Shin Megami Tensei 5 is ready for Persona fans

Shin Megami Tensei 5 is the latest entry in Atlus’s JRPG series, in which you fight and recruit demons. The franchise is known for a complex turn-based combat system in which you can negotiate with your enemies, as in the other Atlus series, Persona. SMT5 It begins when a stoic and studious high school student is suddenly transported to post-apocalyptic Tokyo and fused with a demon to fight monsters crawling through the city.

I’ve been watching the Shin Megami Tensei series for a while now. Person 5 Royal, which has a lot in common with SMT, became a staple of my early pandemic days. He also knew that the series inspired the cult indie of a generation, Under the story. So when I saw both the remake, Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne, and a new title, I decided it was finally time to sink my teeth into the series. I played a preview of the game on my Switch, which covered the first few hours of the game. As I spent the game fighting and training my monsters, I found myself missing some of the more social aspects of the other Atlus games.

SMT5 spins a story of biblical proportions. Upon entering his world, the first thing I hear is a dark and ominous voice, the echoes of which give off a divine omnipotence. The narrator weaves a story similar to Adam and Eve about a tree that is the source of knowledge. This is a far cry from the silly high school antics of the Phantom Thieves in P5R, where the player talks to the school directors and athletes to solve problems. Sure, SMT5 he also follows a normal high school boy. But the stakes and scenery are totally different as players step into a post-apocalyptic Tokyo filled with angels, demons, and glittering sand.

Despite these initial differences, much of the actual game is familiar to other Atlus games. Much of the battle mechanics remain largely the same – jumping in, I see a recognizable cast of monsters like Pixie (a fairy who has healing powers) and Slime (a giant pile of slime). The elemental system remains the same as Person as well; you can use attacks like Dia to heal, Zio to deal lightning damage, etc.

These fights are tough; you need to collect monsters quickly and use them generously. You can bring up to three with you in a fight, making a total of four fighters when you include the main character. Negotiating is fun, but stressful; at one point I said the right thing three rounds in a row only for the monster to stab me in the back and make a surprise attack on me.

Image: Atlus

Due to this focus on battles, the SMT5 the preview felt like a simplified version of P5R. And although I felt more accessible to play, I found myself missing out on certain P5R elements. While playing P5RI carried a notebook with me because there was a lot to learn as a new player to the series. You date people, you keep track of your own relationships, and you manage the protagonist’s own characteristics. The list of what you need to know to play the game continues. You can even go find a job, by crying out loud. And all this in addition to catching, training and fusing monsters. It becomes a lot.

On the contrary, I spent most of my time playing SMT5 gritting my teeth in battles, making decisions that can affect history in ways I don’t know yet. Fights are tough, but when you’re done with them, you won’t have to think about all the other things. This does SMT5 a potentially easier entry point to what Atlus games are about, rather than Persona games which are dense on relationship management and lore. It is a standalone game that does not connect to a previous story and introduces many elements of the Atlus JRPGs in a more digestible way.

Personally, I missed many of the aspects of P5R. It’s fun to date and hang out with friends in the game! I like silly little side missions where I try to make Joker eat a hamburger bigger than his head. Even if that means I need to keep track and learn new game systems, that complexity adds fun breaks between dungeons. SMT5 has a full cast of high school students that players will get to know better. But this game is more serious and brutal, that is reflected in its battles. That said, I am early in my game and I hope to see many more from some of the classmates we see early on. SMT5.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 is scheduled to be released on November 11 on Nintendo Switch.