Summary
This article contains endgame spoilers for Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance.
Atlus’Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeancewas an interesting case in the company’s take on the “re-release girl” formula given the original’s story critiques. When it was announced thatVengeancewould bean enhanced edition ofSMT5complete with a diverging storyline, some were skeptical about new character Yoko Hiromine’s inclusion. To add a new face to an already underdeveloped cast would pose natural difficulties in narrative focus, and thoughVengeancepulls off the majority of its new plot points well, it does highlight some flaws with undertaking such a formula.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance’s Canon of Vengeance storyline shifts its law and chaos reps from Dazai and Yuzuru to Tao and Yoko, respectively. This focus illuminates the two’s differing ideologies by including them as party members for the beginning half of the Nahobino’s journey into Da’at, speaking about their beliefs as side quests are completed and plot points are reached. Their inclusion in the party and direct commentary on the Nahobino’s actions make for a welcome change of pace compared to the original, which simply lets players choose their alignment path toward the end of the game. Still, the central focus on Tao and Yoko makesVengeancefall into similar trappings when it comes to the development ofits supporting characters.
How Yoko Hiromine’s Involvement Affects the Supporting Cast of Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance
The Change in Dazai and Yuzuru Within Vengeance’s Storyline
Dazai and Yuzuru felt underutilized in the originalSMT5, both in their interactions withthe Nahobinoand each other.Vengeancesought to remedy this by making their paths more entwined, at least in the first half of its storyline. The conflict between the two in regard to Miyazu’s kidnapping by the Qadistu provided tangible friction, while their reconciliation, if a little hamfisted, showed the group acting as actual friends. This didn’t last long, however, asVengeanceneeded a reason to keep the protagonist in the fray with Aogami’s absence. Dazai undergoes another comically evil turn toward a villain, this time more explained through Mastema’s influence, while Yuzuru’s death by his hand is the catalyst for the protagonist and Tsukuyomi’s fusion.
Yuzuru’s death is an interesting treatment for his character, and does quite a bit of lifting forVengeance’s narrative, both in the Nahobino’s new design and the reflections of Tsukuyomi, whose dialogue shows genuine remorse for his inability to keep Yuzuru safe. It also gives a chance for Miyazu to have an actual reaction to her brother’s death, helping to keep her somewhat relevant toVengeance’s later story beats. With this said, Dazai’s villainous turn feels as abrupt as his portrayal in the original, doubly so when the group leaves him as a salt statue despite Mastema promising to restore him, which ends up happening mere seconds later. With Tao replacing his standing as the Law rep, Dazai’s character ultimately becomes another small hurdle to the Empyrean.
Making Tradeoffs to Accommodate a New Character
The same can be said forYakumo and Nuwa, who were arguably the most interesting characters of the originalSMT5. Vengeancedoes give weight to Yakumo’s backstory with some missable lines in Tokyo, providing context to his partnership with Nuwa despite hating demons, though the lack of a new neutral and/or secret ending keeps their involvement in the story to a minimum. There are some genuinely good lines that show how compelling his character is, particularly at Tokyo’s shrine following Nuwa’s death, begging the question of what the enhancedSMT5could have looked like if it had kept its focus on its former supporting characters.
AsVengeance’s Chaos rep, there was a natural necessity to keep the plot centralized on Yoko’s plight, especially in how it related tothe Qadistu’s goals. Still, her involvement highlights how the “re-release girl” formula often requires trade-offs in narrative structure. Making Yoko’s character a foil to Tao put Tao in the position ofVengeance’s Law rep, despite her ideology often feeling more in line with neutral thinking, wishing for a “world where humanity’s dreams are fulfilled.”
This would have conflicted with her standing as the Goddess of Creation, though the way that Tao and Yoko were framed made Yoko’s chaos commentary feel extreme by comparison. Ultimately, Yoko’s involvement shows the difficulties in finding the right balance of fitting a new character into an already established storyline, and the pros and cons that come with such a feat.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
WHERE TO PLAY
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance consists of two complete story paths: experience a brand-new route, the “Canon of Vengeance” – a dramatic tale of revenge by the fallen, centered around new characters and an enigmatic cohort of demons, the Qadištu, who plot their own dark designs apart from the war of those who fight to maintain order and those who seek to defy it. Or explore the original story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the “Canon of Creation” – an eternal conflict between angels and demons, in which the protagonist fights for the world’s fate.When a grisly murder scene in modern-day Tokyo blocks our protagonist’s walk home, an unplanned detour leaves him buried and unconscious. He awakens in a new Tokyo, a wasteland ravaged by apocalypse now called Da’at… but before bloodthirsty demons can claim his life, a savior emerges, and the two of them unite to become a mighty being, neither human nor demon: a Nahobino.With newfound power, the protagonist ventures through Da’at, an enigmatic realm filled with mythical deities and demonic tyrants in constant conflict for survival. Searching for answers, the protagonist must forge his own path in a battle between angels and demons to dictate the fate of the world.
