Gameplay
Both Shin Megami Tensei V and Persona 5 are turn-based JRPGs, but the flow of the combat definitely feels different thanks to certain mechanics.
For instance, Shin Megami Tensei V features the Press Turn system, which allows you to rack up extra turns whenever you hit an enemy’s weakness or get a critical hit. This sounds familiar to Persona’s One More system, but with a cruel twist: your foes in SMT V can benefit from Press Turn as well, and you’re heavily punished for making any wrong moves.
This results in players needing to tread a very fine line even when dealing with regular enemy encounters. Miss an attack and you lose two turns, have an enemy completely absorb your attack and you lose four. And if your foes manage to hit your weaknesses, things can go south very quickly and you’ll find your entire party wiped out if you’re not lucky.
Persona 5 is much more forgiving, especially with the Baton Pass system which increases your damage output with each Pass. Enemies can also stack a few extra turns by hitting your weaknesses, but at least you don’t lose your turns by missing attacks.
Persona 5 is also a lot more lenient as you’ll unlock abilities and other features to help replenish your HP and SP even if you’re in a dungeon. Shin Megami Tensei V lets you heal up at save points, but that game doesn’t mess around. If you’re too careless with how you spend your SP, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Both games also feature the demon fusion and negotiation system; negotiating is still a game of RNG, but the fusion systems are solid in both. Shin Megami Tensei V goes an extra step further, though, by forcing players to fill their entire party with demons. Without any NPCs to assist you, you have far more control over your party makeup, though this also means more pressure on the player to create the perfect party for any specific boss encounter.
SMT V also has the Essence Fusion system which gives you more control over how you want to build the Nahobino. All of these systems can be overwhelming, and Persona 5 is definitely a lot more streamlined in that aspect.
Winner: Shin Megami Tensei V. While the systems can be a little overwhelming at first, we vastly enjoyed the freedom that came with it, and there’s nothing more satisfying than fusing the perfect demon to join you on the next stretch of your journey. Just make sure your weaknesses are always protected.
