About 20 hours into Canon of Vengeance, doing most side content and whatnot.

When I played the original SMTV back when it released on the switch I enjoyed it a lot! But it had a bunch of big (and small) issues, that added up until by the end I sat at the conclusion "could be amazing, but doesn't hit the mark".

Vengeance practically takes everything I had a gripe with the game and amends it, then puts in a bunch of QoL and new stuff on top of that.

To address the elephant in the room, the story (so far, I think I'm around halfway-ish) is so, so, so much better this time around. CoV really feels like they decided to finally give the time to develop a proper main cast, and it is so so gratifying having played the "beta". Yoko especially is a great addition to the cast. With her and Tao being very present throughout the story so far I really appreciate the game retaining that feeling of a pseudo-party that the first half of IV did really well. Back in the original release the only character I really gave a shit about was Dazai, since he was the only one with a visible arc throughout the game.

There are a myriad of gameplay tweaks/additions that aren't really worth going over but a few things I think are really cool:
-Demon Haunts are amazing, like seriously. Having all of your demons have unique dialogue and personalities, even commenting sometimes on current events in the story characterizes them even further than how well characterized demons were in base V. I've had this Rakshasa from level 20 to him now being level 40 just because he's such a bro. The system of keeping your demons around also lets them learn new skills, ones seemingly alot more higher tier than they would have without essence fusion. It's such a nice reward system for keeping a demon around because you like it, instead of everything becoming eventual fusion fodder. The Haunts also characterize Aogami alot more this time around, as does the main story. He's such a dad to the MC I love it lol

-the level scaling is a lot better. I didn't have much experience with it in base V because I wasn't really punching up too much, but I did have to grind significantly. Here I can fight bosses 15 levels above me and win through pure strategy.
-guest characters are really neat! I like using characters from the story that I actually like as a party member, and its certainly a far better system than what they tried to do in IV imo. THOUGH they are a bit OP. Tao has had mediarama for like a good chunk of the game now and I'm yet to get a normal demon with that shit.

Overall so far atleast this really feels like the SMTV I wanted SMTV to be those few years ago. I'm gonna update this review/write a spoiler one by the time I finish but I actually can't put this game down rn lol

Might update later since some stuff in this just left a bad taste in my mouth, but overall I just didn't really enjoy it as much as the main game. The time loop mechanic doesn't really gel as well as it does in the main game here and the stealth parts are just very whatever. For a game that's so effortlessly polished and creative in it's mechanics (including the central mechanics of this dlc!) the stealth sections just didn't really have anything unique to go for. So I suppose, in a way I am disappointed, though just by the really high bar the main game set. The story is still fantastic though, Maybe even more poignant than the main story for me. I really felt for these bipedal owl deer people.

this is so fun man
Generally not big into fighters but the tutorialisation and learning tools of this game make it really fun to just play and an easier learning experience. I've only gone up a few ranks but I feel I already have a solid foundation on the game thanks to an insanely robust practice mode and being able to tackle individual mistakes in replay mode through taking control of your character mid replay (this is so cool btw)

edit im at vanquisher rank now so im basically the best jin player ever

There's something really cool about snow in media. I'm not really sure why but it can make literally anything cozy to me. Silent Hill is a horror game, and while not all that scary, walking around the empty Old Silent Hill with snow falling overhead feels just right. Entering one of the suburbian houses to get out of it brings a sense of relief; not because of getting away from the monsters but getting out of the snow, the wind turning to silence, reminiscent of coming back from school on the odd snow day. Living in Ireland means I rarely get them, and when I do it's very special to me, to the point where I can remember almost every one up to now where I've had any. I always feigned being sick if it happened on a school morning, so I would go out in our expansive garden by myself to build an array of snowmen instead of sitting inside class bored to tears. Those early mornings, out in the snow, I felt at peace. Something about sick days in general were always really cozy to me; everyone else was gone, doing something else. It was the odd time I could truly be alone, like I was the only person in the whole world. Silent Hill captures this feeling too. Yeah sure my village didn't have weird skinless pterodactyls trying to peck my eyes out but the feeling persists. There was just an odd comfort walking around my village in layers of clothes with not a soul to see me. I try to replicate the feeling going out to the park at night, but it's not really the same. Maybe I'm just nostalgic. It's been nearly a couple years now since I've had a good snow day.

Got to the 4th stage before leaving frustrated. Honestly didn't really enjoy my time with this at all. Personally, I just don't find it fun. Was hoping to find some interest through its primary influence, Hellsinker, a game I adore to bits, but this game just doesn't suit. I like the concept of a totally bonkers "overpowered player character" shmup but idk, meh. Feels terribly imbalanced and that I'm either trying really hard or not trying at all. Couldn't get into any kind of flow, zen state I get into when I play Ikaruga or Hellsinker.