Digital Devil Saga 2

General information

Title in Japanese: デジタル・デビル・サーガ アバタール・チューナー2 (dejitaru debiru saaga abataaru chuunaa 2)

Japanese Releases:

  • PlayStation 2 on 27 January 2005.
  • PlayStation 2 on 23 March 2006 as a ‘PlayStation 2 the Best’ edition.

Western releases:

  • PlayStation 2 on 3 October 2005 in North America, published by Atlus.
  • PlayStation 2 on 16 February 2007 in Europe, published by Ghostlight.

Back cover (NA edition)

THE PROMISED LAND WAS NOTHING BUT A NEW HELL

Serph, leader of the Embryon, wanders aimlessly through the lifeless streets before him. In the Junkyard, his Tribe fought a gruesome war, hoping the light of heaven would relieve their suffering. In the end, Serph’s world vanished, along with the comrades who stood by him. All that awaited him in Nirvana were endless streets littered with the silent remains of human statues.

  • The thrilling conclusion to the critically acclaimed two-volume set!
  • Explore a brand new world full of conspiracy and danger!
  • Meet a new cast of characters! Are they friend or foe?
  • Tear into the new half-human, half-demon berserk mode!

[Note: the US version of DDS2 has a double-sided cover. One has Sera/Varna on the front, the other is yellow with the demonic Embryon standing atop a pile of corpses. The back is the same for both covers.]

Manual (NA edition)

STORY
A BLACK SUN BLEEDS DESPAIR ACROSS THE LAND OF NIRVANA…

Serph, leader of the Embryon, wanders aimlessly through the lifeless streets before him. In the Junkyard, his Tribe fought a gruesome war, hoping the light of heaven would relieve their suffering. In the end, Serph’s world vanished, along with the comrades who stood by his side.

All that awaited him in Nirvana were endless streets littered with the silent remains of human statues.

The Promised Land was nothing but a new hell… (p. 5)

CHARACTERS

The members of the Embryon and their Atma abilities are listed below.

THE EMBRYON
The only Tribe to emerge from the wasteland called The Junkyard. Believing Nirvana to be an endless paradise, they conquered all rival Tribes and ultimately defeated Angel at the top of the Karma Temple. Immediately afterward, a strange light shook the temple to its foundations, the Junkyard vanished, and the Embryon were separated.

Serph awakens in a Nirvana far different from his expectations. In this strange broken world, the leader of the Embryon sets off to find his comrades.

ATMA
The ability gained by inhabitants of the Junkyard which allowed them to transform into demons. The Temple declared this demonic power the true nature of an individual’s Karma. Those who gain Atma must devour their foes in order to survive. If one resists this urge for too long, he or she will permanently become a demon and suffer an insatiable hunger for blood. Those affected by Atma can be identified by the strange markings on their bodies. (p. 7)

Sera
The black-haired girl who appeared mysteriously after light swept the Junkyard. She seems to have amnesia, and was not wearing a tag ring when the Embryon found her (tag rings are required for identification, and every Tribe member wears one). Her singing can prevent others from changing into demons, and her forgotten memoires become increasingly important to Serph and the Embryon… There seems to be a connection between her, the Karma Temple and Nirvana.

Varnani
Goddess of night and water; as well as the female incarnation of Varna, creator of the Three Worlds. Sera’s demon form closely resembles Serph’s, and like his, is aligned with the water element. (p. 8)

Roland
The current leader of the Lokapala, a rebel group fighting against the Karma Society. The original leader of the group was a man named Greg, but upon his death, both his son Fred and the Lokapala passed into Roland’s care. Originally a classically educated author, Roland now drowns his sorrows in alcohol.

Indra
The god of heroes and lightning, who uses Vashura as a weapon. Indra has the power to control storms. He defeated Vritora and became king of the Three Worlds. Roland’s incarnation of Indra is aligned with electricity. (p. 9)

KEY TERMS

NIRVANA
The flawless, ideal land promised to one Tribe who conquered the Junkyard. However, the place Serph and the Embryon discover is nothing but an empty, dying world.

BLACK SUN
No longer yellow, an unknown phenomenon turned the sun pitch black. It began emitting Solar Data, which altered the atmosphere of the earth itself.

CUVIER SYNDROME
A strange condition in which the human body turns to stone after coming into contact with rays from the black sun, named after Margot Cuvier, the first scientist to research it. This epidemic cost many people their lives, and drove the human race underground to escape the sun’s harmful effects. Now, man sits on the verge of extinction.

KARMA CITY
A city controlled by the Karma Society. It’s the only place on the surface of the earth where humans can survive, due to the dome surrounding the city, protecting it from the black sun. It’s considered the world’s last paradise.

KARMA SOCIETY
A group of elite human beings sharing a common goal: the preservation of mankind. IN the current times of uncertainty, they have taken control of various institutions, including Karma City itself. The Karma Society is led by Madame Margot Cuvier, with Jenna Angel serving as second-in-command.

LOKAPALA
A rebel group lead by Roland. They live underground in Old Portland and believe that the only way to save the world is to depose the Karma Society. After hiding underground for years and losing their original leader, the Lokapala have grown exhausted and devoid of hope.

EMBRYON
The one Tribe who conquered the Junkyard and rose to Nirvana. Serph leads the Embryon with Gale serving as strategist. Other key members include Heat, Cielo, and Argilla.

AVATAR TUNER
Refers to humans with Atma poer, allowing them to transform into demons (called “Tuning”). All Karma Socitey Soldiers are imbued with this power.

SOLAR DATA
A phenomenon of the sun that affects demons in various ways. All humans who come in contact with it are immediately turned to stone, but not much is known beyond that. It’s transmitted through the sun’s rays, and its affects fluctuate in a cyclical pattern. (p. 40)