In the gaming landscape of 2024, when we embrace a sprawling Japanese role-playing game, we generally have an inkling of what to expect – think along the lines of turn-based battles, a predefined roster of characters, and story-driven quests reminiscent of the hallmarks set by titles such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. These titans of the RPG world have traditionally been time-consuming ventures that reward players’ perseverance with progressive character development and incremental triumphs over fantastical foes.
Where the Final Fantasy series gradually pivoted toward action-RPG territory, Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei stayed the course, consistently honing the classic RPG formula. It most notably succeeded with the Persona spinoff series, which infused demonic battles with the narrative depth of Japanese visual novels, to the extent that Persona now overshadows the mainline SMT series in popularity. Despite this, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, an enhanced re-release of the original 2021 Switch exclusive SMT V, stays true to its roots while implementing some of Persona’s flair to soften the austere story delivery. Yet, at its essence, it remains a punishing celebration of tactical RPG conflict, with added features enhancing the original experience on a host of platforms.
Players embarking on Vengeance, whether through the original narrative or the added “Vengeance” storyline, will encounter a familiar plot where a Japanese high schooler gets entangled in a divine conflict between gods, angels, and demons across a desolate apocalypse-scarred world. Transformed into a powerful Nahobino, your quest is brimming with strategic brawls against myriad mythologies with a personalized demon squad.
Gameplay is primarily divided between exploration and combat, with limited character interaction. Despite these segments’ engaging design, players may find the game’s expansive yet monotonous environments become wearisome over time. The additional content and tweaks that come with the re-release, such as new demons, streamlined battles, and packaged DLC, attempt to mitigate some of the grind without altering the fundamental structure of its predecessor.
Vengeance faithfully follows its predecessors’ legacy, refining the formula to deliver an RPG that balances intense excitement with lengthy stretches of potentially monotonous grinding. The game is undeniably beautiful and tactically rewarding, yet it’s undeniable that these moments of exhilaration can be sparse in an otherwise sprawling, barren quest for power and triumph.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What platforms is Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance available on?
- The game is available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows.
- Do I need to have played previous Shin Megami Tensei games to enjoy Vengeance?
- No, Vengeance has a standalone story that can be approached as an entry point for new players.
- What makes Vengeance different from the original Shin Megami Tensei V?
- Vengeance is a re-release with several quality-of-life improvements, added demons, faster combat, and includes all of the original game’s DLC.
- Is it possible to save the game at any time in Vengeance?
- Yes, Vengeance allows players to save their progress anytime, which is crucial given the game’s difficulty.
- Will players who enjoyed Persona find Vengeance appealing?
- While Vengeance borrows some elements from the Persona series, its focus is more on combat and less on character interaction, so it may not be as appealing to those looking for a heavy narrative experience.