Review: Shin Megami Tensei V: Lucifer? I scarcely know her at all!
Our Verdict
Shin Megami Tensei V is a traditional RPG with dense gameplay, a fantastic cast of demonic creatures, and some of the best visuals on Switch. It’s a stellar experience that holds steadfast to its old-school origins but gives the huge world and gameplay mechanics just enough smart changes to make every moment a blast. A sinister, magnificent, and deeply satisfying new contender for the best RPG on Switch.
Just a few minutes into Shin Megami Tensei V, my half-demon, half-teenager persona gazes out over post-apocalyptic Tokyo's barren desert, where automobiles seem worn and distressed and buildings have collapsed and sunk into the sand. Their blue hair gently moves with every step they take and cascades down to the backs of their knees. From a great height, the demonic forces of heaven and hell are engaged in battle, with the hideous monsters from both sides sprinting towards one other in an attempt to take control of this globe.
Then, a huge figure of Lucifer, the winged demon-lord himself, slowly emerges from the sky and descends with a threatening, authoritative presence as a dismal cloud creeps towards the battle. All of this is going on while menacing, otherworldly soundscapes from the soundtrack roar, punctuated by a guitar solo that cuts through the mix. I adore Shin Megami Tensei V, even if it takes itself extremely seriously.
Shin Megami Tensei V, which was first shown in 2017, is now available on the Nintendo Switch. The most recent game in this more than 30-year-old series adds some intriguing aspects to mix up the formula while staying faithful to the traditional turn-based JRPG components that fans are familiar with and adore. However, one thing remains constant: this is a very difficult game.
I should point you right away that this is my first Shin Megami Tensei game. I've only ventured into an Atlus RPG as far as Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth on my 3DS, and I had a great time playing it. However, I am a huge fan of JRPGs, particularly those on the Nintendo Switch, so I thought the time had come to give them a try.
In SMTV, your character—a quiet adolescent going to high school with their friends—is thrown into a world that was once entirely devoid of human existence and is now rife with both good and evil demons. You become the Nahobino, a new body with several feet of vivid blue hair and an energy sword you may summon at any time, after merging with a demon in order to live.
It is up to the Nahobino to explore this planet; you have to look for your missing classmates and discover out why there is a battle between the two heavenly armies and why this desolate world exists. It's heavy material, and ATLUS, to be honest, does it credit by embracing it. The plot, language, and opponents are all portrayed with a knowing degree of both depth and gravity, yet it's nevertheless tempered with sporadic travels to "normal" Tokyo and the carefree energy of your classmate pals. This game works well and is quite metal.
To those who are unaware, the Shin Megami Tensei series has a striking resemblance to devil Pokémon, but with several notable distinctions. These monsters, which you assemble into the usual JRPG squad from monsters you uncover, are based on mythology, gods, and cryptids from several civilizations. Mothman may be positioned next to a Pixie, or he can surround your squad with an Archangel, a Basilisk, and the Egyptian deity Thoth. Building my squad is always fun because of the interesting and eerily disturbing mix of species here.
The primary distinction is that you may merge your demons to produce even more powerful monsters, even if your team levels up regularly. The new forms have distinct stats and traits, but when you combine them, certain moves are inherited. Demon Essence is another item you may acquire and use to communicate new moves to your demon without altering it. With so many different and potent movesets available to each member of your party, there is a ton of room for strategy here.
There are seven things to be aware of in combat, and the secret to success is knowing your vulnerabilities and resistances. Each combat begins with four movements—one for each member of the party—but if you successfully strike an opponent with an attack that weakens them, you may bank up to eight more moves. Hence, if you are successful in targeting vulnerabilities, each member of the party will get an additional move in one round. You lose two of your banked movements if the elemental move misses or is met with resistance by the opponent.
And then there's the Magatsuhi Gauge, which is filled with attacks you deal and receive over time, enabling you to activate special powers. With the use of these skills, you may make sure that each move you make in your next turn is crucial or you can employ the elemental special attacks that are unique to each demon. Crucially, however, is that your adversary may also use these, so you must pay great attention to when they accumulate Magatsuhi energy and adjust your strategy appropriately. It's a risk-reward system that may turn against you very fast, but mastering it can be highly fulfilling.
You'll also need to pick it up fast since this is a challenging game. I've played the game on both casual and standard difficulty settings, and I found both to be rather hard. As a result, fans of classic JRPGs will undoubtedly love playing on the higher levels. It simply rewards a grasp of the fundamentals and never seems unfair, which means that assembling a squad with a well-balanced mix of moves and resistances is crucial. particularly during the intense boss battles throughout the game.
Not a single boss battle was one that I won on my first try, but it only made it more satisfying to return a few times with a more refined plan of attack to dispatch them. I became even more engrossed in the game's authentically horrific atmosphere with each of the massive, epic boss fights that suit the tone of the environment and tale wonderfully. Even the initial monster, the Hydra, is a massive mass of spreading tentacles with fangs and characteristics reminiscent of a Giger. Although the creature design is excellent throughout, it is especially so with the bosses.
What could let you down, however, is the game's adherence to traditional JRPG elements—especially if you're new to the genre. Although you can automate attacks and skip fight animations, this is a slower-paced RPG than many, and it may become tedious at times if you're having trouble grinding. There are no more choices in the auto-fight except to use your most basic attack, so don't expect something as sophisticated as the combat options in Dragon Quest XI.
Additionally, there is no auto-save feature, and you lose experience if you pass away. If you spend an hour investigating and are defeated by a formidable foe, you have just wasted that hour of progress. Currency is needed even to regain HP and MP, and sometimes a demon fusion fails. A botched fusion is still a painful loss since you may quickly summon any captured demon from a compendium, so it's not the end of the world. However, it does come at a high cost.
It's difficult even to enlist adversaries since you have to barter with them, responding to their inquiries and riddles in exchange for an offering. In addition to requesting money, HP, and MP, they sometimes just want to flee. The language is funny and adds a wonderfully enjoyable twist to the meetings, particularly when you learn about each demon's personality and preferred method of treatment. However, don't count on seeing them for the first time.
Although I would prefer some modern conveniences, like the ability to speed up battles and choose how I automatically attack, these are minor complaints, and the battle system you do have here is so rich and rewarding that it's difficult to criticize it for sticking to its principles. Personally, I like the game's old-school brutality.
Of course, there is an open world to explore outside of combat, and what strikes you right away is just how big it is. Even though there are no humans left in this dystopian Tokyo, there are still plenty of demons and exciting discoveries to be made around every corner. There were massive buildings in ruins, dilapidated roadways all over the place, and signs of the end of the world could be seen everywhere. Since your character can employ a few platforming skills to access the numerous mysteries of the planet, this is all valuable territory to explore.
Little red monsters known as Miman are scattered all over the place and serve as the game's Korok seeds. You may discover them and defeat them to get Glory, a crucial resource. Finding the Miman is enjoyable, and you are rewarded for finding more of them as well as for the accumulated glory they provide. Glory may be used to acquire Miracle talents, which increase the Nahobino's capacity to carry more demons, learn more techniques than your squad, and lower the price of goods and recuperation.
These Miracles provide combat a another level of complexity and strategy, and they also make exploring the landscape seem even more rewarding. In addition to the usual battle leveling up, this indicates that the game never dragged at all. Large clusters of Glory may also be found in difficult-to-reach places. Other features include enormous yellow energy spheres that, when struck, disclose things, and antiquated vending machines that sell relics like "Soda" for money to demons. Not to mention that you want to search the whole map for the rarest demon teammates possible in your quest for more.
Additionally, the plot advances at a respectable pace, offering you a variety of locales to visit often enough to maintain interest and frequently revealing significant plot points and character moments. The narrative also explores some dark territory that I wasn't prepared for, which put my emotional connection to the endearing individuals I encountered to the test. You will want to persevere through the whole voyage as the game's grand themes build to an epic finale.
The overworld, together with the many tasks scattered throughout, makes me think of titles like Xenoblade Chronicles. These intimidating, breathtaking vistas are always there, yet a world that might be monotonous to explore is given plenty of purpose by the ingenious secret passageways and discoverable features that can be located all across the decaying globe. Everywhere I looked, I found a secret cave, rooftop, or small little walkway, and each time I found one, I found something special.
The side-quests that found me in a cave or other place teeming with non-player characters (NPC) demons were the most fulfilling of these; the chores they assigned me brought even more dark humor and color to the setting and plot. You may be possible to finish this game in 50 or 60 hours if you want to breeze through it, but I don't advise it. Discovering side-tasks is really one of the simplest methods to strengthen your squad since it's more enjoyable to explore and meander about. You also get experience for doing quests.
I would want to draw attention to Shin Megami Tensei V's entire appearance, which is just breathtaking. This game instantly rises to the top of the Switch's visual showcase rankings because of its expansive yet reasonably self-contained worlds, each of which offers a vast area to explore full of dynamic shadows, gorgeous light peeking through the clouds, and an incredible sense of scale from the numerous monsters you encounter as well as the enormous decaying buildings.
With the game's graphic capabilities, the demons themselves are given more horrific depth. Although the scary beings you encounter later on are progressively more visually stunning, you begin with simple imps and oozing monsters. Regardless of what you locate or fuse, your late game squad is a sight to see, particularly if you use the Special Fusion method to construct exceptionally strong monsters.
And lastly, there's the amazing audio presentation. The music uses a loud sound design and distorted guitars to counterbalance the eerie and menacing tone with a driving intensity. This game has very weighty topics, and the amazing soundtrack throughout gives them the appropriate weight. The voice cast is fantastic overall, but there are a few characters that seem a little flat. This is the one drawback. A handful of the primary cast members are impressive, but others seem forced into the role, even if demons and monsters are given very horrifying sounds to frighten you. Although it didn't keep me from enjoying the action, the human characters sometimes stood out to me because of the story's dedication to the grandiose and its thematic weight.
Not everyone should play Shin Megami Tensei V since it's a harsh game that challenges you to make errors and treats you harshly when you do. In addition, there's a very lucrative fighting system with a very entertaining cast of characters that can be unlocked and a mean group of bosses who are just itching to destroy them. The emotional themes of the game are handled with appropriate earnestness, and I was quickly drawn into this macabre realm.
In the end, SMTV is a deep, somber, and extraordinarily complex role-playing game, spanning over 60 hours and packed with dramatic combat and breathtaking graphics. Even in the darkest settings, it's a visual powerhouse on the Switch, and the sound design is outstanding throughout. It is completely up to you if you have the patience for that, however, since this is still very much a classic role-playing game. Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the greatest role-playing games available on the market, making it well worth the lengthy wait for fans of the series and genre.