It has been a long time since Shin Megami Tensei 5 was announced until its debut. It was first revealed in 2017, a little after the Switch launched. There has also been some time in-between the last new numbered title, Shin Megami Tensei 4, which was a 2013 3DS game. It took almost a decade to get this sequel.
The wait seems to have been worth it with review aggregates hovering in the mid-80s. Shin Megami Tensei 5 will, without a doubt, make a plethora of end-of-the-year lists in some regard. This lengthy RPG is not without issues though so let’s praise what Shin Megami Tensei 5 does best and comment on its few faults.
10 Best: Open-World Exploration
The open-world environments are one of the biggest changes made to Shin Megami Tensei 5. Things kick off pretty fast too with players being able to explore as soon as 15 minutes into the game. That’s incredibly fast for the series.
There are still typical dungeons and smaller areas to explore, but a majority of the game gives players a literal sandbox to play around in with tons of quests.
9 Worst: The Environments
The open world does have setbacks. A lot of the game looks the same. This is supposed to be the apocalypse so it makes sense why everything is destroyed and the land is nothing but sand. It’s cool at first but the idea gets old fast. The aforementioned smaller areas do provide a little vacation from the sandy plains of Tokyo but they are not enough to stop the tedium.
8 Best: Demon Collecting And Combat
Not much has changed with the turn-based combat in Shin Megami Tensei 5 and that’s a plus for some. Players control the hero along with three other demons that they can befriend through battle.
Demons can even be swapped in the middle of a fight. The elemental weakness bonuses return as well. If a demon is weak to fire and they get hit with it, that’s an extra turn for the player. It’s a classic formula that could use some tweaking to make it more modern but it’s still a solid RPG system. As a bonus tip, stockpile ice powers for the first big boss.
7 Worst: These Demons Are Getting Old
The one aspect of the battle system that does feel a bit too rusty is the demons. Befriending them and building up their skills is as satisfying as ever. It’s the variety that is the problem. Of the hundred-plus demons in the game, only about ten are new.
Imagine the blowback the Pokemon series would have if they only introduced ten new creatures per generation. There’s nothing wrong with these classic creatures as their designs are some of the best in RPGs. Fighting and befriending the same ones over and over again in Shin Megami Tensei and Persona has reached its limit.
6 Best: Character Design
The demon design has already gotten praise, but the humans also deserve a little nod. Everyone looks great from their facial features to their clothing. The high school uniforms stick out the most with their flowery designs embossed on navy blue outfits.
The main character’s transformation into a demon hybrid with his long blue hair and a lightsaber-like sword is also great. This is one of the most anime-infused entries in the series yet and that’s a good thing.
5 Worst: Frame Rate Issues
That poor old Switch is doing the best it can with Shin Megami Tensei 5 but the game is really trying to push some boundaries. The most alarming technical issue is the frame rate. The game has a lot of cutscenes and areas with tons of characters on screen.
That’s an achievement worth praising except for the odd characters that stick out and look like they are in a stop-motion film. This is consistent throughout the game.
4 Best: The Fast-Forward And Auto-Battle Features
Shin Megami Tensei 5 has two features that should be in all modern RPGs: auto-battle and a fast-forward button. There is a small drawback to auto-battle because the team will only attack psychically.
It’s still nice to have for enemies players know their teams can take down with melee attacks. Fast-forwarding persists through battle, the reward screen, and cutscenes. These two mechanics should help make the game more streamlined for players.
3 Worst: The Save Situation
Something that is in almost 100% of modern games is missing in Shin Megami Tensei 5: auto-saves. There are two ways to save in the game. There are physically save points that conveniently combine fast travel, the shop, the upgrade system, and the healing system. This is another big change in the series for the better.
After certain story points the game will ask players if they want to save as well. That’s it. Because these save points are few and far between, this means that the threat of progression loss is at an all-time high and that is never a good feeling to bestow upon players.
2 Best: The Twist
There’s a big element of this game that has remained hidden. No spoilers, don’t worry. It might take players about eight to ten hours to get to it but once it happens, they will know.
It’s a different feel for the series which can help alleviate some frustrations with the desert wastelands of Tokyo along with the long hours without much character interaction. The story really picks up at this point and it’ll be hard to put down afterward. Just make it to the Diet building.
1 Worst: Yet Another Silent Protagonist
The silent protagonist is one aspect of the story that is as jarring now as it has been in the series for quite some time. NPCs confiding with the player only to receive a hollow stare back is both creepy and funny.
It’s incredibly awkward and can make it hard for players to connect with the overall narrative. Hopefully, the next Shin Megami Tensei or Persona game will finally voice their heroes fully.
Shin Megami Tensei 5 was released on November 11, 2021, and is available on Switch exclusively.
