SHIN Megami Tensei V plays well on the Switch, but it always felt an ambitious game like that needed the power of a current-gen console.
Vengeance is not a remaster or a remake, but the version it brings to the PS5 and other platforms runs better and at a higher resolution.
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It also comes with a new story path, Canon of Vengeance, added alongside the Canon of Creation path from the original release.
This fixes a common complaint among SMTV fans about the original version’s lack of cutscenes and story content.
The new story path complements the original, but you will have to experience the two in separate playthroughs.
Shin Megami Tensei games are no walk in the park, and this enhanced re-release doesn’t lower the difficulty.
New players coming to SMT from Persona shouldn’t expect to defeat enemies in one turn, even when exploiting weaknesses.
One critical hit against your main hero is sometimes enough for game over, as losing your protag means your entire party is defeated.
On top of that, the game doesn’t autosave, so you will find yourself running to the nearest save point before each battle.
Known as leyline founts, these save points also let you recover your health, fast travel, fuse demons, and upgrade your Miracles.
And you should be doing all of this quite often to give your party the best chance of succeeding in your next encounter.
Taking your time doing side quests and clearing an area before proceeding to the next one is crucial to leveling up your character and demons.
This cautious approach makes SMTV feel slow and cumbersome, and this hasn’t changed in Vengeance.
While the new release does add cool new story content, it might not be enough to have you replay the game, unless you are a massive fan of the original.
If you’re a newcomer to SMTV and its quirks don’t put you off, Vengeance is the most complete way to play it right now.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance releases on June 14, 2024, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.
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