Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Assessment (PS5)

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an enhanced re-release of Atlus’ 2021 dungeon-crawling RPG, initially unique to Nintendo Change, and makes its long-awaited debut on PS5 and PS4. It takes an ideal sport and makes it even higher with a slew of important quality-of-life enhancements, a shiny graphical improve, and a brand new storyline, all working at a constant 60 frames per second. That stated, it is a considerably extra hardcore expertise than gamers of Atlus’ different tentpole franchise, Persona, may anticipate. It’s extremely combat-heavy, with its dense narrative stretches, stuffed with pontification concerning the nature of God and demons, being few and much between.

Vengeance’s greatest draw is the brand new storyline, the Canon of Vengeance. It introduces many new characters to take care of and is extra partaking than the sport’s unique narrative, now often known as the Canon of Creation. Gamers are locked into one or the opposite from the beginning, taking over the position of a student-turned-demigod often known as the Nahobino. Whereas the Canon of Creation tells a extra conventional SMT story, primarily involved with the machinations of Heaven and Hell, the Canon of Vengeance introduces new antagonists within the type of a mysterious demon group often known as the Qadištu, as effectively all new companions, resembling Yoko Hiromine.

Each paths initially share a lot of the identical content material however diverge in a while, and the Canon of Vengeance has a couple of totally new endings. Atlus says a single playthrough will take gamers round 80 hours, which is correct; much less if you happen to performed the unique, are acquainted with its mechanics, or aren’t making an attempt to do every part. What’s fairly good is the addition of human visitor characters this time, who can combat alongside the Nahobino and captured demons, often chiming in with further story snippets.

Set in modern-day Tokyo, the protagonist is an odd high-school scholar who, after being caught up in a mysterious earthquake, finds himself within the post-apocalyptic Netherworld of Da’at, the place the everlasting battle between angels and demons rages. Nearly killed in an opportunity accident, he’s saved by a being often known as Aogami, with the 2 fusing to create a creature often known as the Nahobino, neither human nor demon and nearer in essence to a god. The stakes solely enhance from there, and the semi-open areas of Da’at correspond with precise areas of Tokyo, resembling Shinjuku and Yoyogi, and function dense open-air dungeons stuffed with demons to battle, converse with, or seize as you see match.

It is well-known that Persona is a subseries of the mainline Shin Megami Tensei franchise — however these evolutionary pathways diverged virtually 30 years in the past now. Whereas Persona has solely turn out to be extra in style, innovating and interesting to ever bigger audiences, SMT has stayed doggedly true to its roots, for higher or worse. Each sequence have points with pacing, but when Vengeance goes to be your first SMT sport, it is price realizing that fight and demon fusion is the main focus right here, and what you’ll spend the overwhelming majority of your time partaking in. Every little thing else is secondary.

Constructing upon the sequence’ Press Flip system of elemental exploitation, fight is a tense, turn-based affair the place a single mistake or lapse in focus can lead to a sport over. Gamers should try to focus on weaknesses and, by doing so, achieve extra turns to beat the enemy. The problem degree is sort of excessive, and calls for consideration of every transfer. After all, the devilish AI operates below the identical system and can ruthlessly exploit any weak spot that you simply current. If the Nahobino falls at any time, that is an instantaneous sport over, and so one unhealthy flip can seal your destiny.

Whereas high quality of life enhancements are hardly ever something price writing dwelling about, in SMT V: Vengeance, the inclusion of two, specifically, are genuinely game-changing: the flexibility to save lots of the sport anyplace and the flexibility to teleport again to the final visited Leyline Fount (quick journey factors / demon fusion stations, beforehand the one place the place you could possibly save) considerably reduces the quantity of backtracking required, and the frustration skilled when fight inevitably goes incorrect.

Already serving as a way more mature model of Pokémon, the addition of 40 new beasties in Vengeance means there at the moment are over 270 demons, with lots of the strongest solely out there by fusion. Demons born of fusion can inherit their former expertise, so you may spend a major period of time making an attempt to create new, extra highly effective monsters, tailoring them to beat the following progress-blocking boss. All these demons now have innate expertise, which can set off mechanically below the fitting circumstances, and new Magatsuhi expertise, which give particular demons distinctive assaults and are solely useable after filling the related gauge.

Demon conversations have obtained a little bit of a buff, and somewhat than being paper-scissors-rock-coded, they now embrace some genuinely stunning quizzes or minigames. Successful these battles of wits will lead to further EXP and Macca (cash) being awarded, and the Nahobino can now chain collectively consecutive battles for higher danger and reward. To assist within the necessary grinding, Auto-Battle has additionally obtained an overhaul and may now be divided between Auto-Assault and Auto-Ability, permitting gamers to preserve or spend MP as wanted. In the meantime, Magatsuhi Rails dot the setting, permitting simpler traversal and granting entry to secret areas.

If the Netherworld ever begins to get you down, Demon Haunts are newly added locations of respite, the place the Nahobino can work together with the demons below their command, human allies, or Aogami, relying on the state of affairs. Demons could be given items discovered all through the overworld, leading to stat will increase, with invaluable objects generally provided in return. You possibly can even use a free digital camera mode in these areas, taking completely happy snaps of your favorite fiends.

Lastly, the music is about as wonderful as anticipated, with haunting, evocative soundscapes for exploration interspersed with black metallic and howling guitars for tense boss encounters. Character dialogue is fairly good, too, and there’s a stunning quantity of voice performing within the sport, however barks from Demon navigators rapidly turn out to be grating, reusing the identical three traces advert nauseum.

Conclusion

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the definitive option to play Atlus’ devilish sport of demon fusion, with a brand new suite of bells and whistles to easy over what can, at instances, nonetheless be an abrasive gameplay expertise. It is extremely combat-heavy, which may turn out to be oppressive, however working in the direction of elevating that excellent demon stays as partaking as ever.