The story is darker and more complex than the first game, the demon collecting is satisfying, and the moral dilemmas hit hard. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re into bleak, philosophical RPGs with teeth, this one’s a must play. Just keep a guide handy, trust me, you’ll need it.

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