After announcing the game’s new release date, SEGA and Atlus revealed more new gameplay features of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.
In case you missed its reveal, Vengeance is an enhanced re-release of Shin Megami Tensei V. Aside from making the game available to other platforms, this new version of SMTV will feature lots of major additions, including the Canon of Vengeance storyline which diverges from the original Canon of Creation midway for a different ending. This makes the game worth replaying even for those who have finished the original game.
Along with the new storyline, players can expect a bunch of gameplay additions in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. The new additions are described by SEGA/Atlus as:
Press Turn Combat – The series’ simple but rewarding turn-based Press Turn Combat system is back, with new skills and gameplay elements. Turn the tides of battle in your favor by targeting your enemy’s weaknesses to gain extra actions before your enemies do!
Magatsuhi Skills – Your Magatsuhi Gauge fills up throughout the course of battle. Once the gauge is full, you’ll be able to trigger special abilities known as Magatsuhi Skills. From dealing heavy damage to healing and buffing your party, there are now over 50 Magatsuhi Skills to leverage, including more than 20 newly added abilities that are exclusive to certain types of demons. What’s more, allies who share the same alignments will give you access to even more abilities.
Innate Skills – All demons now possess innate skills, passive skills that give you an extra edge in battle. Some may power up your attacks, strengthen certain demons, and even aid you when negotiating with demons! These innate skills add an extra layer of strategy to the way you assemble your party.
- Four Heavenly Kings: Raises all of your stats when a demon with Four Heavenly Kings is summoned.
- Demonic Mediation: Patches up relations with a demon whose mood sours mid-negotiation
Demon Conversations – Strike up conversations with your opponents and turn them into your demonic allies.
Each demon has unique speech patterns and preferences – Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance adds even more to create even livelier interactions.
You’ll need to wait and see what happens in these special demon-to-demon conversations. Some demons might even test your knowledge with a quiz!
Guest Characters – As the story progresses, human characters may participate as allies in battle. These characters can fight like demon allies, as well as use items. Make use of the different strengths human allies and demon allies provide to gain the advantage in battle. Ichiro and Yuzuru can use the demon summoning program to add even more allies to your side, including their own demon partners.
Consecutive Encounters – After defeating an enemy, another demon may appear to continue the battle. This fight will become tougher than usual, but winning will grant you additional Macca and EXP, as well as a higher likelihood of items dropping. Consecutive encounters are more likely to occur when fighting in areas where many enemy demons are gathered. Stay vigilant if you want to avoid them – or use this to your advantage.
While Atlus’ Persona series has become hugely popular in recent years, the Shin Megami Tensei series isn’t as big, surprising given that Persona is itself a spinoff of SMT. This is likely because Shin Megami Tensei’s darker style may not be as easy to get into as Persona.
This is what Vengeance aims to address as this new version of SMTV promises to be more accessible to newcomers based on the revealed gameplay additions.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance will be released on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on June 14, 2024.