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LTTP: SMT V: Vengeance - first we kill God, then we fuse him with Lucifer

Cyberpunkd

Cyberpunkd

Banned
I was thinking of using one of the previous threads, but there is no Vengeance OT and the regular SMT V one doesn't have a post since 2022, so...

10h in, and the game is absolute masterpiece gameplay-wise. Mind you - the plot barely advanced, but isn't that the case with most games (or the main plot is really lame)? The game compensates with as always incredible world building (it's usual SMT stuff, but no other game like that exists).

The gameplay however is fucking peak turn-based goodness. I absolutely love the fact items are useful in this game (it was the same feeling I had when I played P3 20 years ago), and that you can completely nullify boss' attacks with some items, instead of developers telling you to "just heal through bro). Fusion system is also incredible, I get chills similar to me getting Metatron and Thanatos in P3 for the first time.

UI is no-nonsense and incredibly snappy. Every menu accessed is fast, all the "red rail" shortcuts can also be skipped to save 2-3 seconds.
 
SMT V was really good but imo Vengeance elevates it to top tier JRPG. You are right that the story doesn't advance much and in fact there just isn't a lot of it, but what is there in the Canon of Vengeance is way better than what we have in the original release, which felt more rushed than just minimalistic.

Imo V:V isn't perfect tho. They introduced way too many QOL features that neuter part of the challenge and make the game move away from it's dungeon crawler roots even further.

But it's still an amazing game for sure. Gameplay focused JRPG with a fun battle system, a good challenge (if playing on hard) and the fusion system which keeps you hooked until the end. Also the music! Damn. How many battle themes does this game have? More than 20? Wish more JRPGs did that.

Cyberpunkd said:
the plot barely advanced, but isn't that the case with most games
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It's trying to imitate SMT Nocturne, which also had a minimal plot. Other games in the series like IV, IV:A or Strange Journey have nice and well developed plots. But IV specially has an amazing setting, and based on your username you probably should check it out some day. :lollipop_content:

If you ever decide to do so, keep tabs on this thread by Benny. The mod updates the graphics which honestly were way too pixelated on the original release.

I had a ton of fun with those games, with III, IV, V, Strange Journey and DDS being my favorites. Hope you do the same keep digging through the SMT hole, there's a lot to enjoy there!

wQfiD4ywgdPK4bbJ.jpg
 
Amazing game but perhaps too challenging in the end parts. I had everyone at Level 99 and had to drop it to easy to survive any of the last bosses.
 
TintoConCasera said:
But IV specially has an amazing setting, and based on your username you probably should check it out some day. :lollipop_content:

If you ever decide to do so, keep tabs on this thread by Benny. The mod updates the graphics which honestly were way too pixelated on the original release.
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I definitely want to play the 3DS ones, but I would need to do it via an emulator since I play exclusively on Legion Go 2 (Win 11).
 
I think the game has major pacing issues. The numerous and unnecessary side quests make the game tedious. You have to do the side quests to level up. I only played the regular SMTV version and not the Vengeance expansion. I'm in the final dungeon. Even so, I've taken a break from the game because I was so oversaturated with it. I have no complaints about the music or gameplay.
 
Yep, you're right about not expecting too much story, the new storyline has more story and the original storyline but SMT games have alot less story than persona 3-5.
 
I'm still pissed at Atlus over Vengeance after paying full price for the base version. And even more so because they didn't offer any kind of compensation for those of us who shelled out at launch. I know, that's typical Atlus, but still. No, I just don't feel like finishing it.
 
Deerock71 said:
Hoping for a Switch 2 patch.
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I played the original SMTV on switch(haven't finished), and picked up SMTV Vengence for Switch cos it was dirt cheap on sale. It's still in its packaging.

Does vengeance perform better? And are the framerates better on switch 2?
 
hardwood007 said:
I played the original SMTV on switch(haven't finished), and picked up SMTV Vengence for Switch cos it was dirt cheap on sale. It's still in its packaging.

Does vengeance perform better? And are the framerates better on switch 2?
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Just the nominal results on the Switch 2. I think it might be capped at 30, but framerates aren't in my wheelhouse to judge. They don't bother me.
 
I was pretty underwhelmed by it.
The combat is good like always and it has some nice quality of life improvements, but everything else about it was a bit meh. The story and characters, the level design and the art direction were all worse than 3 and 4 IMO

Oberstein said:
I'm still pissed at Atlus over Vengeance after paying full price for the base version. And even more so because they didn't offer any kind of compensation for those of us who shelled out at launch. I know, that's typical Atlus, but still. No, I just don't feel like finishing it.
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Should be a learning experience that you don't buy Atlus games at launch.
You wait 2-3 years until they release the proper version, and then since you already waited 2-3 years you wait another 6 months to pick it up on sale for $30-40.
 
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I tried the demo after playing P5R and Metaphor and oh boy this didn't click with me at all. The battles are slow as fuck. Especially if you're coming from Metaphor. Metaphor has this insanely smooth, fast and quick gameplay and never seen before in JRPG-QoL that you can't go back.

The UI is also insanely overloaded, especially stats and level up screens. Enemies and spells/attacks are not as cool or look as cool as Yakuza or Metaphor or even P5R.

I have no doubt it has deep tactical gameplay and fusing mechanics but I couldn't get into this at all. P3Reloaded is another I couldn't because I played P5R and Metaphor before. Once you play these two games you can't go back unless you're a huge fan of this.

Edit: you can set battle speed in the settings lol, it's way way down.

I tried it again and kinda enjoying it. It actually is hard but fun. I'll play more and put my thoughts. The demo is like 5-6 hours long so let me finish it.
 
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I was really prejudiced against this game after Persona became the bread and butter of Atlus, and subsquently got increasingly shonen/anime-ified. I had assumed just looking at SMTV that the effects certainly had bled over.

I was glad to be quite wrong when I finally picked it up. My only problem with it is that I still never beat it. I got very close to the end, but I had a team and battle-flow that basically worked for every encounter, which ended up making the final stretch kinda boring. I keep meaning to go back and jam the difficulty down to stupid baby mode, just so I can race through and say I beat the game.
 
i was reluctant to playing this game because of main character face and hair, tried it, but still reluctant...
but i will play it again someday, maybe if there is mod to change MC as aogami or demi...
 
Cyberpunkd said:
I was thinking of using one of the previous threads, but there is no Vengeance OT and the regular SMT V one doesn't have a post since 2022, so...

10h in, and the game is absolute masterpiece gameplay-wise. Mind you - the plot barely advanced, but isn't that the case with most games (or the main plot is really lame)? The game compensates with as always incredible world building (it's usual SMT stuff, but no other game like that exists).

The gameplay however is fucking peak turn-based goodness. I absolutely love the fact items are useful in this game (it was the same feeling I had when I played P3 20 years ago), and that you can completely nullify boss' attacks with some items, instead of developers telling you to "just heal through bro). Fusion system is also incredible, I get chills similar to me getting Metatron and Thanatos in P3 for the first time.

UI is no-nonsense and incredibly snappy. Every menu accessed is fast, all the "red rail" shortcuts can also be skipped to save 2-3 seconds.
Click to expand...

OP you were right, I had dropped this but tried it again (demo) and played it for 4+ hours. This is an incredibly cool game if you get over the anime-like visuals and quite bland monster designs at the beginning and the grind. This pretty much adult Pokemon but with a weird but compelling and intriguing fusion on Japanese x Christian x Hindu mythology wrapped in an anime story. The main course is however the game mechanics aka the combat - it's fantastic. This is the loop:
  • Fight demons or try capturing them by talking/offering money, HP, MP etc rather than throwing pokeballs.
  • You fight alongside these captured demons. You level up, they level up.
  • Now the fun part: essence fusion or aka. inherit skills, mix match and experiment. You need an electric skill? catch a demon with that, level it up and inherit that skill yourself. This allows variety builds and as you progress. You can even give your demons/team different skills and try out whats best for you.
  • The game is hard, I mean really hard if you're coming from Persona or Pokemon and that's good as JRPGs are mostly easy.
  • Dig deeper and you can also fuse demon to create better versions of them and unlock more powerful moves and better stats. I like the customization offered here, vast and lots to try.
  • The combat, turn based has also a nice mechanic: battles start with x turns ( x = number of teammates, max 4) and gain extra turns per crit or weakness hit, so you can potentially go 8 times in one turn which almost destroys normal battles and almost kills bosses as well. The enemy also has the same and so you have to be careful as if you miss you loose a turn. It's high risk high reward.
  • Exploring the world is important as it gets you "glory" a currency that you can use to buy passives for your main character.
Some of the stuff I didn't like:
  • The grind is quite bad if you don't buy the season pass/deluxe version of the game which perma increases spawn rate of exp, gold and "glory" currency demon spawns + has two very OP demons to collect lol
  • You have to beat the game 6 times to get all achievements
  • Initial demon design and lag ( padding due to grind ) is kinda boring, game gets better the more you play/level up.
  • Runs on UE4, while not as bad as UE5, there's still some stutter when shaders compile for the first time, also uses Denuvo.
  • Skills names and effects take time to learn and understand, eg. Zio means electric magic attack, etc. Status ailment names are also obtuse. Should have made it simple imo
  • UI is still kinda meh, this is kinda obvious after playing P5R and Metaphor, those two have incredibly smooth, slick and stylish UI. This one is simple and works, it's fine.
  • I'm not a huge fan of the OST here, wanted something more like Metaphor: classical but with a twist. This one is kinda loud and forgettable.
I recommend this if you're looking for something adult Pokemon and have no problems with anime styled shit and somewhat cringe dialogue/art and story. Buy it for the combat/gameplay.
 
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If I thought persona 3 is gay because you RP as a high school cuck, would I maybe like this one

I think I was told this one is pretty dark or was that smt 3

P3 is the only one of their rpgs I've played and social aspect was peak gayness
 
I collect VHS tapes said:
If I thought persona 3 is gay because you RP as a high school cuck, would I maybe like this one

I think I was told this one is pretty dark or was that smt 3

P3 is the only one of their rpgs I've played and social aspect was peak gayness
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I dont know how P3 is "gay" because social link but if you asking if SMTV has social link or not the answer is no......mainline SMT have no social links.
 
Danjin44 said:
I dont know how P3 is "gay" because social link but if you asking if SMTV has social link or not the answer is no......mainline SMT have no social links.
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Have you played p3?

I made a thread about it. Positive social link answers involve you being a simp or beta supporting. I guess it sorta makes sense if the target audience is high school students but fucking lol at any grow man who enjoys that system.

I collect VHS tapes

Thread 'Do you enjoy the social aspect of Persona games?'

tried P3R, my very first Persona game

to build social links I feel like I have to be a simp when talking to females, always providing some cringe answer

and for the guys I'm expected to encourage and cheer them on, regardless of how stupid the shit they're saying is

unless I'm missing something, there is a clear right/wrong answer to level social links, and you are required to basically support the character you're talking to no matter what sort of nonsense they're going on about

do people actually enjoy this aspect of the game? are all the Persona games like this? it seems like the...
  • Like
 
I collect VHS tapes said:
If I thought persona 3 is gay because you RP as a high school cuck, would I maybe like this one

I think I was told this one is pretty dark or was that smt 3

P3 is the only one of their rpgs I've played and social aspect was peak gayness
Click to expand...
You play as a highschooler but the tone, vibe and writting are completely different. Way more mature, way I see it.

SMT games are usually about concepts like creation, order vs chaos, the lesser evil and so on. They are quite interesting.
 
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I collect VHS tapes said:
Have you played p3?

I made a thread about it. Positive social link answers involve you being a simp or beta supporting. I guess it sorta makes sense if the target audience is high school students but fucking lol at any grow man who enjoys that system.
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I played P3 multiple times and different version and no I don't think it's " gay"….i don't think that criticism even makes any sense.
 
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I collect VHS tapes said:
Might give it a go. It's on sale in eshop. Digital deluxe worth it? Looks like it's not just cosmetic like most deluxe but includes quests
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I think the DLCs added a few boss fights against some demons you can later use yourself. They are cool but if this is your first mainline SMT game I'd say maybe skip them if you aren't sure you'll like it.

The importat thing with SMT V is to get the Vengeance version. It comes with two story lines, and the Vengeance one is much better than the other one which is kinda rushed.
 
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Danjin44 said:
I guess games like Mass Effect and Cyberpunk is super gay since in those games you can literally have gay romance and gay sex on them.
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in America the word gay is used to describe things beyond just being literally homosexual btw

To me, role playing as a hs student as a grown man the way p3 does it is way more gay. If you enjoy the dialog and social options lollllll
 
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TintoConCasera said:
I think the DLCs added a few boss fights against some demons you can later use yourself. They are cool but if this is your first mainline SMT game I'd say maybe skip them if you aren't sure you'll like it.

The importat thing with SMT V is to get the Vengeance version. It comes with two story lines, and the Vengeance one is much better than the other one which is kinda rushed.
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Thanks dude. The combat in p3 is solid, something like p3 with a more serious tone and removal of the social link system, which is retarded to begin with since there's really only ever one correct dialog option, sounds pretty good
 
I collect VHS tapes said:
Thanks dude. The combat in p3 is solid, something like p3 with a more serious tone and removal of the social link system, which is retarded to begin with since there's really only ever one correct dialog option, sounds pretty good
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If that's what you think then you'll probably love the mainline SMT games. Same gameplay loop of battle -> get new demons -> fuse them -> get better demons -> battle but there's barely any story getting in the way and, what's there, is usually quite interesting.

99% of your playtime will be either exploring or doing battle (which btw I prefer the battle system in mainline SMT, similar but more punishing and engaging) and sometime's you'll even miss the yapping lol. Hope you enjoy it! If you do, there's also SMT III, IV, IV:A, Strange Journey and the Digital Devil Saga for you to enjoy afterwards if you are left wanting more.
 
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Danjin44 said:
Especially its press turn combat is best among SMT series.
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Press turn combat
Amazing music
Cool visuals
Cute chicks and demon-chicks left and right

It's not the perfect game by any means but damn, it's close. :lollipop_content:
 
TintoConCasera said:
Cute chicks and demon-chicks left and right
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5JCJDUd1D3DMySSP.jpeg



TintoConCasera said:
It's not the perfect game by any means but damn, it's close. :lollipop_content:
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I think the thing holding back SMTV from perfection is story telling. Don't get game wrong the lore and actual story is amazing but the issue is the delivery. I think it would have been better it wasn't trying to be like Nocturne in terms how told its story……Strange Journey is best SMT when it comes how told its story.
 
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Danjin44 said:
the thing holding back SMTV from perfection is story telling
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Yeah 100%. The characters feel undercooked and there really isn't a lot to the story, but at least Vengeance ,ade it a bit better.

And yeah when it comes to narrative, SJ and IV are for me the best ones. Well developed, interesting and quite unique settings. Digital Devil Saga is also quite cool in that regard.
 
I collect VHS tapes said:
Might give it a go. It's on sale in eshop. Digital deluxe worth it? Looks like it's not just cosmetic like most deluxe but includes quests
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Yes, digital deluxe is the way to go, it gives you the DLC which spawns monsters that give more gold, and exp at a much more frequent intervals. This elevates the grind.

The game is very different than usual monster-catching game. One thing to keep in mind (which I absolutely love) - monsters/demons exist as a pure fodder, only to be fused to get better ones. Do not get stuck for a long time with a monster, get the skills you want then fuse it for a better demon.
 
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Cyberpunkd said:
What I really prefer is the concept of different demons for the whole party, not only for the protagonist while everyone has their demons fixed.
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Oh yeah me too, makes party composition very fun. While playing I was always thinking how I could pair my demons to get the best possible combinations that would help me overcome whatever obstacle comes next. In the Persona games you are much more limited in that and it's one of the reasons why I don't like them as much as the mainline games.

Cyberpunkd said:
I can see how they tried to make it a bit like Persona with guest characters.
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Not really! Old SMT games let you had human party members in combat. I believe the oldest ones do but also Soul Hackers with Nemisa.

SMT IV also had it but in a weirder way: you had 3 human party members and got assigned one at random at the start of battle to assist you at the end of your turn. Shit was weird, and the reason why there are so many memes about Walter and the Minotaur, since the stupid fuck wouldn't not use Agi against a demon who is strong against it. Fuck you Walter.

Glad they forgot about that for V. Having humans in the party in Vengeance was cool, and let the characters have more screentime even if it's during battles.
 
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I like the overworld, Just wish there were more dungeons. The school is a joke, but the new golden dungeon is alright.
God mode is a ridiculous grind fest.
Music, gameplay, all fantastic.
 
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