**** General impressions

For a Switch game, it is very beautiful and they have done an excellent job with the Unreal Engine 4. Especially on the OLED model, it is fantastic. The letters are legible on all Switch models. I did not encounter any bugs and it never froze on me. It performs exceptionally well even on the TV.

I found the game's story quite original and it presents it to you in proper doses without getting lost or confused and keeps you engaged.

The sound, effects, and music are excellent without being bothersome to you as the player or to anyone else in the same room while you are playing.

The controls are quite good and they become even better after the patch with extra options and the addition of the choice to change the depth of field.

As a game, it offers you a lot to do, from side quests to collectibles and hidden bosses, plus a surprise Easter egg battle.

Although I played it with Japanese voice over, I can say that the English voice over is not bad.

**** If you have played Shin Megami Tensei or Persona before

All of the above would make for a perfect game if the game design was not so boring for someone who has played Shin Megami Tensei or Persona before. What do I mean?

Most of the mechanics that the game offers do not have a tremendous impact on the gameplay. It is so easy that if you simply combine the creatures you collect and do nothing else, such as transferring skills, you can complete the entire game without much thought or challenge. Only if you play it on the highest difficulty will you need to use everything, but even then, the way the game is set up does not provide satisfying battles.

The biggest problem is the AI, which predictably always uses its AOE attack when it's time to do *Magatsuhi, and because almost 90% of the creatures have one or two AOE attacks, it is very easy to block it. You simply use the crystal that blocks the corresponding element. Then you just spam attacks and it's over. Unfortunately, this is how almost all battles go.

Another problem is the Mitama, which if you use a spyglass and the appropriate attack, you can kill all three of them before they leave, giving you more than enough Glory and coins to max out everything.

SMTV also does something that unfortunately is trendy lately. It shows you on the map, at some point, where all the secrets (miman) are.

You have to make a little effort to unlock some skills, but apart from that, there was never a case or battle that challenged me. This does not happen to such an extent in previous SMT or Persona games.

The most enjoyable aspect of the game was finding a way to reach certain points on the map that seem inaccessible to collect the secret or loot.

I was eagerly anticipating this game, expecting to see something new. Although it is technically and artistically flawless, unfortunately SMTV does not take risks, resulting in it being just another game with better graphics, semi-open world, and fewer dungeons. I played it for almost 140 hours, but it left me feeling indifferent.

I would expect the price to drop to €30-€40 for purchase.

If you have never played Shin Megami Tensei or Persona

In case you have never played Shin Megami Tensei (SMT), in the game you play as a student who becomes something like a deity and collects demons that you combine to create stronger demons that you use in battles. Something like Pokemon, just much darker.

If you have never played SMT or Persona, the first encounter with this type of RPG always remains unforgettable because you will either love it or hate it, and this one is clearly made to attract a new audience rather than satisfy veterans of the franchise.

As such, I highly recommend it, you owe it to yourself to play at least one SMT and one Persona, and this game is the perfect moment to do it.