I still remember the first time I booted up Shin Megami Tensei V on my Switch, completely unprepared for the dark, philosophical journey that would consume my next eighty hours. That experience—the strategic depth, the demon negotiations, the oppressive atmosphere—stuck with me for years. When I heard about Vengeance, I’ll admit I was skeptical. How do you improve on something that already felt so complete? But after spending the past month diving deep into this enhanced version, I can confidently say Arena Plus isn’t just an upgrade—it’s the definitive way to experience one of the most compelling RPGs in recent memory. Everything that made the original memorable remains intact, just refined and polished to near-perfection.
What struck me immediately was how much more connected I felt to the narrative this time around. Having other human characters in my party, engaging in those small but meaningful conversations during downtime—it completely changed the emotional weight of the story. In the original, the loneliness of being a lone wanderer in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo had its own charm, but here, watching my companions react to the unfolding chaos made every plot twist hit harder. I found myself actually caring about these characters, their fears and motivations becoming part of my own journey. This human element transforms Vengeance from a solitary struggle into a shared survival experience, something I didn’t realize was missing until I experienced it.
The improvements extend far beyond storytelling though. Navigation through the devastated landscapes feels significantly smoother, with quality-of-life adjustments that remove much of the original’s occasional friction. I noticed I was spending less time fighting the camera or getting stuck on environmental geometry and more time actually absorbing the haunting atmosphere. The combat system, already one of the most strategic in turn-based RPGs, has been tweaked in subtle but meaningful ways. Demon-herding—that delicate dance of recruitment and fusion—feels more intuitive now, allowing players to focus on what really matters: developing clever strategies to overcome brutally challenging encounters. I’ve probably spent about thirty hours just experimenting with different demon combinations, and the system continues to surprise me with its depth.
This brings me to what I’m calling the “Arena Plus” effect—that sweet spot where technical improvements and gameplay refinements converge to create an experience that’s both accessible to newcomers and deeply rewarding for veterans. If you missed Shin Megami Tensei V the first time around, this is absolutely the perfect opportunity to enter that tunnel to the underworld. The learning curve has been smoothed just enough that new players won’t feel overwhelmed, while the core challenge that series fans cherish remains fully intact. For returning players like myself, the new content and adjustments provide more than enough reason to dive back into the war for the throne. I’ve already discovered entirely new areas and demons that weren’t in the original, adding probably another twenty hours to my playtime.
My experience with Vengeance actually reminds me of another recent surprise—the Killer Klowns from Outer Space game. Much like how I initially dismissed that title based on its B-movie origins only to discover a surprisingly nuanced PvP horror experience, Vengeance demonstrates how thoughtful refinements can elevate an already excellent game into something truly special. In both cases, the developers understood what made the core experience work and focused their efforts on enhancing those elements rather than reinventing them. With Killer Klowns, it was embracing the ridiculous premise while delivering solid gameplay mechanics. With Vengeance, it’s about preserving that distinctive Shin Megami Tensei identity while making every aspect more impactful.
Having played through approximately 65% of Vengeance’s new content so far, I’m convinced this represents a new gold standard for how to enhance and re-release a game. The dark, oppressive atmosphere that made the original so memorable now has more room to breathe thanks to the improved pacing. The strategic combat encounters feel more balanced—still punishingly difficult at times, but always fair. And the addition of meaningful character interactions provides emotional anchors that were somewhat lacking before. This isn’t just the same game with a fresh coat of paint; it’s a thoughtfully reconsidered version that understands what players loved about the original while addressing its few shortcomings.
For RPG enthusiasts looking for that perfect blend of challenging gameplay, compelling narrative, and atmospheric world-building, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance delivers on every front. It takes everything that worked about the original and amplifies it through smart refinements and meaningful additions. Whether you’re a series newcomer or a hardened veteran, this version offers the ultimate way to experience one of the most distinctive and rewarding RPGs of the past decade. The throne awaits—and this time, the journey to claim it feels better than ever.
