Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Reviews
However, Atlus certainly knows how to create an engaging challenge and an ending that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance requires a substantial time commitment and is geared more toward those in search of a hardcore JRPG, meaning it isn’t going to be a hit with everyone. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance offers more than enough to encourage both returning and new players with an interest in visiting this new addition to the SMT lineup and is the definitive way to experience this grandiose tale of the powers of good, evil, and revenge.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the definitive way to play Atlus' devilish game of demon fusion, with a new suite of bells and whistles to smooth over what can, at times, still be an abrasive gameplay experience. It's incredibly combat-heavy, which can become oppressive, but working towards raising that perfect demon remains as engaging as ever.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a great refresh of a game that I had gripes with back then. Besides the far more interesting Vengeance route, the additional quality-of-life changes, added mechanics, and greatly improved performance make Vengeance easily the best version of a great turn-based RPG. Great for returning players and an even better deal for new ones.
Overall, Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance is all about building a more streamlined and player-friendly experience. While the game’s difficulty hasn’t gone anywhere, it feels like Vengeance is doing its best to make you enjoy that experience and remove as many roadblocks as possible. The new Canon of Vengeance story is big, exciting and entirely unapologetic about taking a different path to the original story – giving returning SMTV players just as much to enjoy as new players. Playing on PS5 rather than the original Switch also let me enjoy the game’s world in much greater fidelity, and Vengeance takes full advantage of that to show just how gorgeous its huge maps are. While its combat is not for the faint of heart, the game’s rich, branching story offers plenty to enjoy over multiple playthroughs.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an excellent addition to the franchise that's a must-play for franchise fans, and well worth picking up for those curious about dipping their toes in the water. The difficulty level is still there, but it has become a lot more manageable thanks to quality of life updates. Just don't be disappointed if you show up expecting Persona, as the narrative and story qualities of the latter is a world apart.
A reincarnation of the 2021 Japanese role-player, that addresses every flaw of the original – and even if some issues remain it's still a very enjoyable alternative to the Persona series.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance doesn't necessarily make drastic improvements upon the 2021 original, but its new storyline and content additions are reason enough to revisit an already great RPG, or start fresh if you missed it the first time.
While we find the policy of re-releases questionable, we must recognize that Atlus has shaped this time what will surely go down in history as the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V, a title that on Switch was too limited by the lack of power of the hardware.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a product that once again proves Atlus right. We may completely disagree with the work done in the re-edition phase and especially with this policy adopted by the Japanese publisher, which after a few years releases an improved version of something made shortly before, but in the end, we must admit that Vengeance is the result of an excellent correction of some of the excessive elements of the original.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Atlus re-releases can be a hard sell for those who experienced the original launches. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance definitley fits into that category for narrative reasons, with the new Canon of Vengeance route not executing its captivating premise strongly due to mishandled opportunities and rushed pacing.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance allows the original SMT 5 to spread its wings a bit more with excellent systematic refinements that brings the former Nintendo Switch exclusive to modern systems. If the improved gameplay and visuals weren't enough, the all-new Canon of Vengeance shakes up the original campaign just enough to provide a refreshing new experience.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance adds enough new content and fixes enough problems to more than justify this update. It's a much better experience overall, and is an easy recommendation for JRPG gamers…especially if you lost your way during the original release.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance doesn't just feel like the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V, it also feels like a new potential template for ATLUS's future re-releases. Between a much improved narrative, the same addicting gameplay loop, heightened visuals and a smorgasbord of content, it's hard to find a lot to dislike in this package.
A refined edition not to be missed, which however could have done better in terms of plot and level-up balance.
Review in Italian | Read full review
For fans of the franchise, this iteration feels like a refined homage to what made SMT beloved. For newcomers, it serves as a perfect entry point into the complex, thrilling world of Shin Megami Tensei. In a landscape crowded with RPGs, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance stands out as a must-play title, blending challenging combat, strategic depth, and a compelling story into a cohesive package that’s hard to put down.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is set to become the definitive edition of Shin Megami Tensei V. Some of its changes may be insufficient to fix the original's biggest problems, but it does an incredible job of elevating it and bringing it that much closer to reaching its potential. ATLUS did it again and delivered a re-release that's worth checking out regardless of whether you finished the original game or if it's just your first approach.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Vengeance is for Shin Megami Tensei V what Royal was for Persona 5 some years ago: the best possible version of one of the more refined and fascinating JRPGs of the last decade. This is the version to choose if you haven't played it before and the one to replay if you've already dived into the original title.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance took an excellent release and just made it better. The new areas are great, new demons spice up the already crazy roster you could obtain and the Vengeance story path really shows off the game’s characters in a new light. This game is well worth the $59.99 price tag for anyone who doesn’t own the initial release, and even if you do I still think there is enough new content here to warrant a purchase. Now if you will excuse me, I have some post-game demons to round up!
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance expands the base game with new content, improved performance, and deeper lore. Despite the challenging difficulty, the added quality-of-life improvements make it a rewarding experience for both returning players and newcomers.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is what happens when you take a very good game, tackle every one of its flaws, and add far more content than anyone could ask for. It is a joy to play, devilishly difficult in all the right ways, and replayable to a fault - it’s proving hard to find the motivation to play anything else.