Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

A reincarnation of the 2021 Japanese role-player, that addresses every flaw of the original – and even if some issues remain it’s still a very enjoyable alternative to the Persona series.

While we find the policy of re-releases questionable, we must recognize that this time Atlus has shaped what will surely go down in history as the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V, a title that on Switch was too limited by the lack of hardware power. That said, while in the eyes of the players at their first rodeo Vengeance will appear as a tasty opportunity to recover a fascinating RPG which until now had been the exclusive prerogative of owners of the Nintendo console, the numerous adjustments made to the gaming component, the presence of a narrative path semi-unreleased, and last but not least an improved technical sector, may not be as attractive as to push even those who have already stepped into the shoes of the Nahobino to dive into the Beyond a second time.

Everything that made Shin Megami Tensei V such a memorable and engaging experience remains in Vengeance, just tweaked and massaged into an even better game. It's easier to connect to the narrative--having the other human characters in your party and engaging in small talk with them go a long way to making the events happening around them feel more impactful--and the various adjustments to navigation, combat, and demon-herding let you focus more on savoring the dark atmosphere and the strategies of battle. If you didn't enter the tunnel to the underworld the first time around, this is the perfect opportunity to do so--and if you're a veteran of the war for the throne, there's plenty here to bring you back.