How does Shin Megami Tensei V differ from previous entries? – battle system changes and more

Back in 2022, Shin Megami Tensei V, the latest entry in Atlus's long-running flagship JRPG series, was first appear as a Nintendo Switch sectional title through a brief teaser trailer. Since then, news had been relatively sparse, with a cinematic hinting at a bit more in terms of story but non much else. So, during and after E3 2022, both Nintendo and Atlus revealed tons of information and gameplay, from the initial trailer shown in the Nintendo Direct, the Nintendo Treehouse presentation, and Atlus Japan's official livestream. The latter showcased virtually two hours of the title.

Shin Megami Tensei Five seeks to shake upward franchise conventions from what we've seen in all this new material. From fusions to demon designs, to the battle organization, to the overworld, here are some of the changes revealed and so far.

Overworld

Shin Megami Tensei V — Screenshot by Gamepur

One of the most immediately notable changes to Shin Megami Tensei is that, different previous entries in the series, the protagonist moves around freely in the overworld instead of only in dungeons and small environments. Every bit a step upwards from Shin Megami Tensei IV, demons are completely visible and move around the field but as the protagonist does. Another interesting change is that demon party members follow the protagonist around on the map screen as well.

Battle mechanics

While the core mechanics of the battle system (kickoff introduced in Shin Megami Tensei Iii: Nocturne) are even so there, some interesting changes will alter the remainder and flow. As seen in the screenshot above, the start major visual modify shows a completely overhauled battle UI. Information technology closely resembles the UI in Tokyo Delusion Session, a spin-off collaboration championship between Nintendo and Atlus.

In the top right corner of the battle screen, in that location's a gauge labeled Magatsuhi. In Nocturne, Magatsuhi was a source of free energy built-in from powerful emotions, which essentially powered everything in the Vortex World. It seems in that location might be some correlation betwixt its office in Nocturne and the guess in V, in that information technology lends the protagonist power when completely filled.

Looking at the aforementioned screenshot on the bottom left corner, we can see that there's a greyed-out skill labeled Magatsuhi. It most probable becomes usable once the corresponding estimate is filled. In the bottom right corner of the post-battle results carte (in the screenshot below), Magatsuhi skills are listed as a split category, mayhap meaning that these skills are learned naturally and become usable in battle.

Skill inheritance, elements, and spells

Previous Shin Megami Tensei titles have had their own skill inheritance systems, such every bit Nocturne's Magatama organization and the Whisper arrangement in IV. Though this title'south unique arrangement hasn't been named or revealed, there is a clue that tin exist seen in the beneath screenshot. There's a category chosen "Skill Potential," which might be related to skill inheritance.

The elements available in this title have besides been revealed. At that place's physical, fire, ice, lightning, wind, light (possibly bless or expel), nighttime, almighty, death, healing, and the last one shares the aforementioned icon as the previously discussed Magatsuhi skills. There's no gun skills, which weren't in Nocturne, Persona 3, or iv, only have been in plenty other mainline and spin-off games.

Some other alter is how to buffs and debuffs, spells that increase the stats of allies and decrease enemy stats, work. When you used buffs in both Nocturne and IV, it practical to all party members and was a permanent effect, unless an enemy used a skill to strip information technology abroad. Merely, according to the Rakukaja spell's (increases an ally's defense force) flavor text in the screenshot below, buffs last for three turns, a similar mechanic found in Persona 4 and 5.

According to that same flavor text and gameplay footage, said buff only targets a single marry at a fourth dimension. However, it does expect like buffs can exist stacked to increase their effectiveness, just equally in Nocturne and 4. And more than advanced buff spells may target the whole party, denoted by a "Ma" before the spell name (Rakukaja would go Marakukaja, for case), a property introduced in Persona 3, 4, and 5.

Fusion and demon designs

Gone seems to be Mido, the demon fusion main of the Cathedral of Shadows, and in his place is a adult female named Sophia. Not much is known about her now, but she gives off a much different experience from him and other masters. Fusion itself at present involves the protagonist, another interesting change. As we can encounter below, he plays an organ to activate and facilitate the fusion process.

After the fusion is complete, we see the outcome is a redesigned Angel (pictured below), based more on her Shin Megami Tensei Ii design rather than her after two designs that accept been used in most entries in the principal and spin-off titles.

There's besides another new demon, generally likely the mythical hunter-warrior from Irish mythology, Fionn mac Cumhaill. The hint that this demon is Cumhaill would be the name of the skill said demon uses, Mac an Luin, which is also the name of his sword in legend.