Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance isn’t just the definitive version of a game I loved years ago, but one of Atlus' best RPGs in a long time. I always enjoy revisiting games I love every few years, but Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is just an incredible upgrade and release on its own. It is one of the best games you can play on Steam Deck in general, not just for this year.

There is so much to say about Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, but I'll spare you all the nitty-gritty details about the improvements, both big and small. If I did, this review would become a novel. What I will say is that if you were on the fence about SMT V, or if you loved it, Vengeance is the best way to go. Not only does it fix issues with the original, but the sheer amount of added content is reason alone to pick up this title. Hopefully, Vengeance will put the Megami Tensei name back in the spotlight, right alongside its spinoff.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the definitive package that makes a great role-playing game even better. Quality of life changes alongside and all-new storyline makes this a must-have RPG and one of the best releases of the year.

All in all, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a massive improvement over the original, boasting two full-length story modes with multiple endings for you to go through and explore. Combined with a new bunch of demons, new music, new mechanics, and much more, this is absolutely the definitive way to play this game. Other than some minor level scaling problems that still remain from the base game, it is a phenomenal RPG that encourages multiple playthroughs with plenty of unique build variety as vast as the player is willing to look. I genuinely cannot possibly recommend Vengeance enough to fans of turn-based RPGs, or even fans of Persona that may still not be versed in what SMT has to offer differently. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance releases for all major platforms on June 13th, and is well worth your money. Give it a shot, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance has surprised us with its ambition. It is a gigantic revision that practically duplicates the contents of the base game and improves it in many different ways to make this role-playing adventure a much more polished and rounded experience that will delight both those who already enjoyed it in its day and those who are dare to discover it now for the first time. If you like the genre and you want a challenging, deep work, with a unique level design, with a fascinating art direction, with a luxury soundtrack and with a combat system full of possibilities, don't hesitate and give it a try.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance breaks the chains that initially tied it to too modest hardware to finally shine on a range of systems capable of enhancing its visionary beauty. In addition to this, a sensational series of additions makes the management of demons even deeper, while an alternative narrative line will make even those who lost sleep over the Switch version happy.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an absolutely wonderful RPG, with loads of new features that you'd be foolish to miss.

Vengeance combines the fresh, familiar, and the fiendish into one incredible RPG.

Despite my few complaints, SMT V: Vengeance is a worthy upgrade that expands on the story and mechanics of the original in meaningful ways and easily earns the title of the definitive way to enjoy SMT V.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a bold overhaul and upgrade of the original. It greatly enhances the depth and playability of the core Demon Companion system, providing opportunities for up-close interaction with these "digital collectibles". While maintaining the atmosphere and quality of the original story, it nearly doubles the game's content. Although there is a lot of overlap with the original, it offers enough new experiences to keep veteran players coming back for more. If you enjoy hardcore JRPGs with deep party-building mechanics and a focus on strategic gameplay, this is undoubtedly an exceptional title for you.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance makes a litany of adjustments and additions to improve an RPG that I was already quite fond of. It doesn't fundamentally change what Shin Megami Tensei V is, and those disappointed in the direction Atlus took with the original game may not be swayed by this new version either, but Vengeance gives Shin Megami V the revamp it deserves.

Offering a stunning visual upgrade, a great new story, and a hugely rewarding combat system, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is officially the best and only way to play Atlus' beloved JRPG.

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.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an excellent revision of a game I already liked. It’s still more sci-fi than horror, but a delightfully cynical tale nonetheless. And Yoko is a very engaging heroine in all her bitter glory. If you liked the original Shin Megami Tensei V, or even just thought about playing it, check Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance out. You won’t regret it.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance offers a lot for players, both old and new; an impressive enhanced art style, multiple story paths, and a definitive sense of the series progressing from what it once was. There may not be a ton of new things to justify purchasing the game again, but the additions that are here are excellent at keeping fans intrigued about what's going to happen next. Long-time fans will likely already know what they're getting into, as the game hasn't changed its turn-based combat and capture loops in a while. Still, those same fans have kept these games going until now, and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is another in a long line of enjoyable titles in the long-running series.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is exactly what the series needed, adding on a ton of much-appreciated quality-of-life features and a wealth of new content to the already stellar skeleton that SMT is known for.

It’s just more SMT V to dive into, which for an already jam-packed RPG full of narrative agency and monster-collecting action, is more food on the table for the feast. And it was a hell of a feast to begin with.

Vengeance is the best version of Shin Megami Tensei V you can play, delivering a titanic adventure that enhances the original’s storyline and gameplay.

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.

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.