Review: Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Reaches Its True Potential

Atlus video games are the heartbeat of my love for gaming, be it Persona or Shin Megami Tensei. Nevertheless, the unique Shin Megami Tensei V severely upset me by way of its empty world, forgettable characters, bland storyline, and lackluster efficiency. Thankfully, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the true definitive model, addressing all of my issues after which some.

In some points, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is akin to what Apocalypse is to SMT IV, as it’s a higher sport with a stronger story in the identical world, but additionally distinctive on the similar time. For essentially the most half, Vengeance is the sport this JRPG ought to have been from the beginning. I’ll go forward and say it proper now. Exterior of 100% finishing the JRPG, there isn’t a motive to return to the unique Canon of Creation storyline.

The brand new Canon of Vengeance path feels significantly better in each single facet. The beginning of the story is just about equivalent to the unique plot, however with some neat twists. For one, you get new characters like Yoko who accompany the participant from fairly early within the story. This is likely one of the greatest adjustments in Vengeance, as the sport feels way more alive with frequent character improvement. A lot of the plot has not less than one, if not two, different folks journeying alongside the Nahobino. They will even optionally combat alongside you in battle, Persona-style, should you so select, however they don’t need to.

Feedback and interjections from celebration members like Yoko on the primary plot factors, developments, and even facet quests are a welcome addition. They really feel so pure, resembling musing over whether or not or not I ought to’ve helped out a specific demon in a facet quest. This makes replaying the virtually equivalent first half of this JRPG a lot extra vibrant and thrilling. It didn’t really feel like trudging via this barren open wasteland with out a lot objective. I needed to maintain going to see how the story would change or what Yoko and others needed to say about my selections.

With out delving into spoilers an excessive amount of, the plot of Canon of Vengeance is stable from begin to considerably awkward end. The spotlight of the unique SMT V for me was the primary dozen hours or so. Adventuring via the preliminary Da’at space felt thrilling and mysterious within the authentic, plus the extra horror-like highschool dungeon part afterward felt like the height a part of the story. Thankfully, Canon of Vengeance takes the very best components of the forged from that preliminary dozen hours I beloved and included it all through the remainder of the sport. You spend a lot extra time with the entire forged members in the primary story. This even typically occurs via limited-time facet quests that flesh them out extra.

SMT V: Vengeance fully modified my perspective on sure characters. I gained’t spoil issues right here. Nevertheless, I went from disliking them within the authentic to now loving them. There are even some characters I nonetheless hate, however with an much more burning ardour than earlier than as a result of that they had the right time to develop their motivations higher and earn that ire.

Even higher but, there’s a model new space unique to Canon of Vengeance. Thankfully, it’s also the very best open-world space to discover as effectively. Gamers can now go to Shinjuku in Da’at. This space is completely huge. You begin out within the attractive, purple-themed Shibuya, and also you actually journey from that ward all the way in which to Shinjuku. The world is a refreshing break from the opposite areas. It’s so detailed and simply retains going. The truth is, it trades out the Chiyoda map on this story path, which I felt was by far essentially the most annoying space within the authentic, in order that made me joyful as effectively.

The one actual draw back to the Canon of Vengeance storyline is the ending. There are two new endings to unlock on this sport, and so they felt a bit lackluster to me. They didn’t essentially transfer the needle as a lot as I might have appreciated, particularly with every part else this model adjustments.

In the case of the gameplay, although, we see the basic turn-based Press Flip system at work with some minor, however useful, enhancements. You decide to assault, use expertise that value MP, defend, and so forth every flip. These tactical battles are simply as difficult, freeform, and classy as earlier than. That stated, there are much more final Magatsuhi Expertise to unlock and use in battle, and also you’ll need them, too. In any case, the brand new Canon of Vengeance storyline felt way more difficult than the bottom sport with its new bosses.

There may be an early boss, for example, who has a weak spot to bodily, however nullifies principally every part else. You’d suppose this is able to make for a swift and breezy combat then, proper? Simply mash away the assault button or use bodily expertise and also you’ll acquire further turns, so it sounds fairly straightforward. Properly, the boss makes up for its weak spot with unbelievably highly effective assaults and varied standing results. These expertise almost obliterated my early celebration on the Regular problem. This continues via the remainder of the sport with every boss really forcing the participant to reevaluate their workforce and make use of the Essences to alter resistances, expertise, and the like.

Taking part in this sport on the PS5 meant the battles had been a lot smoother and swifter than ever earlier than as effectively. The body fee was regular it doesn’t matter what I used to be doing, together with exploration. Talking of which, the exploration felt way more participating. That is very true with the neat quality-of-life options like new open-world shortcuts you’ll find and unlock.

This made me need to uncover each inch of every open map space and discover each secret. I truly needed to do each facet quest as effectively, particularly the brand new ones. A lot of the newer optionally available content material has fast, witty, and intriguing storylines value trying out. There may be one recurring facet quest storyline following the Hare of Inaba eager to stronger, which I adored. There are much more experimental quests the place you possibly can briefly tackle the position of demons. One in all my favorites was this puzzling and comedic whodunnit case.

On the whole, the demons have way more fascinating personalities than ever earlier than. That is seen via the facet quests and the brand new Demon Hang-out space. This new location lets gamers work together with demons, give them items, and obtain items in return. It nearly appears like a really mild bond system with the demons and different celebration members. This all added a pleasant contact. Even a number of the earlier DLC from the bottom sport feels extra naturally built-in into the world. This even contains the beloved Return of the True Demon facet quest.

In the long run, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance completed precisely what I hoped for. It took the messy base sport, made it look and play higher, and expanded upon each single facet. This leads to a cultured and at last full expertise value (re)visiting. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance reaches its full potential in nearly each approach potential and now confidently stands toe-to-toe with its predecessors.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance releases for Nintendo Change, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X/S, and PC on June 14, 2024.