June 20th 2024.
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Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance has finally arrived, and fans of the franchise are in for a treat. This latest entry, which is also the first to be released on multiple platforms, has made significant improvements to the graphics, story, and gameplay. It's not often that we see a director's cut for a game that was released so recently, but in this case, it has truly paid off.
Initially released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch, it's unclear why the game was not made available on other platforms. However, it's worth noting that the series is most popular in Japan, where the Switch is the dominant console. But now, with its release on other platforms, more players will have the opportunity to experience this highly acclaimed game.
For those unfamiliar with the series, despite its intimidating name, Shin Megami Tensei is actually quite approachable. It is the parent franchise of Persona, which many may be more familiar with. Both share similarities in terms of gameplay and story elements. However, while Persona focuses on character development and relationships, Shin Megami Tensei delves into more serious themes such as religion and morality, often combining elements from various mythologies.
The combat system is also similar to Persona, with players able to interact with enemies before and during battles in order to persuade them to join their side. This process has been improved in Vengeance with the introduction of mini-games and quizzes, making it more engaging and logical. Additionally, demons now have innate skills that can be incredibly useful in battle, and players can also fuse them together to create even more powerful forms.
One major improvement in Vengeance is the addition of the Demon Haunt, a new area where players can interact and build relationships with both human and demon characters. This not only adds depth to the story but also provides bonuses and rewards. It's entirely optional, but definitely worth exploring.
The turn-based battles in Vengeance are similar to Persona, although they are not as stylishly presented. However, the art design is still top-notch. The original version of the game was notoriously difficult, with luck often playing a large role in battles and even low-level enemies posing a significant threat. While Vengeance has made the combat more manageable, it still maintains its challenging nature.
One of the most exciting additions in Vengeance is the inclusion of guest characters. These characters can fight alongside the player and have a wider range of abilities and the ability to use items. This not only adds variety to battles but also helps balance out the difficulty.
Exploring the game's open world has also been made easier with quality of life improvements such as a more useful map, shortcuts, and the ability to save anywhere. These may seem like minor changes, but they make a significant difference in gameplay.
The original story campaign is still available, but the new one is undeniably better. It introduces a new character and a quartet of demon antagonists, which helps improve the pacing of the game. However, players who have already completed the original campaign may experience some deja vu, as the new campaign follows a similar plotline. But even with its flaws, it's still a vast improvement from the original.
In conclusion, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is a major improvement from its predecessor. It's a game that will keep players engaged for hours, with its deep story, challenging battles, and improved gameplay mechanics. While it may not be perfect, it's a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance has arrived and it's making quite an impact. As the latest entry in the franchise that brought us Persona, this game has gone multiformat and brought with it a wealth of improvements. From graphics to story and gameplay, fans are in for a treat with this new release.
In the current gaming landscape, it's not uncommon to see remasters and remakes of older games. However, it's rare to see a newer title get a director's cut shortly after release. But that's exactly what's happened with Shin Megami Tensei 5, and it's made a significant difference in the overall experience.
Originally released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, it's unclear why this decision was made. One theory is that Nintendo may have paid for the game, but considering the series' popularity in Japan where the Switch reigns supreme, it's likely that most sales would have come from there anyway.
Despite its intimidating name, the Shin Megami Tensei series is actually more approachable than it sounds. It's the parent franchise of Persona and shares many similarities in terms of gameplay and storytelling. While Persona games typically have a director's cut, Vengeance goes above and beyond with its improvements, surpassing even Persona 5 Royal.
The original Switch version of Shin Megami Tensei 5 was enjoyable, but it did have its fair share of flaws. The frame rate was shaky, but that's been resolved with the game's release on PlayStation 5. The game was also overly long and unnecessarily difficult, lacking in plot and character development to justify its 50+ hour playtime.
Vengeance doesn't completely solve these issues, as that would require a whole new game. However, it's clear that the developers were aware of these flaws and have made efforts to address them. One major improvement is the new story campaign, which while similar in many areas, has been revamped to improve pacing and allow for more character interaction.
One of the major differences between Shin Megami Tensei and Persona is the involvement of a supernatural apocalypse, often occurring in the early stages of the game. In Vengeance, players take on the role of a Japanese high school student who appears to be the sole survivor of Armageddon. While Persona focuses on character development and relationships, Shin Megami Tensei takes a more serious approach, tackling themes of religion and morality through a blend of mythology from different cultures.
Combat in Vengeance works similarly to Persona, but with less flashy presentation (although the art design is top-notch). In the original, battles were notoriously difficult for seemingly no reason, with luck often playing a major role. Even low-level enemies could easily wipe out your party. While Vengeance has improved in this aspect, it's still not entirely eliminated.
New to this version of the game are guest characters who can fight alongside you for a time. These characters are summoned like demons, but since they're human, they function more like the protagonist with a wider range of skills and the ability to use items.
In addition to the guest characters, there are other positive changes such as new buffs and more powerful skills that require specific demons to use. There are also around 40 new demons, some of which are incredibly strong, making the game much easier than before.
Exploring the open world has also been improved with quality of life additions such as a more useful map, shortcuts in the form of grind rails, and the ability to save anywhere (which was surprisingly not possible in the original). Fast travel points are also available, reducing the need for backtracking.
The story can still be played in its original form, but the new campaign is undeniably better. It introduces a new character, an exorcist, and a quartet of new demon antagonists, greatly improving the pacing. However, there may be some sense of déjà vu for those who have played the original, as it is more of an alternative take on the story rather than a completely new one.
While Vengeance is undoubtedly an improvement over the original, it may not be worth replaying for those who have already experienced the game. The overall design still has its flaws, such as the length of the game, the dated combat system, and the less-than-stellar visuals. However, for fans of the franchise, these improvements make Vengeance a must-play.
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