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Shin Megami Tensei V[a] is a 2021 role-playing video game developed by Atlus. It is part of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the central series in the Megami Tensei franchise. It was released for the Nintendo Switch by Atlus in Japan, and Sega in the West. An expanded version for eighth and ninth generation consoles and Windows, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, was released in 2024.

The game follows a high school student who is drawn into the Da'at, a post-apocalyptic realm inhabited by warring factions of angels and demons after Lucifer kills the Creator. Merging with an artificial demon, he becomes the Nahobino, a figure capable of remaking the world. The story has multiple endings dictated by the player's choices and alliances. The gameplay features free-roaming exploration of Da'at, a turn-based battle system based on exploiting weaknesses, and a Demon recruitment system allowing the player to recruit and fuse demons fight alongside them.

Production of Shin Megami Tensei V began prior to 2017, with the aim being to blend elements from Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne and Shin Megami Tensei IV. Returning staff included producer Kazuyuki Yamai, artist Masayuki Doi, and composers Ryota Kozuka and Toshiki Konishi. Production was prolonged due to using the Unreal Engine and developing for the Switch. Journalists praised the gameplay design and graphics, but faulting aspects of its story and inconsistent technical performance. Vengeance was generally seen as an improvement on several aspects, and saw better technical performance outside the Switch. The original release sold over one million units worldwide by 2022.

Gameplay[edit]

Shin Megami Tensei V is a role-playing video game in which players control the Nahobino, a fusion of human and demon who explores the post-apocalyptic realm of Da'at.

Synopsis[edit]

Setting and characters[edit]

The events of Shin Megami Tensei V are divided between two settings: modern-day Tokyo, and a post-apocalyptic landscape called the Da'at. The Da'at was originally an alternate version of Tokyo destroyed in a war between the Angels, who follow the Creator, and the demons loyal to the rebel angel Lucifer. Prior to the game's opening, Lucifer successfully kills the Creator, triggering a power vacuum where other deities who had lost their Knowledge to the Creator seek to regain it and ascend the Throne of Creation. The Bethel Organization, an alliance of divine beings and human operatives from across the world, protects the real world from the Da'at's influence. With Vengeance, the story splits into two storylines: the "Canon of Creation" which is the original storyline, and the "Canon of Vengeance" where events branch into another story.[1]

The game's silent protagonist is a high school student who is drawn into the Da'at, and through fusion with the artificial Proto-Fiend Aogami becomes the Nahobino, a demon-like being who has regained their divine Knowledge. There are multiple supporting characters who represent the game's moral alignments: the the friendly but dim-witted Ichiro Dazai represents "law", Bethel agent Yuzuru Atsuta represents "chaos" while the rogue Shohei Yakumo and his demon companion Nüwa represent neutrality.

Supporting characters include Tao Isonokami, Bethel's mystical Saint: Miyazu Atsuta, Yuzuru's shy younger sister: and Sahori Itsukishima, a bullied fellow student. Supernatural representatives are the angel Abdiel, who remains devoted to the Creator: Hayao Koshimizu, Bethel Japan's leader and the human form of Tsukuyomi: and Lahmu, an antagonistic fallen deity. Vengeance adds Yoko Hiromine, an independent Saint; the Qadištu, a group of female demons composed of Naamah, Eisheth, Agrat bat Mahlat, and their leader Lilith: and the angel Mastema.[1]

Plot[edit]

Coming home from school one day, the protagonist and Ichiro are pulled into the Da'at, where Aogami saves the protagonist from a demon attack by merging with him, becoming a Nahobino. He and Ichiro are met by Yuzuru, who together with Koshimizu recruits them into Bethel where they keep demons from leaving the Da'at. The protagonist learns the current version of Tokyo is not the true one, but a copy generated by the Creator when the real Tokyo was swallowed by a magical phenomenon, becoming the Da'at. The Nahobino is also revealed to be an existence forbidden by the Creator: Aogami's actions prove Lucifer's claim, and at a meeting of Bethel's branch leaders, Abdiel is defeated when she attacks the protagonist while in denial of the Creator's death. The other deities including Koshimizu dissolve Bethel to recover their Knowledge and ascend the Throne of Creation.

Alongside these conflicts, the protagonist frequently crosses paths with Yakumo and Nüwa, who seek to destroy the Throne of Creation and allow humanity to control their future. During an attack on the protagonist's school, Miyazu is briefly kidnapped, and Sahori is influenced by Lahmu into killing her bullies and becoming its Nahobino. The protagonist is mortally wounded by Lahmu, but Tao sacrifices herself to revive the protagonist, who then kills Lahmu and Sahori. Tao's sacrifice awakens her a goddess who will lead a Nahobino to the Throne of Creation, choosing to guide the protagonist when the false Tokyo collapses and the Da'at overwhelms reality. In parallel, Yuzuru unites with Koshimizu to bring about divine diversity despite inevitable conflict, while Dazai convinces Abdiel to merge with him and create a conforming world of peace. The protagonist gains keys from the former Bethel deities to access the Temple of Eternity, which holds the Throne of Creation.

At this point, the protagonist can side with either Ichiro or Yuzuru, or agree with Nüwa's request to destroy the throne. Regardless of choice, all the other candidates for the Throne are killed, and the protagonist ascends to the Throne. If the protagonist completes certain side missions and sides with Yakumo, Nüwa reveals an alternate possibility of using the Throne to create a world free of gods and demons, which would lead to Aogami's death. In all but the ending where the Throne is destroyed, Lucifer appears to grants his Knowledge to the protagonist in a final battle so their new world will potentially be everlasting.

In the Vengeance storyline, Yoko accompanies the protagonist for much of their journey, and the Qadištu interfere with events while gathering power to awaken the primordial goddess Tiamat. Miyazu is briefly kidnapped before finding sanctuary with a sympathetic demon, while Mastema blesses Ichiro to fight against the Da'at's demons. The Qadištu succeed in sacrificing the protagonist, with Tiamat's awakening devastating the Da'at and killing Yakumo and Nüwa. Aogami sacrifices himself to save the protagonist, and Yoko awakens as a goddess who seeks to destroy and remake the world free of ruling gods. Ichiro and Abdiel kill Yuzuru, and Koshimizu merges with the protagonist to restore his Nahobino form. Tao in her goddess form guides the protagonist to the Temple of Eternity, seeking to restore and preserve the world. On the way he is forced to kill Ichiro and Abdiel. Depending on the protagonist's choices during the game, he sides with either Tao or Yoko to support their respective goals: the latter prompts Mastema to attack. In both, a fight with Tiamat kills Koshimizu and allows Aogami to return, then Lucifer grants his power to sustain the new world.

Development[edit]

Shin Megami Tensei V began development prior to 2017 at Megami Tensei developer Atlus.[2]

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Release[edit]

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Vengeance[edit]

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Using a background element of an ancient battle between the "Horned God" (the perspective of the original storyline) and the "Serpent", the story was written from the Serpent's perspective.[14]

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Reception[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Japanese: 真・女神転生V, "True Goddess Reincarnation V"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Story & Characters". Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance website. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b 【インタビュー】5年ぶりの新作でUI開発フローを一新！　デザイナーとプログラマーの分業を実現した『真・女神転生V』 (in Japanese). OPTPiX SpriteStudio. April 15, 2022. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022.
  3. ^ 完全新作『真・女神転生V』の“メガテンらしさ”はどうなるのか？ プロデューサー・山井一千氏が語る、開発の本格化と“成功祈願”に込めた思い. Famitsu (in Japanese). February 23, 2018. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018.
  4. ^ 真・女神転生V. Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1716. Kadokawa Game Linkage. August 26, 2021. pp. 48–56. Translations
  5. ^ 真・女神転生V. Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1721. Kadokawa Game Linkage. September 30, 2021. pp. 26–31. Translation
  6. ^ Epps, DeAngelo (January 11, 2022). "Shin Megami Tensei V's demon designer explains what goes into making monsters". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11.
  7. ^ Stenbuck, Kite (October 28, 2017). "Read what Kazuyuki Yamai is aiming to create in Shin Megami Tensei V - Full Famitsu Translation". RPG Site. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024.
  8. ^ 「真・女神転生V」の成功祈願に参列。プロデューサーの山井一千氏に，通称"お払い"で知られる恒例行事とナンバリング最新作について聞いた. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). 2018-02-19. Archived from the original on 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  9. ^ "2022.3.18 Report: Shin Megami Tensei". Sega. March 18, 2022. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Frank, Allegra (2017-01-12). "Shin Megami Tensei is headed to Nintendo Switch". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  11. ^ Romano, Sal (2019-04-04). "Atlus brand manager discusses Joker in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, potential of Persona 3 and 4 remasters, more". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  12. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20211227144513/https://www.siliconera.com/interview-looking-at-the-smt-v-characters-and-demons-localization-process/
  13. ^ https://www.rpgsite.net/feature/14461-shin-megami-tensei-30th-anniversary-interview-a-chat-with-english-voice-actors-for-the-series
  14. ^ a b 新作特輝 - 真・女神転生V Vengeance. Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1839. Kadokawa Game Linkage. February 24, 2024. pp. 88–96. Translation
  15. ^ Ramsey, Robert (June 5, 2024). "Interview: Why SMT 5: Vengeance Devs Decided to Revisit the RPG and Bring It to PS5, PS4 Players". Push Square. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Shin Megami Tensei V for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  17. ^ Patterson, Mollie (4 November 2021). "Shin Megami Tensei V review". Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM). Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  18. ^ "真・女神転生V(Switch)のレビュー・評価・感想情報". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  19. ^ Wallace, Kimberley. "Shin Megami Tensei V Review – Beauty In An Unforgiving World". Game Informer. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  20. ^ Kemps, Heidi (4 November 2021). "Shin Megami Tensei V Review - The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  21. ^ Hafer, Leana (4 November 2021). "Shin Megami Tensei V Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  22. ^ Vogel, Mitch (4 November 2021). "Shin Megami Tensei V Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  23. ^ Theriault, Donald (4 November 2021). "Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
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