Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

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Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
デビルサマナー ソウルハッカーズDevil Summoner: Soul Hackers
SATPS3DS

Front cover of the Sega Saturn version

Front cover of the PlayStation version

Front cover of the Nintendo 3DS version

Developer(s) Atlus Research and Development 1
I.T.L.3DSNintendo 3DSCo-developer with Atlus
Publisher(s) Atlus
Genre RPG
Platform(s) Sega Saturn
PlayStation
Nintendo 3DS
Release
Sega Saturn
Japan November 13, 1997
PlayStation
Japan April 8, 1999
Nintendo 3DS
Japan August 30, 2012
United States of America April 16, 2013
Europe September 20, 2013
Australia September 26, 2013

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is a 1997 role-playing game for the Sega Saturn. It is the second installment in the Devil Summoner series. Developed and published by Atlus, the game made its debut in Japan on November 13, 1997.

In its narrative, Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers combines cyberpunk elements with occult themes, creating a distinctive and immersive gaming experience. Players navigate the futuristic city of Amami, encountering demons, hacking into computer systems, and unraveling a complex plot that intertwines technology and the supernatural. The game stands out for its engaging story-line, strategic turn-based battles, and the inclusion of the Devil Summoning System, allowing players to conjure and control demons to aid them in their quest.

Atlus has re-released this game twice. First, as a port for the PlayStation on April 8, 1999. This port was only released in Japan.

The second re-release was on Nintendo 3DS. It was released on August 30, 2012 in Japan, on April 16, 2013 in North America, September 20, 2013 in Europe, and September 26, 2013 in Australia. This remaster not only introduced enhanced graphics and additional content but also marked the first and only official release of Soul Hackers outside of Japan.

Soul Hackers received two sequels. The first is a direct sequel in Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers: Intruder, and the second is Soul Hackers 2.

Blurb

Sega Saturn

電脳の狭間に浮かぶ戦士達の魂･･･

PlayStation

シリーズおなじみの仲魔、会話、そして合体! Shirīzu onajimi no nakama, kaiwa, soshite gattai!

3DS

EnglishJapanese
Amami City, held up as a beacon of humanity's triumph of technology, harbors an infernal secret. In this would-be utopia, a group of hackers takes on a centuries-old mystic society to battle for control over the very fate of humanity...
待望の名作RPGが遂に登場。ハッカー集団『スプーキーズ』の仲間たちと、 巨大な陰謀から街を救え! Taibō no meisaku RPG ga tsui ni tōjō. Hakkā shūdan "supūkīzu" no nakama-tachi to, kyodai-na inbō kara machi o sukue!

Synopsis

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Gameplay

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Version Differences

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PlayStation

  • The opening movie has lower quality audio compared to the Saturn version.
  • Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers: Extra Dungeon is included.
  • There are some new lines of dialogue.
  • The graphics have had their color grading adjusted.
  • The background of the text window in dialogue scenes is not as translucent.
  • Support for the PocketStation peripheral was added.
  • The casino has been added to Paradigm X.

Nintendo 3DS

  • The protagonist's cell phone has its design updated.
  • Voice acting has been added for almost all dialogue in the Japanese version. Some audio was deleted in the English version.
  • Nemechi appears in the StreetPass mode, replacing Mechi and the PocketStation functionality.
  • COMP Hack features have been added.
  • A new opening cinematic has been added.
  • The Demon Compendium has been added.

Listings

Characters

Bosses

Demons

Resistance Types

Skills

Items

Equipment

Locations

Credits

Development

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Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers began development under the working title Devil Summoner 2.[1] The working title during development was Net Crisis.[2] They used Native American mythology as the source material because Kazuma Kaneko was obsessed with Native American culture at the time.[3]

Atlus was at one point planning an English localization of the PlayStation version of the game. In order to gauge interest in the game, Atlus created an email address that fans were encouraged to write to and voice their support for a localization.[4][5] Atlus took the idea to Sony of America for approval in early 1999 after the email petition campaign's success,[6] but the request was denied for unknown reasons and the localization was eventually cancelled.[7] The title Revelations Series: Soul Hacker appeared in the directory given to attendees of 1999's Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show, suggesting there were still plans for an English release as late as May 1999.[8]

For the Nintendo 3DS version, the English localization took approximately eight months, with the translation taking about a month.[9]

Trivia

  • According to Kazuma Kaneko, Soul Hacker's theme of Algonquin culture was inspired by the 1978 film The Manitou.[10] This film was also the inspiration for the silicon-based Cyber demons featured in the game.[11]
  • A trial version of Persona 2: Innocent Sin was included in the PlayStation release.
  • A trailer video of Shin Megami Tensei IV was included in the Nintendo 3DS release. This video can be viewed by selecting NEXT VISION from the title screen, and it appears to be exclusive to the Japanese version.
  • The Nintendo 3DS version was originally planned to be released officially in South Korea without being localized.[12]
  • The dummy data in the Nintendo 3DS version contains dialogue for a fusion sword shop, a fishing minigame, and a horse racing track.[13][14][15]

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language Name Meaning
English Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
Japanese デビルサマナー ソウルハッカーズ Debiru Samanā Souru Hakkāzu Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Page description: Character relations chart for what was then called Devil Summoner 2, dated March 10, 1997. Soul Hackers 25th Anniversary Book (2022), Nobuyuki Shioda et al.. Published by Atlus. p. 73.
  2. ↑ "たしか、開発中の仮タイトルも『ネットクライシス』となっていた。" Soul Hackers 25th Anniversary Book. Japanese. Page 93.
  3. ↑ "金子 インディアン好きだったんですよ、この時期。
    岡田 マイブーム(笑)。
    ― ちょうど1年ぐらい前が?
    金子 そうですね。昔のアメリカ映画を観てると、インディアンがよく出てきますよね。僕は、彼らに日本の忍者みたいなカッコよさを感じたんです。" Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Official Guidebook. Published by Aspect. Page 188.
  4. ↑ "In the U.S., Atlus is polling gamers on whether or not they'd like to see Soul Hackers (an RPG in the same universe as the Megami Tensei series) come to the States. You can get more information via Atlus' Web page (www.atlus.com) or by e-mailing [email protected]." "Good News/Bad News"Electronic Gaming Monthly. Published by Ziff Davis Media. English. Vol. 12 No. 114 p. 28. Cover date March 1999.
  5. ↑ "THE FACTS: Atlus asked gamers if they should bring the PlayStation version of Soul Hackers, an RPG from the makers of Persona, to the U.S. A special e-mail account was created where gamers could voice their support." , News Bits. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Published by Ziff Davis Media. English. Vol. 2 No. 16 p. 32. Cover date January 1999.
  6. ↑ "Gamers spoke out overwhelmingly in favor of the game and Atlus wants to do it, so now it's all up to Sony to decide whether they will approve it or not." , News Bits. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Published by Ziff Davis Media. English. Vol. 2 No. 16 p. 32. Cover date January 1999.
  7. ↑ "Bad News... for fans of RPGs. While Atlus has run Internet petitions to see if fans want Soul Hackers (a game from the same series as Persona) on the PlayStation in the U.S., and those were successful with many fans voicing support, Sony is unimpressed. Sony has not approved the game for release at this time." "Tidbits"Electronic Gaming Monthly. Published by Ziff Davis Media. English. Vol. 12 No. 116 p. 50. Cover date March 1999.
  8. ↑ Page description: Table listing a company, product, and booth number on each row. Revelations Series: Soul Hacker appears in the fifth row on the Sony section. E3 1999 Directory (1999), The E³ Team. Published by The E³ Team. p. 104.
  9. ↑ [1]. Archived: [2]. Retrieved December 5, 2025. technologytell.
  10. ↑ "ちなみにハッカーズがネイティブ・アメリカンなのは僕が1978年のホラー映画『マニトウ』が大好きだからです。" Kazuma Kaneko, [3]. Published July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026. X.
  11. ↑ "あの映画に出てくる”機械のマニトウ“がハッカーズのケイ素系生命体の発想の元なんですよ。" Kazuma Kaneko, [4]. Published July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026. X.
  12. ↑ [5]. Archived: Nintendo Direct Korean Presentation - October 31, 2012 (Part 2). Retrieved April 13, 2026. youtube.com.
  13. ↑ "おんな：いらっしゃい おもに合体剣を売っています" Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Nintendo 3DS). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. Japanese.
  14. ↑ "どのルアーをつかう？" Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Nintendo 3DS). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. Japanese.
  15. ↑ "中山競馬場について" Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Nintendo 3DS). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. Japanese.
Devil Summoner series
Video Games Devil Summoner • Soul Hackers • Soul Hackers 2 • Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army (Remastered) • Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Mobile Games Pinball: Judgment • Soul Hackers: Intruder • Soul Hackers: New Generation
Expansions Soul Hackers: Extra Dungeon
TV Series Devil Summoner
Audio Drama Raidou Kuzunoha vs. Sekigankashin
Novels Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Fūin Sareshi Tamashii • Gaiden: Chinkon no Aika • Yami no Sairin • Yami no Kyōgeki • Yami no Shūkyoku • Soul Hackers: Shito Kōrin • Soul Hackers: Nightmare of the Butterfly • Raidou Kuzunoha vs. Shibito Ekishi
Manga Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Lone Marebito
Supplementary
Material 		Devil Summoner: Akuma Zensho • Soul Hackers: Akuma Zensho Dainishū • Devil Summoner Digital Collection
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