Having performed the unique Shin Megami Tensei V over 4 instances on Nintendo Change, I clearly liked the sport regardless of its few flaws. Again then I questioned if we’d simply see it ported to extra platforms finally with all DLC, or have to attend for the Change’s successor for any kind of re-release. Possibly we’d get one thing like Persona 5 Royal that was constructed on the unique, or one thing like Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse. I didn’t count on Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Having spent over 170 hours with Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance totally on Steam Deck, but in addition on Change and PS5, I can safely say that I’m glad Atlus dealt with it this manner.
I’m going to cowl how Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance feels for many who performed the unique and likewise for newcomers who seemingly are going to expertise Shin Megami Tensei V for the primary time by way of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. This assessment is not going to have any story spoilers for the bottom recreation or the brand new Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance route. I can even be overlaying how Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance feels on Nintendo Change in comparison with the unique, which platform you can purchase it on should you’re new to the sport, and extra.
It feels bizarre writing about Shin Megami Tensei V as a brand new launch however right here we’re. After greater than 4 playthroughs of the unique, I wished to maintain taking part in extra, however I made a decision to attend for potential ports or a re-release. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance isn’t only a new enhanced port for present consoles and PC, however a dramatic enchancment in nearly each manner over the unique. After having overwhelmed Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance twice and at the moment midway by way of my third full playthrough, I can safely say that that is one among Atlus’ greatest video games for replaying. I simply love spending time on the earth, so what precisely was modified or fastened on this new model?
Earlier than stepping into the story content material, should you didn’t benefit from the open zones and common construction of Shin Megami Tensei V, that has not modified right here. In case you loved every part the unique had apart from its general narrative (or lack thereof with many characters poorly developed or simply tacked on), this Vengeance route is a big enchancment, however it additionally has many modifications to the narrative. In plenty of methods, taking part in the unique route in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance appears like an enhanced new model of a recreation with high quality of life options and all of the technical enhancements. The brand new route in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance appears like a remixed take with new story content material, new characters, a lot of new voice appearing, implausible new music, new areas, modifications to the unique story, and its personal completely different endings. Sure, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance’s new route doesn’t have only a single ending.
Once you begin a brand new save in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, you get to decide on which route you need to take quickly after. Taking the lady’s hand leads to you being on the Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance route, whereas not taking her hand leads to you being on the unique recreation’s route, however with the brand new options and high quality of life enhancements. In case you play Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on Change, you get to hold over three demons into the compendium, some objects, and extra objects primarily based on the endings you had in your save file. I laughed when three of my maxed out stage 99 demons had been carried over into Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on Change.
On the subject of the story, my points with Shin Megami Tensei V weren’t that it wasn’t in your face all through, or that I wished extra social components. My points had been that some characters simply confirmed up randomly throughout necessary moments once you don’t even keep in mind they exist. One particular character appears to be tremendous necessary, however I barely even remembered they existed till the ending of the sport. The true ending within the authentic recreation additionally concerned doing a little missable quests that you simply wouldn’t even hassle trying into except you had been going to finish each quest it had. I’ve completed each quest the unique recreation had on Change with the DLC, and actually thought they need to have dealt with many points of the characters and story higher.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance’s new route fixes most of this. Not solely are there extra interactions, however you really see the solid develop with you and the world altering. The whole lot appears like it’s a part of a cohesive story that isn’t filled with holes anymore. The brand new character interactions, extra dialogue in older scenes, remixed bosses, modifications to cut-scenes, and extra all come collectively to make Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance really feel just like the precise important recreation. I even loved having Yoko in older story moments with new voiced dialogue and extra context to particular conditions. Barring Yoko, the foremost new story addition is the Qadistu. I gained’t reveal an excessive amount of about them, however they undoubtedly served to enhance Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance’s story lots, and I loved each interplay I had with them.
I can’t touch upon each ending Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance has, however the ones I did get I preferred. I did just like the change to going for various paths right here in comparison with the unique. Data from the unique does assist in a small manner, however be ready to have Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance shock you each mechanically and narratively.
Earlier than stepping into the visible and efficiency enhancements and different technical particulars, I need to spotlight among the gameplay modifications in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. I can’t say for certain if this was solely due to among the new options, or as a result of I knew each older map out and in, however I discovered Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance simpler general. With the ability to save anyplace and utilizing the sky view made exploration a lot much less tense right here. Past that, the fight modifications and extra negotiation choices make Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance really feel extra full. The one factor I dislike is the change to the Estoma capacity that makes use of Magatsuhi gauge right here as a substitute of MP. You possibly can’t spam it like you might within the vanilla recreation, and I bought aggravated on the quantity of enemy encounters in a single particular map right here. The problem mode can be a beautiful addition as a result of I take pleasure in taking over older bosses or enemies once more. I didn’t end all of it as a result of it appears like plenty of it’s meant for min-maxing.
In case you’re new to Shin Megami Tensei V normally, I feel the brand new Vengeance route is mainly higher than the unique in each manner. I’m curious how individuals who play this route first after which play the unique will really feel concerning the story throughout each. In case you already performed Shin Megami Tensei V, taking part in the Vengeance route will really feel wonderful with the story additions, modifications to current points of the sport, and all the brand new boss fights and music. Even when this launch simply included the Vengeance route and was solely on Change, I might’ve been happy. Fortunately, Atlus and Sega have introduced Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance full with the unique route and prior DLC to all present and final technology platforms.
Visually, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a big improve over the vanilla recreation since I targeted on taking part in it on Steam Deck. Other than the huge picture high quality and body charge enhancements over Change, the brand new areas within the recreation are beautiful. You noticed a few of these within the “New Places” trailer, however seeing them in recreation at a excessive decision is absolutely one thing. On the subject of character fashions and new demons, I feel Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is one among Atlus’ strongest releases in years. It has an impeccable aesthetic that oozes the Shin Megami Tensei vibe I like from Atlus. This additionally carries over into its music.
I’ve by no means hid the truth that Shin Megami Tensei V has a chic soundtrack. I hearken to it frequently even years after it was initially launched. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance’s new music appears like a mix of Ryota Kozuka seeking to ship one thing that lives as much as Shin Megami Tensei V, but in addition reaching again into his Shin Megami Tensei IV vibe. The brand new boss themes particularly are wonderful. I can’t watch for the complete new soundtrack to be launched. Outdoors the music, the brand new voice appearing in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is excellent throughout the board. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is likely to be my favourite Atlus re-release but, and I don’t say that flippantly.
I’ve been taking part in it on Steam Deck, Nintendo Change, and PS5. On Steam Deck, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance arrives Steam Deck Verified. This isn’t all the time a assure of one thing operating properly, however having completed greater than two full playthroughs particularly on Steam Deck, I’m very impressed by how Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance appears and runs.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Steam Deck settings, graphics choices, and options
In case you play on a Steam Deck OLED, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance can hit 90fps (and even increased on each Steam Decks when performed docked) in lots of areas of the sport, however it isn’t locked 90fps. On the default preset by turning a number of issues up and shadows down, I solely noticed it drop beneath 60fps in a number of particular conditions, however it nearly all the time runs properly above. The menus are capped at 60fps although. On my Steam Deck OLED particularly in handheld mode, it frequently runs at above 80fps even whereas exploring. The key space I seen body drops beneath 60 was the Fairy Village. You go there fairly early on. Even the brand new areas maintain up very well together with the extra open areas.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on PC doesn’t have 16:10 assist, however it has Steam Cloud assist and full controller assist. In case you aren’t proud of the picture high quality at 800p, I like to recommend forcing 1080p for the inner show and taking part in at 30 or 45hz with some drops for essentially the most crisp handheld expertise. Talking of handheld expertise, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance even on its default PC settings at 800p on Steam Deck is a big improve in visuals and efficiency over the docked Nintendo Change model that hardly ever held a steady 30.
I additionally performed Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on my 1440p 144hz show to see the way it felt there. 1080p 60fps isn’t actually attainable on Steam Deck. I additionally examined 1440p and 4K and you’ll think about how that went. I caught to taking part in at 720p even docked to see how the sport held up at body charges above 90fps. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance can simply hit above 100fps on Steam Deck at 720p even in some open areas. It simply isn’t constant and also you’re higher off locking it at 60fps or taking part in with a 90fps goal and fluctuations. VRR would’ve helped lots on the Steam Deck OLED’s 90hz display in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. You possibly can play at a decrease decision after all, however I didn’t need to accept below 720p right here.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance’s PC port allows you to select button immediate choices together with an auto choice, alter keyboard controls, rebind controls for area and menus, and alter a number of graphics choices. You possibly can toggle ambient occlusion, movement blur, and anti-aliasing. The show choices allow you to alter display mode (fullscreen, borderless, windowed), decision (640×480 to 4K), toggle v-sync, and use a body charge restrict (30, 60, 90, 120, 144, limitless). There aren’t any extra choices, and I hoped to see draw distance and different options we see in Unreal Engine PC ports. Hopefully this may be added in a possible replace.
Total, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an absolute pleasure to play, and it is likely to be my favourite console to PC conversion that I’ve performed on Steam Deck alongside Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for 2024. The load instances are additionally very quick on Deck.
Shin Megami Tensei V Vs Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on Nintendo Change
Having overwhelmed Shin Megami Tensei V on Change a number of instances years in the past, I used to be curious to see how this new upgraded model of the sport felt on the identical platform. There are actually a number of extra publish processing choices even on consoles like anti-aliasing which you’ll be able to toggle on. It simply can’t deal with the sport and drops from 30fps even indoors on Nintendo Change each docked and handheld. I bought used to it and put over 30 hours into the sport on Change OLED. In case you performed the unique and loved it on Change, you’ll not have bother taking part in this new model.
Evaluating Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance to Shin Megami Tensei V has some visible modifications. Even the FOV appears a bit completely different within the vast choice the sport has in comparison with the unique. Past that, the brand new post-processing choice toggles aren’t current within the authentic recreation both. I didn’t have sufficient time to check each location to match as a result of I used to be specializing in the Steam Deck model for this assessment, however it appears like Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance isn’t going to be a lot completely different when it comes to efficiency in comparison with the unique. In case you are happy with that and need to play the brand new route on the identical platform, this model is okay.
On the PS5 facet, I can’t keep in mind the final time I used to be this impressed by the glow up a recreation has seen transferring from Change to PS5/Xbox Collection X. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance appears extremely crisp, runs flawlessly, and masses immediately on PS5. It even has PS5 Exercise Card assist.
Having performed it on Steam Deck (important platform), Change, Change Lite, PS4 on PS5, and the native PS5 model, you is likely to be questioning how the Xbox model is. Effectively, I didn’t take a code on that platform as a result of I pre-ordered it there already. If there’s a notable distinction between Xbox and PS5, I’ll replace this assessment sooner or later.
Do you have to get Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on PS5 or Change?
At this stage, the one cause I’d suggest anybody play the Change model is that if they haven’t any different platform to play it on and need to completely play in handheld mode. The downgrades in comparison with present platforms are simply too massive proper now. Clearly this wasn’t a difficulty again at launch, however for many who have a number of platforms, remember that each different model is best proper now, and it completely shines on each Steam Deck and PS5. Hopefully Atlus can do an improve for the Nintendo Change successor for many who purchase Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on Change proper now.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance isn’t simply the definitive model of a recreation I liked years in the past, however one among Atlus’ greatest RPGs in a very long time. I all the time take pleasure in revisiting video games I like each few years, however Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is simply an unimaginable improve and launch by itself. It is without doubt one of the greatest video games you may play on Steam Deck normally, not only for this yr.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Steam Deck Assessment Rating: 5/5
