Shin Megami Tensei V launched on the Switch back in 2021. The game was, on the whole, a solid instalment of the cult classic series. But now, the team at Atlus have been tweaking under the hood and brought Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and, of course, back to the Switch.
Vengeance is a more refined and polished version of Shin Megami Tensei V. One that also brings a good number of quality-of-life tweaks to the table, and irons out some of the original game’s issues.
Monster Hunter
Shin Megami Tensei is a long running series that hasn’t really taken off here in the West like its spin off series Persona. But, Japanese developers Atlus hope this will change with Shin Megami Tensei V, and break out of its cult status.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is set in modern-day Tokyo and the Netherworld. The games’ world is split into four huge areas, each with their own feel and style. You play as a high-school student, Nahobino, who gets drawn into investigating rumours about demons appearing in a tunnel.
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After entering said tunnel, a mysterious earthquake occurs and you fall unconscious. When you awake you find yourself in Da’At – an alternative apocalyptic version of Tokyo. And to boot, you are caught in the middle of an almighty battle between angels and demons.
Picking Up the Pace
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a bit of a slow burner to start, before becoming a grand epic across its 80+ hours. The tale tackles a few big concepts, but does trip itself up a bit towards the end.
Shin Megami Tensei V becomes a bit too convoluted for its own good. And this is a far cry from the slick storytelling that Persona fans tempted in may be expecting.
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What has changed for Vengeance is there are now two-story modes to choose from at the start of the game. The original tale and the new ‘Vengeance’ tale. The new tale is focused on a new group called the Qadištu. It explores how they are entwined in the world, and, more importantly, how they are tangled in your tale. No spoilers.
Another Angle
The Qadištu angle adds a new and interesting layer to the already thick tapestry of Shin Megami Tensei. The new tale even improves the tale’s pacing, oddly enough. That slow burn is kicked along that bit quicker in the new Vengeance tale.
There is, however, a fair bit of bleed through from the core tale. At times the Vengeance tale feels like it’s happening inside the shell of the core story, rather than being its own full-blooded thing.
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Gameplay in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance sees you building a team of three demons to fight alongside you. You will be swapping these three out throughout the whole tale, finding evermore powerful team line-ups as you go. The game also features an ‘Essence’ system which lets you trade skills, attacks and powers between different demons.
There’s a really deep set of systems to be found here. However, it may feel overwhelming to start with. Stick with it, and you will create truly devastating parties, that will take on any challenge you’ll find.
The Loop of Shin Megami Tensei
Vengeance also tweaks the gameplay loop across the board. Level scaling is now miles better. You are now able to fight almost everything and anyone, and they will meet you with a fair challenge.
The original Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance could pit you against enemies 20 or so levels higher than you, so this is a most welcome tweak.
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The core gameplay has been changed all-round and for the better. The focus is on states and skills, over character levels. Again, this is a very welcome change. Vengeance allows you the freedom to develop your play style, whereas the original sometimes seemed to force you to tick its desired box to proceed.
Party customisation and demon training has been reworked, and these too work better. You spend time talking to your demons, teaching them new skills and levelling them up. And you can have a huge impact on their effectiveness by talking, and, more importantly, listening to them.
World to Explore
When not fighting, you’ll also get to explore a world with an almost platformer style. You find side quests, and enough wonder and surprises to make it worth your while. And if that’s not enough reason to head out into the unknowns, there are some helpful collectibles to be found, too.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance runs at solid 60fps on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. The non-Switch versions also use their extra grunt to add a new level of fidelity to the game’s effects and striking art style.
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The jump between Tokyo and the Netherworld looks superb on ninth-gen. console. The redesigned enemies also teem with detail while keeping their style intact.
The soundtrack hits all the right notes. From hard-hitting battle anthems, to creepy unnerving tunes that cue the entry of new enemies and bosses – Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance captures the mood perfectly moment to moment. The Vengeance storyline also adds in some new bangers to the mix – a huge plus all round.
Vengance Mix
Shin Megami Tensei V delivered an epic but challenging adventure that had outstanding combat systems, tonnes of customisation options for your party. The game scratched that JRPG itch, but does demand your time (and lots of it) to really get a payoff.
Vengeance takes that foundation and smooths out a lot of the rough edges while adding meaningful tweaks and additions. The 2024 Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance also address a lot of the original’s issues, and is now more accessible thanks to its multiformat release.
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If you’re looking for something a bit different in the JRPG space, or want to see why this series is a cult classic, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a cracking stepping on point for newcomers and fans will have a blast thanks to the changes.