This review contains spoilers
Completed on Hard Mode
SMT V was something we learned about in 2017. I’ve been mad hyped for it like everyone else has been for years. The gameplay was worth waiting for. With the addition of Severe magic attacks, attack based magic, new physical attacks, there was so much stuff that feels so organic.
The combat is prime, the demons and side quests are fun and sometimes a bit silly, the overall movement and exploration is pure joy. The exploration of larger areas was my biggest concern out of all new features. Shockingly, it was actually one of my favorite parts. It’s so well done and I only missed 4/200 Mimen. Running around and looking for shit is just mad fun!
However, the biggest disappointment was the story. The gameplay and side quests did so much heavily lifting that their backs must’ve hurt by the end. It felt half baked. I just felt, by the end, why even have these “friends”/side characters? They served no real purpose and the game spends almost no time on them. There were three of them and I only remember one of their names. No seriously. The girl dying instantly, the only one I liked, I almost checked out completely in terms of the story. The two guys, the one I remember, Dazai, and that other kid, we’re just sidelined and boring. It isn’t like SMT IV and SMT IV or even SMT SJ where the most impactful characters are the ones who you spend tons of time with and get extremely close to. Especially with Wallace and Johnathon. It’s a huge disappointment. It puts a huge damper on every single good part of the game, which is many.
I’m very forgiving when it comes to JRPG’s plots. They’re usually so anime, uses the same tropes, etc. but this one does none of those, which I like. However, since it felt like it skipped too many steps to become a great story, I felt just so underwhelmed.
I wish it was better. It just wasn’t. I fully expect the next one to have a better story, this doesn’t take away from the fact I find SMT to be one of the most fascinating series I’ve ever played. This one was just underwhelming in the specific way I enjoyed the others I’ve played.
Regardless, it still stands on its own as one of the best JRPGs I’ve played in recent memory. I didn’t play many games that were released this year but this will definitely be one I think about for awhile (in a good way). If you’re looking for a challenge, SMT V has you covered in more ways than one.
SMT V was something we learned about in 2017. I’ve been mad hyped for it like everyone else has been for years. The gameplay was worth waiting for. With the addition of Severe magic attacks, attack based magic, new physical attacks, there was so much stuff that feels so organic.
The combat is prime, the demons and side quests are fun and sometimes a bit silly, the overall movement and exploration is pure joy. The exploration of larger areas was my biggest concern out of all new features. Shockingly, it was actually one of my favorite parts. It’s so well done and I only missed 4/200 Mimen. Running around and looking for shit is just mad fun!
However, the biggest disappointment was the story. The gameplay and side quests did so much heavily lifting that their backs must’ve hurt by the end. It felt half baked. I just felt, by the end, why even have these “friends”/side characters? They served no real purpose and the game spends almost no time on them. There were three of them and I only remember one of their names. No seriously. The girl dying instantly, the only one I liked, I almost checked out completely in terms of the story. The two guys, the one I remember, Dazai, and that other kid, we’re just sidelined and boring. It isn’t like SMT IV and SMT IV or even SMT SJ where the most impactful characters are the ones who you spend tons of time with and get extremely close to. Especially with Wallace and Johnathon. It’s a huge disappointment. It puts a huge damper on every single good part of the game, which is many.
I’m very forgiving when it comes to JRPG’s plots. They’re usually so anime, uses the same tropes, etc. but this one does none of those, which I like. However, since it felt like it skipped too many steps to become a great story, I felt just so underwhelmed.
I wish it was better. It just wasn’t. I fully expect the next one to have a better story, this doesn’t take away from the fact I find SMT to be one of the most fascinating series I’ve ever played. This one was just underwhelming in the specific way I enjoyed the others I’ve played.
Regardless, it still stands on its own as one of the best JRPGs I’ve played in recent memory. I didn’t play many games that were released this year but this will definitely be one I think about for awhile (in a good way). If you’re looking for a challenge, SMT V has you covered in more ways than one.