Initial release date: June 14, 2024
Genres: Role-playing video game, Adventure game, Adventure
Developers: Atlus, Atlus West
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S
Publishers: Atlus USA, Sega, SEGA of America
Series: Megami Tensei
In 2021, Shin Megami Tensei V debuted on the Nintendo Switch to widespread praise from critics and was even nominated for RPG of the year. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, the definitive edition, is currently playable on Xbox, therefore the developers Atlus must have thought there was potential for improvement. In addition to being available on many platforms, the original offering includes a new plot and a tonne of additional features to improve the overall experience.
Is Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance a worthwhile game for both new and seasoned gamers, or does it fall short of what was anticipated?
A worthwhile endeavor?
In Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, the life of a student in Tokyo is about to take a drastic turn. Following a graphic murder at Shinagawa Station, you, the protagonist, wind yourself going on an impromptu stroll in Takanawa Tunnel. You are rendered unconscious when the tunnel collapses and you awaken in an odd, gloomy-looking location. Da’at is a post-apocalyptic wasteland where a variety of deadly demons can be found. Thankfully, Aogami, a male, helps out, and you two combine to become a Nahobino, a mix of a human and a demon.
In essence, everything revolves around a fierce conflict between the forces of light and dark, with the world’s destiny riding on the result. However, the decision you make at the beginning determines how it all turns out, as it puts you on either the traditional Canon of Creation path or the new Canon of Vengeance storyline. The former depicts the battle between angels and demons, while the later quickly veers off course due to the appearance of a new ally and the self-preserving, all-female demonic gang Qadištu, who obstruct everything that is happening.
Regardless of the path you choose, the cutscenes with their endearing characters, dramatic background score, and top-notch voice acting will undoubtedly catch your attention. But when you attempt to get acquainted with the realm’s lore, you really need to pay attention because the story is somewhat difficult to understand. Because of how infrequently you and everyone else’s interactions advance the plot, it also lacks some character development. Even still, it’s great that there are two large plots, and what matters most is whether the gameplay can keep everything cohesive.
Indeed, it can, given how incredibly addicting it is.
Missions to absorb
When you first enter Da’at, you’ll explore the ruined terrain in search of the key objectives and engage in combat with demons. But before I go into the tackling battle part, let me just say that there are a ton of other stuff that I think you would find interesting. You may encounter a variety of odd demons in the sub-quests, who will send you on fetching, hunting, and even time-sensitive missions. Strange portals called Abscesses unleash a barrage of demons before posing a more difficult final challenge, which, if won, will bring it to an end permanently.
Apart from the conflict-oriented activities, there are a lot of other things to discover. Unique shells with essences for education, statues of demons with the remains of defeated foes, treasure troves, and profitable artifacts. Finding the tiny Miman animals that have been concealed in the most unusual places is probably the most enjoyable part, as it actively promotes exploration in exchange for pleasant rewards. With so many shortcuts and secret regions accessible through the recently added Magatsu Rails, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about having to go back and search for anything. It’s incredibly simple to become distracted and stray for extended periods of time.
Regarding the fighting, as soon as you start Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, you and the enemy take turns trying to deplete each other’s health bars. A basic assault, skills that deplete the finite MP supply, equipment, the ability to guard, skip a turn, or run are the available options. There aren’t many easy targets in this game, so having an extra turn for performing critical hits and using skills that take advantage of an elemental weakness might be very helpful.
You really do need a squad, so you have to enlist demons to carry out your orders. Simply striking up a conversation with an opponent in an effort to win them over with words may be rather fun. Some, on the other hand, aren’t interested in interacting and instead want gifts of all kinds, MP, Macca (the currency), and health. However, in order for three allies to support you in combat and potentially improve your chances, certain requirements must be met.
Organize your celebration
Taking charge of the gathering is essential for success, and members are frequently switched around based on the challenges that lie ahead. The fact that demons now have natural abilities that are passively active could be quite beneficial. When things get hard, using one to increase fire attacks or provide teammates with ice resistance can make a big difference. Heck, some demon combos can now do incredibly strong maneuvers thanks to the new Magatsuhi Skills.
Regarding demons, the assortment of them that you will encounter, enlist, or generate through fusions is simply remarkable. There are a staggering 270+ demons in total, which is more than forty more than in the original SMTV. Expect to come across ghostly entities, nasty monsters, fairies, deities, serpents, wargods, and more. They are divided into a variety of races. They have a wide range of elemental and support talents in their arsenal, but their strengths and limitations are different.
A few of the characters you’ll encounter are the cunningly seductive Mermaid, the boar-like Zhu Tun She, the blacksmith yokai Ippon-Datara, and the Puss in Boots cosplaying as Cait Sith. They are also all visually varied. Some of them are recognizable from previous Atlus titles, such as Soul Hackers 2, but they’ve been given a slight facelift, which is kind of neat. In the recently added Demon Haunt area, which serves as a relaxed gathering spot to strengthen your relationships, you can even get to know their personalities.
When the large bosses appear, the absolute minimum is leveling up Nahobino and other allies through the various activities, collecting a variety of demons, and being tactical with every move. Nobody wants to lose their entire squad due to a single mistake. The brutality of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is part of its allure, even on the Casual difficulty. It feels so good to defeat the most challenging and formidable opponents. You’ll be forced by the challenge to frequently switch up the festivities and keep things interesting.
A really captivating role-playing game
A lot of the new features have already been noted, but there are a lot of little details that just improve the overall experience. The ability to save at any location is literally life-saving when it comes to preventing needless progress loss. It’s also a wonderful touch to be able to fight alongside a variety of human personalities. A somewhat crisper mini-map, the ability to read tutorial pop-ups again at any time, and the auto-skill fight option—which lets the AI handle easier confrontations—are some other minor but noteworthy changes.
In the end, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a very captivating turn-based role-playing game that will captivate both new and seasoned gamers for many hours. Together with a plethora of awesome additions and enhancements, there’s an absurd amount of content and a massive demon lineup to battle. Even though Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance’s storytelling isn’t flawless, the rest of the game more than makes up for it.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 88%
Story – 85%
Aesthetics – 90%
Content – 87%
Accessibility – 75%
Value – 88%
Overall Rating – 86%
Excellent
Summary: Make time in your calendar for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, a truly amazing game that is well worth your time.