Highlights

  • New demons and music tracks in Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance enhance original content, making gameplay more enjoyable.
  • Sky view feature in Vengeance allows for efficient exploration, clarifying locations and items for players.
  • Saving anywhere in the game without disruptions is a relieving addition for returning players, offering convenience.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 launched on the Nintendo Switch in November 2021 to critical acclaim. It served as the first mainline Shin Megami Tensei game since 4 dropped on 3DS with Apocalypse to follow. Offering between 45-100 hours of gameplay, Shin Megami Tensei 5 gave players the freedom to explore in-depth, tackle countless quests, and control demons to achieve their objectives.

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Per Atlus’ usual release plan, Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance launched on June 14, 2024 on multiple platforms with expanded content. The question remains, however; is it worth playing again? Here are a few reasons why digging back into Shin Megami Tensei 5 with Vengeance is worth the time.

1 A Plethora Of New Demons And Music Tracks

New Music & Demons Makes Experiencing The Original Content More Enjoyable

Glasya-Labolas shin megami tensei 5: vengeance

The crux of many memorable RPGs lies in their ability to capture players’ imaginations and hearts. A good soundtrack can do just that, and Shin Megami 5 Vengeance features an expansive new set of tracks (there are 89 on the official soundtrack, with a good chunk being new to Vengeance). The new music freshens the 75 hours of new content and creates some of the most memorable songs when put up against the original OST.

In addition to the rocking new tunes, Vengeance also features over 40 new demons for the protagonist to meet, greet, destroy, and employ. A quarter of those demons are new faces to the Shin Megami franchise, while the remainder are familiar favorites from games past, including the ferocious Dormarth the player can battle against in one of the first new side quests. If repeating content is a chore, the addition of new music and new demons from the opening minutes of the game will make trudging through familiar territory much easier.

2 Sky View

Exploring Is More Efficient & Less Of A Hassle

shin megami tensei v vengeance sky view overhead sandy

A seemingly simple feature, the sky view allows the protagonist to get a mobile aerial view of where he is located. This may sound less than exciting to new players, but those who suffered attempting to figure out the location of a treasure or quest because of the multiple levels of terrain will rejoice.

By zooming into the sky view, the protagonist can see an overhead view of the vicinity (there is a limit to how far the camera can move). The camera can zoom in, which further clarifies the location of items and more. It is a useful feature that is available from the beginning and makes exploring much more efficient.

3 Saving Anywhere

Save Progress Without Any Disruptions

Amanozako shin megami tensei 5: vengeance

Perhaps this feature was added due to the static nature of home consoles and PCs. When playing the original Shin Megami Tensei 5, players could put their Switch to sleep and pick up where they left off when ready. While it is certainly possible to do the same on consoles, any number of problems can arise, disrupting the experience. Now, players can save their progress from anywhere in the game.

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Pressing left on the d-pad or navigating the options menu to the system and selecting save will allow players to save at any time, rather than exclusively at a ley fount. It is, like the sky view, a feature that seems simple but offers huge relief to returning players.

4 New Allies Joining The Party

More Characters Offer Several Unique Advantages

Yoko Hiromine in Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance

One of the coolest additions to Vengeance is the characters joining the protagonist's party to battle. Various characters like Atsuta can join the party throughout the game, participating in combat like a demon would. The difference is that these characters have access to items and, like the protagonist, have numerous advantages to use.

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They do not always stay in the party, but choosing to use them comes with a few negative ramifications, as demons outside the main party will eventually level sync up with the party as the story progresses. Even if that was not the case, poking around at characters previously uncontrollable adds a certain level of intrigue and immersion that was not present before.

5 Canon Of Vengeance

Experience Hours Of New Content

The Player Deciding To Take The Girl's Hand

The ultimate question of why someone who played the original Shin Megami Tensei 5 should be interested in playing Vengeance has a simple answer: the Canon of Vengeance. From the opening sequence of the game, the Canon of Vengeance offers players the ability to experience a new story separate from the original. Sure, there are overlaps from the original experience, but there is so much extra content that the Canon of Vengeance feels almost like a new game entirely.

In fact, Atlus has advertised as much as 75 hours of new content within Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance, which means that players of the original will essentially get to experience a brand new, full-length game. There are obvious caveats to this, but everything should feel fresh enough for even the most grizzled veterans to make it worth a release window purchase.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Tag Page Cover Art
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Released
June 14, 2024
Developer(s)
Atlus
Genre(s)
JRPG