After enjoying Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for 2 hours, we’d hoped to have the ability to ship a smorgasbord of particulars relating to new additions, efficiency enhancements, and story nuggets, however fact be instructed, Sega’s preview session felt very a lot geared towards those that could be enjoying for the primary time over on PS5 or Xbox. In actual fact, we skilled the sport solely on the PS5, so whereas we have got a good suggestion of the way it runs on Sony’s {hardware}, we’re sadly not in a position to talk about how the Swap model fares.
That stated, two hours continues to be a hefty quantity of pre-release time to spend with Vengeance, so we will wholeheartedly verify that in the event you’re a fan of the unique, or in the event you’ve dipped your toes into a few of Atlus’ different video games, you then might be assured that you simply’re in for a wild experience (if just for the ever-amusing presence of the phallic-shaped demon, Mara).
After listening to a few Sega’s reps present a brief, introductory presentation, we strolled right into a room filled with demo stations, popped on a pair of headphones, and started working. Though inspired to dive straight right into a save state that would supply us with a glimpse on the sport throughout the mid-stage of the story, we needed to see simply how Vengeance’s plot would start and the way we’d decide which narrative department to pursue. So we selected ‘New Sport’.
As a reminder, Vengeance comprises two storylines: Canon of Creation and Canon of Vengeance. The previous is the unique Shin Megami Tensei V story by and thru whereas the latter is model new, beginning in acquainted territory but diverging drastically throughout the center and late levels of the narrative. Your selection comes down as to whether or not you select to take the hand of a shadowy determine throughout a gap cutscene, and that’s actually it. When you’ve performed so, the sport clarifies which story path you’ve chosen earlier than supplying you with the choice to vary your thoughts.
For the reason that sport mainly proceeds in the identical method as the unique, that was fairly sufficient for us, so it was time to dive into the mid-game save state and actually get a really feel of how Vengeance seems to be and performs.
In brief, it’s fairly nice. We had been dropped again into Da’at, the apocalyptic model of modern-day Tokyo, with a couple of sidekicks and the newly-introduced feminine character Yoko Hiromine, and from there we had been just about free to discover, combat some demons, and soak within the gorgeous (albeit considerably barren) setting. Talking of Yoko, she’s an intriguing new addition that we’re eager to be taught extra about. A formidable ally, she boasted expertise such because the fire-based ‘Agidyne+2’, the lightning-based ‘Ziodyne’, and the darkish power assault ‘Mudoon+4’ throughout the demo, the latter of which proved significantly efficient towards a number of enemies.
In the event you’ve performed the unique SMTV, then Vengeance will instantly really feel acquainted. It’s very a lot the equal of Persona 5 Royal or Persona 4 Golden in that the sport is mainly similar when it comes to gameplay and presentation, however with some significant plot adjustments and quality-of-life enhancements that, largely, weren’t actually obvious throughout our session. The sport’s protagonist whips by the setting like butter while you click on the dash button in, and sliding down steep embankments or grinding throughout the pink, glowing Megatsu Rails to succeed in new areas is a delight. All of that is made much more palatable in Vengeance because of the added skill to avoid wasting anytime, wherever, which is sweet.
The true surprise of Vengeance lies inside its ‘Press-Flip’ battle system, which stays as deep, fulfilling, and, let’s face it, brutal as ever. The part we performed got here loaded with a complete bunch of demons to help in battle, which was helpful for the reason that enemies had been no pushovers. As ever, reaching victory could be very a lot a case of figuring out your enemy’s weaknesses and exploiting them by switching out your energetic characters for extra appropriate choices out of your roster. Whenever you handle to focus on an enemy’s weak spot, you’ll get a gap to assault once more, so there’s ample alternative throughout each battle to unleash a combo of assaults towards your foes earlier than they even get an opportunity to reply. Enterprise as normal for veterans, then.
In fact, it doesn’t all the time work out this fashion. Shin Megami Tensei V is well-known for its harsh problem, and the tide can flip throughout battles on the drop of a hat, so that you’ll need to ensure you’re paying consideration always. Or you’ll be able to decrease the problem – as much as you. Both method, in the event you’re up for the problem, Vengeance will certainly show to be some of the satisfying JRPGs on Swap or some other platform for that matter.
Aside from that, every part we noticed throughout our hands-on session was very a lot par for the course. There’s one thing unusually meditative about wandering round such a wonderful, desolate wasteland and we’re desperate to discover the brand new areas, quests, demons, and each little factor that is modified in our personal time. In the event you weren’t satisfied by the unique sport’s Swap launch in 2021, then it is unlikely something right here will change your thoughts.
All in all, there is a sense of otherworldliness that feels wholly distinctive to Shin Megami Tensei V and hasn’t been replicated elsewhere. It is an enchanting expertise, however although we totally loved Vengeance’s buttery-smooth 60FPS gameplay on PS5, the jury could be very a lot nonetheless out for the Swap model. For the reason that unique’s body fee would usually drop beneath the goal 30FPS, we’re not anticipating any miracles right here, however on the similar time, we’re assured that Atlus will a minimum of obtain efficiency parity.
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