Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengance

Shin Megami Tensei V It was released, exclusively for Nintendo Switch, on November 12, 2021. However, its arrival on other platforms —leaked in 2021— was not announced until the second half of 2023. This relaunch called Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengance —as Atlus has accustomed us to— can be considered a definitive version of the fifth main installment of the franchise Megami Tensei. Since, it includes many changes at the gameplay level and a new route. This is the one we mainly followed to make this review of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengance. So, in our analysis, we will tell you whether or not it is worth playing Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengance.

What is New Megami Tensei?

These games stand out, like the original novel, they have always been distinguished from other RPGs by the use of mysticism and technology in a contemporary world, in which the protagonists must choose between order, chaos or neutrality to decide their destiny. of a world on the brink of an apocalypse. From the franchise Megami Tensei adaptations have been derived from ‘manga’, ‘anime’, different video game genres and of course the most famous of these alternate versions, the franchise Persona.

A new world waiting for its “creator”

In the history of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengance

We will follow the new route called the «Revenge«. In this one, we will once again put ourselves in the shoes of a high school student. After an unexpected turn of events, he is transported to a post-apocalyptic world and finds himself involved in a war between angels and demons. Upon arriving at this gloomy place, our protagonist merges with a being called Aogami. The result of this fusion is known as a Nahobino, a divine creature that, thanks to the knowledge of a human, can obtain power capable of rivaling that of the gods themselves.

During the story, we will meet different factions and the reasons of each of them to save, create a new world or maintain the established order. However, both stories of Shin Megami Tensei V —whether it be the route of creation or revenge—they do not have the freedom to make decisions that profoundly affect history as their predecessors do. This is without a doubt one of the most criticized points in the game of 2021. However, in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance —even though the new route remains flat—players can decide between two paths and enjoy two totally different stories.

That is if the history of the new route included in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance It is not as flat as the route of creation (2021) and some characters and events are explained calmly and allow the player to be caught up in the continuous philosophical conflicts posed by the game’s characters.

A world with hundreds of things to do

In the underworld, also known as Da’at, we will explore the ruins of a destroyed Tokyo. Demons live in this world, which we can recruit, fight or help with different tasks that will unlock secondary missions. This, despite being very normal in other RPGs, is quite a 180-degree turn for the Atlus franchise. Since, they have left aside the dungeons full of labyrinths for a world full of life. We had already seen this in the 2021 version that was released exclusively for Nintendo Switch.

However, in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance All the quality of life improvements have made exploring Da’at no longer a frustrating experience. Everything now has an icon and the height differences on the surface are detailed visibly on the map. These are just two of the new features that have served to greatly improve the user experience.

We cannot talk about a Megaten without dedicating a space to combat, which as usual is based on the Press Turn System that debuted in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. In Vengeance, we will find the same combat system that urges us to exploit the enemies’ weaknesses to extend our turn. However, the same advantages that we have can be taken advantage of by our enemies. In Shin Megami Tensei V: VengeanceAtlus has improved damage scaling when facing higher level demons, making fights fairer.

Strategy is more present than ever in battles Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

In Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance We can spend hours not only exploring the Da’at or completing some of the dozens of side missions, but also improving our demons. The basis of combat in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and its difficulty lies in how we manage to draw up a strategy to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses or weaken it so that our attacks are more effective. For this we have different elements. One of these are miracles, which are unique abilities or characteristics of the Nahobino that we can unlock with the Glory we collect.

On the other hand, there are the essences that are “vestiges” of the demons that allow us to learn their abilities or copy their affinities in the Nahobino. These two unique features of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance are an alternative to the classic skill inheritance that fusion gives. In addition, they are an incentive to continue exploration or combat in the game. Since, in the case of essences, they are obtained in some areas of the Da’at or when our demons level up, they themselves offer them to us. Once we are clear about how the system of fusions, miracles and essences works, the combat gains new layers of depth. Since, when facing optional enemies – which in this game have very high difficulty peaks even for our level 99 Nahobino – we can spend hours improving our demons for combat.

A perfectly set trip

Now what Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance It has had a multiplatform launch and has also improved its graphic performance. In our case we did this review with the PC (Steam) version of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. So we were able to run the game at 1080 with a fixed rate of 60 frames per second without any texture or popping issues. Thanks to this we have been able to appreciate the great artistic design that the game has in its different areas and demons. Additionally, the game’s music – by Ryota Kozuka and Toshiki Konishi – is outstanding and in this new version new themes and arrangements for existing ones have been included.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengance review made with a digital copy for Steam provided by Sega Latin America.