Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance in review: I would like to determine the fate of the world again

With Vengeance, Shin Megami Tensei V recently returned once again, this time on all major platforms after being released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in 2021. The fact that developer Atlus re-releases a revised, complete version of their main series a few years after the release is nothing new (see Persona 3 FES/Portable, Persona 4 Golden or Persona 5 Royal), and the fact that these are usually sensible additions to story and game elements is also nothing new.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance fits in very well. Once again, the Nahobino embarks on a dark journey through an apocalyptic Tokyo full of demons, monsters and other beings that represent all kinds of worldly beliefs. In Vengeance, a new storyline comes in the form of the student Yoko Hiromine Around 40 new demons, a new area and even a new dungeon are also major additions. But that's not all, because this expansion offers additional elements that almost create a new gaming experience if you want it.

Vengeance frees SMT from more than just the limitations of the console

If you're wondering what SMTV was like before, you'll get all the important insights in our review of the original, the video above, and this post will focus on the content in the new Vengeance.

In addition to the long-overdue higher resolution or stable FPS, which even reach unlimited levels on the PC, a number of convenient options have also crept into the game that make the fifth Shin Megami Tensei game much more accessible for newcomers. For example, you can now save at any time via the user interface, which makes long routes to bosses or annoying falling passages in difficult dungeons smoother. There are also now red Magatsuhi rails that lead straight to brand new areas: New content in the form of missions or monsters awaits you here. Sometimes they also offer shortcuts for passages that lead past difficult bosses or branching labyrinths. Conveniently, items that strengthen monsters or abilities can now also be stacked, which saves a few clicks.

Hardcore fans who don't want this level of simplification (which I can totally understand, because a sense of effort and strain wants to bring the threat of an unscrupulous world to the fore) don't have to use these functions. The game signals free choice by, for example, keeping all blue sources with the option to save. This means you can continue to ignore classic saves and the user interface. The items can also still be selected separately and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is still a struggle on “hard”. The fact that you can download “super easy” as a free DLC to experience the story is a nice option for accessibility, but in my opinion the fights in Vengeance already seem unusually easy on “easy”, so even beginners on the first level shouldn't have any problems.

Another innovation is the Estoma Field which keeps strong and weak enemies away. As soon as you unlock it in the story, you can activate this field at the touch of a button via the user interface. Moon cycles no longer affect the duration of the effect, because the field now consumes Magatsuhi instead of MP. Here again: If you don't want to use this convenience, you can ignore it, because Estoma is still available in the classic version as an ability.

Radical views, radical changes

These little things would be enough to convince me to make a new edition, but Vengance offers even more: The demon nest, for example, contributes greatly to making the game feel a little different from the original. It is a playground for your captured monsters, which can be found over the Power line network can be called up. Inactive characters have more room to level up or give you small gifts. Similar to Pokémon, you can also give them gifts or just talk to them. This makes the characters' characters more visible and deepens the backgrounds of the monsters. There is also a photo mode.

But you can also strengthen your relationship with your classmates in other ways, as Yoko's new perspective gives them a lot more rough edges. As with Persona 5 Royal, the story now makes even more sense thanks to Vengeance. Events surrounding the students seem more rounded because, for example, their intentions become apparent earlier. In addition, Yoko Hiromine brings such a radical perspective that the new edition establishes two new endings, but their narrative reinforces the contrast to the already known characters. Therefore, you can definitely expect a clear line of events that was previously left to your interpretation. Just to clarify: Yoko is not the only thing used to reveal new dialogues or facets of the characters, but in the new branch of the story, which you can choose in the second scene, the plot changes fundamentally and brings new twists that I did not expect at all.

Conclusion – Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Vengeance is more than a successful remake of an already excellent JRPG. A good revision of the story and technical improvements would have been enough to justify the release of a complete version for consoles other than the Switch. But Atlus has added a few extras. You have a new character who completely changes the perspective on events and also enriches the combat system because he joins your group as a guest character. As if that wasn't enough, Atlus is breaking a lance for newcomers by making many game elements more user-friendly, but without removing the hurdles for fans who want a difficult challenge. Fans who already own the original on the Switch are a little disappointed because they have to pay full price again. Vengeance is still a successful remake that you can definitely pick up if you've always wanted to play a Shin Megami Tensei or if you just fancy one of the best modern JRPGs.