Shin Megami Tensei V Reviews
Shin Megami Tensei 5 is a bastard to rate. What we have here is a game that, when everything is working in tandem, is possibly the greatest JRPG of all time. The depth, the mechanics, the loop – it’s perfect. The things it fumbles, however, makes getting to that greatness a chore at times, and it does serious damage to the overall experience. This is a 10/10 game, trapped in an 8/10 body – which is a real shame.
While Shin Megami Tensei has only been able to glimpse the shining spotlight in the shadow of its sibling series Persona, developer Atlus is now making a rather timid attempt to step out of it with the fifth installment of the main series. By turning away from the traditional dungeon crawler concept to a much more open level structure, they skillfully create a synergy effect that clearly enhances the actually insubstantial gameplay loop motivationally and indisputably decorates it with a comprehensible justification. The depth of the role-playing system as well as the animating collecting mania through the whimsical demons cleverly counteract the merciless difficulty level without demoralizing the player too much. Meanwhile, the plot is largely utilitarian, even insubstantial, motivating the player to really want to participate in the storyline only in the smaller, more emotional moments. On top of that, the Nintendo Switch exclusivity clearly limits the role-playing game technically, which shouldn't be particularly beneficial for the family's race to catch up and only raises the question about the relevance of the current revision of the hybrid console once again. Even if Shin Megami Tensei still can't move in the highly praised spheres of a Persona, Atlus still manages to deliver a more than solid overall construct thanks to the given innovations, which should shorten the wait for the next full-fledged spin-off, not least for the Persona fan community. It's a good thing that the apple usually never falls far from the tree.
Review in German | Read full review
Shin Megami Tensei V is a finely built JRPG with a flawless game design that stumbles in its story execution but makes up for it with its gameplay brilliance.
It’s been a while since I’ve played a JRPG quite as captivating as Shin Megami Tensei V. Its dangerous world is a pleasure to explore, and recruiting a small army of demons is shockingly addictive. Some may be disappointed by the lack of story scenes, but I enjoyed the fact that it just lets you get on with developing your party without any fluff; the focus here is on the journey. If you’re a Shin Megami Tensei fan or into RPGs that favour gameplay over storytelling, consider this a must-have.
A console sequel to the Shin Megami Tensei series that I wish the game had stronger hardware to utilize. The combat is still enjoyable and is the reason to play the game, everything else is just an afterthought and it shows.
The long wait for Shin Megami Tensei V has been worth it. This could have been another disaster like prior games with lengthy development cycles, but this is the one that actually delivers on all of its promises and then some.
Shin Megami Tensei V brings players an old-school challenge with some modern concessions.
SMT V is perhaps a little too smart for its own good, and might alienate some people in the process, but it’s also refreshing to have developers create something that actually dares to have that level of confidence in their audience. This is a game that makes few concessions and compromises, but it is rewarding in kind and has a kind of elevated gravitas that marks it out as a rare and special thing indeed.
It's no exaggeration to say that Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the best round-based RPGs on the market right now.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the best RPGs of the year. A memorable installment, and a good introduction to the series. Without a doubt, spectacular
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Shin Megami Tensei V is a solid evolution of the series with updated graphics and a thoroughly enjoyable overworld traversal system that rewards exploration although the battle system and monster recruiting remain a little too familiar.
It’s an excellent entry point for those unfamiliar with SMT, should provide great joy for returning players, and should not be missed.
Battle between light and dark is very interesting and main hero is in great condition.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Shin Megami Tensei 5 brings back the things that fans love about the series. Its biggest sin is that it doesn’t do much to innovate. Fans that were expecting to see a brand new vision for SMT will be confused because this is essentially the same demon collecting dungeon crawler it has always been.
Shin Megami Tensei V is the best Shin Megami Tensei game thus far, without a doubt. It's incredibly stylish and delivers an intriguing plot filled with the philosophical and metaphysical concepts that fans have come to expect. Its battle system is every bit as engaging as it's contemporaries, and the fusion system remains as one of the best in the genre. And while it's got some strong art direction, technical issues and ho-hum dungeon design keep Shin Megami Tensei V from being as great as it could be.
There are excellent RPG gameplay ideas powering Shin Megami Tensei V, but they’re left stranded in search of a worthwhile role to play.
Shin Megami Tensei V enhances its formula with expansive areas and more ability customization. The result is a mostly entertaining ride, albeit with a few bumps along the way
The grind to the top is ascetic and practiced, with grand ambition and keen diligence towards paying the franchise's history its proper dues. It's an undeniably dark game, but quite optimistic in its intentions and eschews edgy clichés. Shin Megami Tensei V is Atlus's contemporary masterpiece, and one of the finest games this year.
The battle system is excellent but the Shin Megami Tensei series once again misses a golden opportunity to reincarnate itself, with its sparse plot and sky high difficulty.