Shin Megami Tensei II cover art

Shin Megami Tensei II

Dystopian sequel where fusing the right demons and routing alignments matters far more than reflexes.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION1 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    1/10

    Menu-driven combat; no dexterity needed.

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    Scripted bosses and random negotiation, never adaptive.

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    5/10

    Negotiation and encounter RNG stay swingy throughout.

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    8/10

    Fusion planning and alignment routing dominate outcomes.

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

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Game details

Released
1994
Developer
Atlus
Franchise
Megami Tensei
Platforms
Wii, WiiU, Switch, SFAM
Modes
Single player
IGDB users
80/100
Role-playing (RPG)SimulatorTurn-based strategy (TBS)AdventureFantasyScience fictionThrillerWarfare