Persona and Shin Megami Tensei are two of the biggest JRPG franchises under Atlus’s belt right now, and with both series getting new entries in the past year, it’s a good time to examine Shin Megami Tensei V and Persona 5 and see which one comes out on top.
We’ll be examining both games in a few different categories and declaring a winner in each one, before drawing a final conclusion to determine which JRPG is better.
Story and Characters
The story, characters, and setting of Shin Megami Tensei V and Persona 5 couldn’t be more different from each other. One game is laser-focused on broad themes like the literal meaning of life, the universe, and everything, while the other zooms into its story on a micro level, placing emphasis on friendships and social bonds.
Much like its predecessors, Shin Megami Tensei V doesn’t concern itself with petty things like bonding with your friends and listening to their silly mortal problems. You’re the Nahobino after all; you have actual important shit to do, like recruiting demons to your cause and fighting off the hordes of enemies under Satan and Lucifer’s control. Or, y’know, flip things around and go after God instead.
Because of this, SMT V can feel very cold and clinical. The characters are simply there as plot devices and driving forces of the different ideologies at play in the game.
Persona 5, on the other hand, is meant to feel warm and sunny. The bulk of the gameplay is revolved around getting to know your teammates better and helping them become the best versions of themselves. It’s wholesome, endearing, and you’re supposed to get completely attached to your entire party by the time the credits roll.
Winner: It’s a tie. It’s pretty much impossible to compare the stories and characters of both games when they both serve wildly different purposes. Are you in the mood for something darker and more philosophical? Go with Shin Megami Tensei V? Do you just want that warm, gooey feeling of watching a Saturday morning cartoon? Persona 5.
