Board 8 > Shin Megami Tensei V Review Zone

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https://opencritic.com/game/12282/shin-megami-tensei-v/reviews?sort=score

https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/shin-megami-tensei-v

SHINE MEGUMI IS BACK

86% average through 45 reviews so far which makes it the highest rated mainline SMT game but below some of its Persona spinoffs like P5, P4 and P3P.

Reviewers note the story is a bit lacking and there can be performance issues when in the open world areas, but if you were a fan of Nocturne this is modern take on that game that you've been waiting for.

Gaming Age
10/10
All in all, Ive absolutely enjoyed my time spent with Shin Megami Tensei V. If youre looking for a good, meaty RPG to sink your teeth into this holiday season, it definitely fits the bill. The small additions made to the Shin Megami formula work out really well here, and the game doesnt feel hindered on Switch hardware. Its nice to see the series leap away from a handheld platform and back to a mainline console release, and hopefully this will draw more attention to Shin Megami Tensei as a whole. So yeah, de

Wccftech
9.5 / 10.0
Featuring a new approach to exploration and extremely solid gameplay, Shin Megami Tensei V masterfully balances innovation and tradition to offer an excellent JRPG experience. While the technical issues can get in the way, the game's quality is so high that most will be willing to look past them, as Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the best entries in the series and one of the best JRPGs released in 2021.

Nintendo Life
9 / 10
Shin Megami Tensei V is a modern masterpiece. It successfully delivers on all the aspects that have made the series thus far so popular with fans-namely through its high difficulty, heavy narrative themes, and expansive team-building options-while polishing up and tightening the weaker aspects. Things like a more easily navigable map and more difficulty options to cater to players of all skill levels comfortably make this the most approachable entry in the series, and it feels like there's more things to do in the world than ever before. If you are at all a fan of RPGs or have been looking for a good entry point into this oft overlooked series, we would strongly encourage you to pick this up as soon as you can. Shin Megami Tensei V was worth the wait, Atlus has successfully stuck the landing with this one.

RPG Site
9/10
It's probably inevitable that Shin Megami Tensei V won't be exactly what everybody wanted from a new entry into the franchise. Although I had a few qualms with it overall, and there are definitely some growing pains with its direction in places, I came away mostly content with how Atlus handled this latest installment. While Shin Megami Tensei V's new direction may not suit everyone's expectations for the series, Atlus has returned to the franchise with an ambitious fifth entry.

NintendoWorldReport
9 / 10.0
Now that we've finally closed the book on the 2017 Switch presentation, I think Shin Megami Tensei V might be my favourite game to emerge from that show. That's not a comparison I make lightly given the other games that appeared that night, but for my money and time it was worth the wait. Pokemon might be ending the year of RPGs on Switch, but SMT V is the best monster catcher for your buck yet.

GameSpot
8/10
Shin Megami Tensei V is a game that demands a lot of the player--its slow pace and punishing difficulty will more than likely turn some folks off. But those who stick with it will find an incredibly rewarding experience that only gets better the further in you get. SMTV truly makes you feel like the weight of this crumbling, conflict-torn world of mythological nightmares rests firmly on your shoulders--but it's a burden you'll be glad you chose to bear.

IGN
8/10
With extensive and satisfying party customization, excellent combat, and challenging enemies, Shin Megami Tensei V never left me feeling bored or burned out across its epic length. Exploration and platforming sections lend some much-needed variety when you're fighting so many similar battles in a row. I just couldn't shake the feeling that this was Persona without the heart without the unforgettable companion characters, the potent personal story, the incredible soundtrack, and the jaw-dropping twists and turns. Still, if you're looking for a meaty, demanding, endlessly deep, and overall outstanding JRPG to sink your teeth into, Shin Megami Tensei V has heaping portions of it.

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worse than twilight princess

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6T15RVdbLY

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giB62FTLhVc

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Vroom vroom

oh sorry I thought this was the more highly reviewed Forza topic

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It's very, very good.
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Sounds promising. Is this the best-received mainline SMT series?

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All the complaints of a paper-thin plot sound great to me, playing Nocturne with its 'paper-thin' plot was extremely refreshing after so many JRPGs with endless walls of dialogue. SMT is more about the vibes, man.

still can't get over MC's hair

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over how awesome it is?

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ninkendo posted...

I just couldn't shake the feeling that this was Persona without the heart without the unforgettable companion characters, the potent personal story, the incredible soundtrack, and the jaw-dropping twists and turns.

how will smt ever recover

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Raka_Putra posted...

Sounds promising. Is this the best-received mainline SMT series?

The reviews are in line with those of SMT4 and 4A.
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Might pick up eventually, but well see. Nocturne was the first and last SMT main game I enjoyed, but I only played it and 4 so thats not saying much. Nocturnes atmosphere is great, but its practically its only great quality sadly. Wish we were getting more Devil Survivor games from Atlus

IGN's comment about it being "persona without the heart" is getting it ratio'd

between this and the eternals topics, people need to chill out about reviews

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86 huh

https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/kingdom-hearts-ii

Kingdom Hearts II has screwed us again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn0kOO-X-Jk

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colliding posted...

IGN's comment about it being "persona without the heart" is getting it ratio'd

Yeah I know SMT vs Persona reviews is a meme but phrased another way this is totally accurate (SMT is Persona, but heartless). Persona is a series about making friends, mainline is a series about (spoilers if you have not played a single SMT game) killing your friends.

It's tiring to have to relitigate this once every decade when get a new mainline title, but people coming from the spinoffs do need to know up front the strength of these games isn't plot and characters but atmosphere, themes, and the gritty RPG mechanics. And this isn't even specific to Megaten as a franchise. It's abnormal compared to...most popular JRPGs.

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I just find it odd that so many SMT fans seem shocked/angry that the comparison is happening at all. Like... of course it's happening. Persona is a huge deal now and from a reviewer's standpoint it makes sense to compare them in terms of reaching a wide audience. It also makes sense to compare them just by the very spin-off nature of Persona. Of course you're going to compare them in the same way reviewers of Better Call Saul compare it to Breaking Bad, while noting that they're completely different in tone/purpose.

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Maybe SMT just needs better plot and characters to go along with everything else it offers then.

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colliding posted...

I just find it odd that so many SMT fans seem shocked/angry that the comparison is happening at all. Like... of course it's happening. Persona is a huge deal now and from a reviewer's standpoint it makes sense to compare them in terms of reaching a wide audience. It also makes sense to compare them just by the very spin-off nature of Persona. Of course you're going to compare them in the same way reviewers of Better Call Saul compare it to Breaking Bad, while noting that they're completely different in tone/purpose.

Sure, but I'd be more interested in a review of BCS season 5 that compares it to BCS season 4 than one that compares it to BB season 5.
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AxemRedRanger posted...

Maybe SMT just needs better plot and characters to go along with everything else it offers then.

No, because the plot and characters have clear goals and generally accomplish them. It's just those goals are not what everyone wants from a JRPG. But it is what they need.

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Persona won the war and reviewers have every right to dock points from SMT for not delivering on the genre highs that are Persona 4 and 5, but some of my favorite games ever are in the 8 review range instead of the 9 or 10 so that's okay.

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Nothing wrong with wanting better characters than what SMT offers. The lack of good characters are why I never care what choices Im making or whose side Im taking when theyre forgettable as hell

Of course there's nothing wrong with it. There's not even anything wrong with docking points for it. It's just that it's not what the series is about, it's unlikely to change, and as colliding is saying there is zero reason to be surprised or indignant that people have different viewpoints.

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I would generally say that SMT actually shouldn't have "better" characters because the whole point of the series is aligning yourself with worldviews and/or philosophies, with the characters just serving as encapsulations of those broader ideas. If they were personalized to the point that you were on someone's team just because you find them charismatic I think it would weaken the themes that make the series work to begin with.

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I'm really happy with the reviews it got but now I have to wait 2 weeks for the game to arrive. Looks like I'm replaying Metroid Dread for a while.

It's more the fact they even said it at all, as if they never played an SMT game (or Persona game), and thought, "THIS IS FINE!" Besides, 4 and 4A have pretty decent characters and plot for as dungeon crawl heavy they are compared to Persona anyway. So is stuff like Soul Hackers. Which someone who played them would have probably understood and...fact checked first. Even more so that the line is the last thing they see on their OFFICIAL TWEET! I mean...that is pretty much asking for people to beat you with sticks. Said in the body of a buried review, I doubt anyone would notice. The review would look stupid, but not a complete own goal.

*Note, I haven't played every SMT or Persona game under the sun, but I'm not stupid enough to throw either under the bus for public consumption.*

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swordz9 posted...

Nothing wrong with wanting better characters than what SMT offers. The lack of good characters are why I never care what choices Im making or whose side Im taking when theyre forgettable as hell

Yeah there is nothing wrong with that but if you are playing a mainline SMT game for the story and characters more than the gameplay, atmosphere and bosses then it is like expecting a series like Trails to have mind-blowing gameplay or Dragon Quest to completely reinvent its formula.

SMTIV had more compelling characters and a generally better story than Nocturne but the gameplay and mechanics were implemented so much worse that it turned into a very forgettable and somewhat tedious experience. Nocturne however has stood the test of time because of how intriguing they made the gameplay, bosses and the atmosphere.

SMT is just gameplay-centric and fans of the mainline series have long accepted that.

I have only played Nocturne and IV (and those DS tactical strategy games - Devil Summoner?). Granted, I played Persona 3 and 4 before all of these. For some reason most SMT fans take it really personally if a reviewer complains about these games and mentions Persona at the same time. The thing is, SMT fans (of which I consider myself a part) need to be aware that these reviews are not written for them. Nor are they written by SMT fans. They're written by game journalists for general audiences. It's not a personal attack and the fact that review bombing/ratio-ing is even a thing these days is pure childish-ness/tantrum throwing.

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I'm just gonna say this. Things become mainstream for a reason. They gain such immense popularity because they are doing something absolutely right. Persona, initially the spin-off series has hit the mainstream and SMT the mother series sadly, has not. Those are facts for good reason.

Now that is not a knock on SMT. I love the games. I love the challenge and gameplay but Nocturne the best one I've played in the series so far, cannot really compare to Persona 3, 4 and 5 in my opinion and the majority and general consensus minus the vocal few are also of the same.

The mainline SMT games have more depth in gameplay surrounding the combat system especiallt and their dungeons (pre-Persona 5) are handled better than the Persona games but the overall package is just not the literal dope that the Persona games are.

I am a fan of both series (now considered separate) and my expectations from both are of different metrics. The pure SMT fanbase are usually noticeably elitist and shuns everything Persona as "weeb" or whatever whereas the Persona fanbase is usually ignorant and label the mother series as archaic and a chore to play. I say both are wrong. Why not get the best of both worlds and unbiasedly enjoy both.

Axl_Rose_85 posted...

I say both are wrong. Why not get the best of both worlds and unbiasedly enjoy both.

Yup.
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As for my standing with the series. I have beaten all Persona games from 1-5, their multiple editions and ports. The only ones I haven't played too much of are the dancing games. Persona 4 and 5 (especially Royal) are both Top 10 games and Persona 3 is a Top 20 game for me.

As for the SMT series which I'm considering separate. I have played 1 and 2 but haven't finished either. I have played and beaten Nocturne multiple times on all its difficulty modes. The next SMT games I played were the Digital Devil Saga games. Both games are flawed but pretty good experiences overall. What stands out from those two games are the super bosses. Two of which I consider to be the hardest turn based bosses in a video game. Then I have played Strange Journey which I did not like at all. SMTIV came next and while I enjoyed the game overall it was heavily flawed. The game was just not nearly as compelling as Nocturne and was overall very forgettable. It also had huge balance issues where the beginning of the game like one of the hardest things ever and then it is a free fall in difficulty after that. I have played Apocalypse and while it was good it fell apart towards the end. The final dungeon in particular was just fucking terrible.

I have played the other spin-offs like Devil Survivor which is an interesting SRPG but my playthrough came apart because more interesting games came out around the time I was playing it. Raidou Kuzunoha also was something I played quite a bit back then but never really found it interesting enough to push through.

Strife2 posted...

It's more the fact they even said it at all, as if they never played an SMT game (or Persona game), and thought, "THIS IS FINE!" Besides, 4 and 4A have pretty decent characters and plot for as dungeon crawl heavy they are compared to Persona anyway. So is stuff like Soul Hackers. Which someone who played them would have probably understood and...fact checked first. Even more so that the line is the last thing they see on their OFFICIAL TWEET! I mean...that is pretty much asking for people to beat you with sticks. Said in the body of a buried review, I doubt anyone would notice. The review would look stupid, but not a complete own goal.

SMTV is meant to be an entry point to the series. So is SMTIV. So is Nocturne HD! Atlus markets these games by counting on Persona to open the door to the rest of the games, so the perspective of a reviewer who has never played an SMT title before is not going to stop being relevant until the series gains a similar amount of traction. The fanbase is extra pissy about this because Atlus themselves treats Persona as the "main" Megaten series, but the fans basically just refuse to admit it. The other spinoff series are rare now, but even the ones we do get (like Devil Survivor and SMT#FE) are clearly taking cues from Persona instead.

anyways, give me raidou 3 atlus you motherfuckers

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I still think it's reasonable to expect a comparison to previous games in a series in a review of the newest game in the series.
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Mac Arrowny posted...

I still think it's reasonable to expect a comparison to previous games in a series in a review of the newest game in the series.

Sure, then read those reviews

You can't expect every review to be from the same perspective

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the only one of those comments that's bad is the third one

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Yeah, clown image macro on legitimate points doesn't illegitimize those points.

SMT is great but its very much a "skip the cutscenes" sort of RPG. It is not the sort of game that reaches the high points Persona has managed, but there's nothing wrong with that, and some people prefer a break from sprawling character-driven, high plot affairs and just want to play the sort of game SMT is.

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Accel_R8 posted...

SMT is great but its very much a "skip the cutscenes" sort of RPG

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I guess the first comment should be older brother, but yeah my point still stands

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The only SMT game I ever enjoyed was Strange Journey, because it reminded me of Etrian Odyssey

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Endwalker delay means I'll be getting this at launch.

Hyyyype. I never played SMTIV because I'd already stopped being able to tolerate playing games on handhelds.

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UshiromiyaEva posted...

I never played SMTIV because I'd already stopped being able to tolerate playing games on handhelds.

SMTIV is disappointing on so many levels coming from Nocturne. You are not missing out on much.

SMTIV: Apocalypse might just have the worst dungeon I have seen in any video game ever. This feels unrelated to the topic at hand but the mention of IV jolted some awful memories.

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Got a hold of the game this morning, insanely excited to play it when I get home!

I'm really on the fence with this. I've never played an SMT game, but have always been intrigued. I'm worried about the length because there aren't a lot of series out there that I'm willing to dedicate a ton of hours to anymore.

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Wait, SMTIV is considered bad in terms of the SMT series? It's the only non-Persona game I played and I really enjoyed it. I guess that means I should check out some of the others too.

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RaidenGarai posted...

Wait, SMTIV is considered bad in terms of the SMT series?

No?

I've only played 3, 4, and 4: Apocalypse and like all three overall. I prefer 3 but the other two are comparable - it's just the final dungeon of 4: Apocalypse is atrocious.

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3 is my favorite, then Strange Journey

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I like SMTIV more than Nocturne, but that's largely because I like the music/aesthetic more

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