So like I stumble upon this theory on Tumblr and I thought I might as well share it here since its quite well thought of, at least I think so.
Devil Survivor 2 Time Loop Theory
Alright, I think to keep myself sane on why certain things are in the anime like how many people died or why Yamato is so mean and why the anime may seem like its a big waste of time…
I was thinking that because Devil Survivor 2: Break Records is going to be released soon and their would be an added plot, that this would tie in with the anime. I’ve been reading here on some Tumblr posts that the people in charge of the anime know what they’re doing. In all honestly, I want to believe that, so I came up with a theory on the plot. Ironically, it feels like I’m watching Madoka Magica again except gender reversed on both sides.
So my theory pertaining that there is a time loop going on (as in the game, you have the option to reset the timeline and start all over again) a time loop but instead of Hibiki repeating the time loop like people speculated at the beginning if he’s already able to summon Byakko, it’s Yamato that is going through the timeline. In this situation, Yamato is the Homura and Hibiki is the Madoka. If this is indeed the second timeline (or more), then Yamato might have already lost Hibiki due to bad decisions. This stems from how cold he is in the anime compared to his game counterpart. Hibiki might have chosen Daichi’s route or Rolando’s and probably died fighting Polaris. If Hibiki had a good relationship with Yamato in the previous time lines, then jumping to a different timeline would make sense. And this is the evidence I have to back it up so I’m not talking about of my ass.
* Yamato is shown to have an injury for using the Dragon Stream. This never happened in the game where he would bleed if he used his powers. If repeating multiple timelines injures him then he would be risking his life.
Notice how his phone is messed up? That shouldn’t be happening to someone like Yamato given how powerful he is.
The injury from EP 5.
The injury still seems to effect him in EP 9.
* Yamato gets a death clip of Hibiki despite the fact he hasn’t known Hibiki long enough to grow any emotional attachment (and with Hibiki going Leeroy Jenkins in the previous episode, he has no reason to think of him as nothing but a nuisance.) This explains why he freaks out. If he has gone through multiple timelines, then this hasn’t happened before thus he risks his life to save Hibiki.
**This is also supported by Alcor telling Hibiki that Yamato rushed over to take out Phecda to save his life. Yamato does not deny it and calls Alcor a “blabbermouth” instead. This would also mean that Alcor is aware of the time loops and/or is involved with throwing him into the timelines in the first place.
* Yamato is easily overpowered. Yes he is overpowered in the game, but Yamato can easily one shot the Septentriones on his own. He only needs one high level demon with him but he can also use two demons at once. This might not be good evidence but he can use Baal which is obtained after maxing out Yamato’s FATE route. For me I would see this as huge evidence in the anime because Hinako states that she uses Berserker in remembrance of Keita. Wouldn’t stop Yamato from doing the same thing especially if Hibiki and Yamato were close in the original timeline.
** This also extend to the characters particularly Hibiki. If this is a new timeline then similar to Madoka, I would think Hibiki maintains the power in the previous timeline and gets stronger. I also think it works in reverse as well. Let’s say Hibiki took Daichi’s route and was killed. If Yamato could manipulate the timeline, he might have deliberately made Daichi weaker so Hibiki would not consider taking Daichi’s route given how Daichi cannot pull his own weight. This also applies to Rolando. Yamato can’t even remember who Rolando is in the game despite Rolando opposing him the entire game. In the anime, he knows him almost immediately. I wouldn’t be surprised if he put Rolando in that situation so that would remove any chance of Hibiki taking his route and getting killed by Polaris. (Joe and Otome dying? Well, they do side with Rolando. Might as well kill everyone associated with him. Why would he get Keita killed though when Keita sides with him? Well Botis is generally nicer in the game yet he left Fumi to die. She sided with Yamato too. If Alcor is aware of the time loop, he would still have to oppose Yamato regardless if its to save Hibiki. So kill Keita. Then again, Botis went after Hibiki…)
* Yamato is just outright cruel to the group as a whole in this timeline and it seems to effect him. An easily missed moment in episode 9 ([url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlI2ANJiHoc&list=FLUBFK9x-lHlZxmUV33H3oIg&index=1[/url]) is when Airi is yelling at him, he seems to flinch at her words before Hibiki questions him about “shouldering the burden”. The entire banquet scene comes off as mean for Yamato. In the game, Yamato gave everyone the choice on who they wanted to side with. In the anime, he flat out tells them that if they can’t think of anything, then they have no choice but to join him. Yamato also constantly states he’s shouldering the burden of everyone. What happens if he wasn’t referring to those that died but if he was referring to multiple timelines? If he has seen everyone die particularly Hibiki of course he would refer himself as shouldering the burden. He also states that feeling sadness and anger is a waste of time. This takes the elevator scene in a different light. Yamato says he doesn’t care if Hibiki sees him as the enemy, he wants Hibiki by his side. He demands that Hibiki submit to him and when that doesn’t work, Yamato tells him that if he’s a sin, then Hibiki should pass judgement on him. (Also to be noted that the scowl on his face disappears when he calls Hibiki naive. Well if Hibiki chose the other routes and died because of it, then yes he’s naive. And another thing is he tells Hibiki that he’s the one shouldering everything (but Hibiki seems to think Yamato is referring to himself and says shouldering everything and accepting are two different things).
Is Yamato talking about himself or is he talking to Hibiki? If he’s talking about Hibiki, then Hibiki must have thought this way in past timelines.
Notice he goes from his usual scowling expression to a softer expression? Maybe its the way he lowers his chin but his tone of voice is noticeably much softer when he calls Hibiki naive. I don’t think this is an insult but probably a personality trait that Yamato is aware of.
So even if Hibiki views him as an enemy, he insists that Hibiki stays by his side…doesn’t that sound similar to what Homura told Madoka?
I’m probably going to be wrong, but this idea would probably keep some of you sane given how many people have died already and the constant paranoia that Yamato is going to die with all the death flags (that that shows up even in the ending with him all injured compared to everyone. This makes me wonder if the position of the characters have anything to do with it. Like Hibiki is in the front but Yamato is at the end injured. Maybe the ending foreshadows something like the Madoka Magica ending did with Homura’s silhouette turning around and reaching out to Madoka.
So what do you guys think? Is is possible or just load of crap?
wow no repplies here? ok i think it's possible ,it explained....
1.why Yamato is really determined to save Hibiki
2.why Yamato has side effect by using his superpoweeeer
3.Hibiki can summon Byakko and Suzaku
4.People in JP's already knows Hina and Airi is needed for summoning Kama and Shiva
and they already knew Io is the best sacrifice even Mizar have not yet come!
and many more..so the plotholes is finally explained!
if this anime goes just like that theory says,then i'll be really happy with this twist better than some wins because of nakamapawaaaaa
I'm not seeing how this time loop fits into the game plot.
For the routes where Yamato is able to die, does that mean he is actually not dead and teleports away?
Also how would you explain all the other endings in the game without Yamato in it after the group defeats Polaris?
Also I don't recall any of the summoners in the anime having to kill a demon to create their pact. They just came with demons already on their phone. This wasn't viable in the game. You always had to go through the subway tutorial in the beginning to get those 3 useless tutorial demons, which poor Daichi has been stuck with the entire series.
I do have to say, I was rather curious as to why Yamato was hurt after saving Hibiki. Although it might have been hiding it in the game since Yamato was mostly aloof to the player in the beginning. And even in the anime scene it was shown when Yamato was taking the JP train alone, with no one else to witness his injuries.
The time loop does sound a bit promising though... although the loop itself for the game is experienced by the player (i don't mean Hibiki, I mean the real life player), external from the game itself... only the player knows what actions to take or not to take for a particular outcome.
However, the game didn't really ever hint that it was ever talking to the player directly themselves. Unless if you consider the ambiguous error message you get if you ever fail a battle, or the after credits ending screen of 'let's survive'... which Hibiki seems to be repeating a lot in this anime.
