Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance review: The definitive Demonic dance

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance is a JRPG that took me by surprise. The original was quite impressive, but certain points could have been better. The announcement of Vengeance during Nintendo Partners Direct in February 2024 caught my attention and it was something I was looking forward to ever since.

2024 is a great year to be a JRPG fan, especially if you love the work of Atlus. The team has been churning out great games like Persona 3 Reload and is looking forward to adding Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance and Metaphor ReFantazio to the mix.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance releases later this week, promising a new take on your journey through the demon-infested apocalyptic wasteland of Tokyo. But what effort does it put into making the new Vengeance route memorable? Does it truly stand out compared to the original SMT5 or is it just an enhanced version with not much to offer? Let's take a deep dive into the world of Da'at to find out.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance: Demonic Depths or Reheated Chaos? Unraveling the depths of Da'at

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance offers a new look at one of the most fascinating stories in the JRPG category of video games. The original plot is great, but it has a few problems and plotholes. Vengeance seemingly fixes that, on top of improving on an already great gameplay experience.

Let us take a look at what Atlus did right in Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance, and where the game fumbles.

Story: A diverging path through Da'at

The human companions have received a much-needed update (Image via Atlus)

I will not be going over what has changed drastically as it can spoil your experience but instead talk about how certain new elements act together to better the experience of the original.

One common criticism that Shin Megami Tensei 5 received was the lack of depth in characters due to their limited screen time. Atlus has addressed this issue, as in the new game, you will often run into your comrades from the organization of Bethel and some will even fight alongside you. Some of the side quests also offer a small conversation between the characters, offering you a view of their overall morals.

The new set of characters, including the antagonists, also fixes the narrative. The Qadistu feels like a world-ending threat and gives you the motivation to stop them at any cost. My favorite companion is the new character Yoko. She offers a morally gray look at the world, often challenging your idealist look at the post-apocalyptic Da'at.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance's Canon of Vengeance route feels like what the story should have been if Atlus had taken its time before releasing the original back in 2021. It is well-written and offers a great narrative journey in the destroyed ruins of Tokyo which is now a battleground between forces of Chaos and Order.

Gameplay: Evolving the demonic dance

The Magatushi Rails are a great addition (Image via Atlus)

The original SMT5 has one of the best gameplays in the Megaten series, but Vengeance opens up new opportunities on several fronts, refining the great gameplay of the original.

Combat is challenging yet fun (Image via Atlus)

Combat has received a significant update thanks to the ability to speed up or skip animations. One of my nuances with turn-based combat is that you must sit through the same animation over and over 100 times. The inclusion of the ability to fast-forward your skill animations makes the game faster and makes farming XP more efficient.

The second-best feature in Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance which I am thankful for is the Magatushi Rail system. You can travel effortlessly from one corner of the map to another using this mechanic, vastly reducing the repetitive nature of running through the map just to reach the objective.

Don't get me wrong, exploration is still there and you will need to travel through the several realms of Da'at to obtain useful items, but the Magatushi Rail saves you the hassle of running through the map again and again.

Talking with Demons in the Demon Haunt can yield great rewards (Image via Atlus)

The Demon Haunts are also a welcome addition to Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance. This special area allows you to converse with your companions, often obtaining a set of useful rewards including Demon Essences, resources, and more. It also allows you to get stat points by talking with Aogami and enhancing your Nahobino's skills.

Certain Demons and bosses have also received a slight rework. Bosses do not feel as oppressive as the original SMT 5, where you will need a certain set of strategies to overcome the challenge they possess. A few demons have seen balancing changes to their kit. Strong demons are not outright broken, while the weaker ones have received buffs to make them more viable.

Other QoLs like the Sky View, the ability to save anywhere, Side Quests appearing on the map, etc., are welcome changes that greatly enhance the gameplay of this JRPG.

Performance: A smoother descent into Da'at

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance is a well-optimized game (Image via Atlus)

Atlus has never disappointed with the optimization factor of its games and it is also the case for Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance. I ran the title in the following devices for benchmarking the performance:

Laptop

Processor: AMD Ryzen 3550h
GPU: Nvidia 1650 super
RAM: 16 GB DDR4 (8GB x2)

PC:

Processor: Intel i5 12600k
GPU: 3060ti
RAM: 16GB 3200mhz DDR4 (8GB x2)

The game ran extremely smoothly with no notable bugs, stutters, or drops in frames. It is rare to receive a polished port for video games in 2024, and I greatly appreciate the effort the team put in to ensure that Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance can run smoothly on most devices.

Infernal Echoes: Unveiling Vengeance's shortcomings

The positives of Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance outweigh the negatives significantly (Image via Atlus)

SMT 5 Vengeance is a near-perfect game. It fixes many of the issues from the original title, but some features can feel extremely underwhelming. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion only and it can be different in your case.

First is the new Magatushi Skills. It was marketed as the coolest kid on the block and was emphasized to be a game-changing mechanic with a ton of variety. While the Magatushi Skills are extremely handy, I did not find any uses for skills other than the very first one you unlock called Omagatoki Critical.

This is undoubtedly the best one you can obtain, as it buffs your entire party for a whole turn. Combat encounters become extremely easy and you can one-turn-clear most bosses, given you have set your squad up properly and strategically used skill buffs and debuffs. The best part? You unlock it during the prologue segment.

On paper, Magatushi Skill is a great concept, but the execution feels lackluster and does not provide enough incentive to hunt down and unlock new ones.

The new area of Shakan can also feel a bit underwhelming compared to the original. I did not find the puzzles to be engaging and the overall part can feel like a forced inclusion.

In Conclusion: A must recommended for SMT Veterans, but is it a great entry point for newcomers?

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance is the definitive experience for Megaten fans (Image via Atlus)

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance has become my favorite JRPG of 2024 and it will stay so unless Atlus finds new ways to surprise me with Metaphor ReFantazio. This is the best game in the series thanks to the chunk of the QoL updates that makes the game a breeze compared to the original.

Despite a few features feeling a bit lackluster, it is a solid game that will keep you engaged, farming, and fusing new demons. The game is massive, and even after 40 hours, I cannot get enough of the combat. It is mind-numbingly addicting and can hook you to Da'at for hours.

The new Vengeance route also fleshes out the characters and their motivations. The addition of a new set of antagonists also fixes many plot points that felt weird in the first game.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance's accessibility also makes it the best starting point for those who want to wander into the Megaten series. The gameplay is considerably modern, and the 2x animation speed helps in cutting out much of the nuance that comes with watching the same animation due to its TBC nature.

I highly recommend Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance if you love the Persona series and now looking forward to finding the perfect entry point to the overall Megami Tensei franchise. If Atlus decides to remake old SMT games, I hope it takes the same approach as Vengeance.