Gaming has come a long way since Pac-Man [gunshots heard]. For many of us, the first gaming worlds we could truly get lost in were in RPGs – world exploration mixing with constant combat and character progression to give the impression of scale like little else.
It’s a genre that’s definitely worth celebrating, and 2024 seems to be shaping up to be a remarkable year for it. That’s why Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, the series’ return to PlayStation, takes the cover, and leads the charge in a month all about celebrating worlds worth getting lost in.
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Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - the series that created Persona returns to PlayStation
Hell is empty… because the devils are here! We go hands-on with Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and talk to the devs about this huge revamp, their favourite demons, and how they set the series apart from Persona (which spun-off from SMT in the 90s).
Cathedral Of Shadows
Wait… what was that about Persona? Yes, the hugely popular series has its roots in Shin Megami Tensei. Just as Persona 5 was, in some ways, an evolution of SMT just as much as simply Persona 4; Shin Megami Tensei V takes lessons from recent Persona games just as much as SMT IV.
To help put things in perspective we open the doors to the Cathedral Of Shadows (where demons gather) wide, to talk through the series’ long history, its many spin-offs and subseries, how it all fits together, and just why it’s so special.
Masaru Oyamada on Mana's long-awaited return
SMT isn’t the only saga that’s sprouting anew: the Mana tree is blooming once again in Visions Of Mana. It’s been 18 years since the last mainline game was released, so we talk to Series producer Masaru Oyamada about nurturing the long-lived RPG series to sprout anew with Visions Of Mana.
Naoki Yoshida talks designing jobs in Final Fantasy 14
Ever wondered what goes into making a new job class for an MMORPG? Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida is on hand to talk us through the process, from when to overhaul a system to the challenges of adding new systems to a 10-years-strong epic adventure.
Our Evo Japan report
Japan isn’t just a source of top-notch RPGs, but the birthplace of fighting games as we know it. We shuttled off to Evo Japan’s latest tournament to soak in new announcements, go hands-on with the latest games, and cheer on the champions.
We also investigate whether Shadows Of Doubt might be PlayStation’s ultimate sleuther, jam out to The Last Of Us 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 at The Game Music Festival, and more!
Arranger pushes into Previews
We’ve (ahem) arranged a great set of previews for this issue as well – beginning with Arranger, of course, a head-scratching tile-pushing RPG like little else we’ve played. We also befriend monsties in Monster Hunter Stories 2, take on a new quest in Baladins, and prepare to get spooked with Still Wakes The Deep.
Reviews: troubleshooting Stellar Blade
Our reviews this month are a tantalising mix, including the long-anticipated Stellar Blade which, while something of a grab bag itself, is a cyborg smasher that’s hard to put down.
Likewise, Dave The Diver makes it hard to say no to one more delve into the depths to nab fresh fish for sushi, and Animal Well might be the best metroidvania we’ve played in years thanks to a unique blend of action and truly puzzling headscratchers.
Plus: Umurangi Generation VR, Grounded, FF16: The Rising Tide, and loads more!
RetroStation: could Sleeping Dogs be the best game ever?
Sleeping Dogs is the game that always drags us back in for one more go around Hong Kong, making it a great retrospective to take on this month. Plus: we take the stand to defend Shadow The Hedgehog from his haters, get gunky as we reminiscence all things Prototype, and share our favourite (and maybe only) moment in Silent Hill: Downpour.
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