Persona 5 is an interesting addition to the Persona game series. It is the sixth game in the series. The Persona series is a part of the Megami Tensei franchise. Persona 5 was developed by P-Studio, and published by Atlus and Deep Silver. The role-playing game was released in Japan in September 2016. It was later released worldwide in April 2017. Persona 5 is available on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Persona 5 Royal Platforms.

From Probation to Super Hero

Persona 5 follows the story of Joker, a young high school student who was transferred to a new school in Tokyo. He had left his old school because he was wrongly accused and punished for assaulting a student. While in his new school, Joker and his friends suddenly developed superpowers. They decide to form a secret vigilante group (Phantom Thieves of Hearts). To improve their powers, they journey to Metaverse on a mission to steal some malevolent intents from adults. They encounter some enemies and have to fight them off to achieve their goals.

Joker and His Troubled Group of Friends

Some members of the Joker’s group include a former track star who lost his position, a model with many personal issues, and a student council president who is trying to fight some corrupt people in school. The friends find out that they have a superpower that could teleport them to a strange world (the Metaverse). In this world, they have the power to summon some creatures known as Personas. 

A Typical Case of Leading a Double Life

Like other games in the series, the game characters spend half of their time in the real world, doing what every other teenager does. They go to school, study for their exams, make friends, take up little jobs, etc. They spend the second half of their lives fighting off evil monsters or stealing treasures.

Joker’s Romantic Interests

The romantic plot is more straightforward in Persona 5, but with a few restrictions. For instance, Joker is allowed to start a relationship with any of the girls in the group, but he is not allowed to start a romantic relationship with any of the boys. However, one of the male characters in the game displays a bisexual personality. Two other non-player-characters also exhibit gay attitudes. The characters are very funny and show up from time to time to flirt with some members of the group.  

Some Major Improvements in Persona 5

One of the most significant differences that can be spotted in persona 5 is the use of powers. In the earlier games in the series, the game characters could only use their powers when there is a need to battle enemies. In Persona 5, Joker and his friends can use their powers for other purposes. For instance, they can use a different moniker (the Phantom Thieves). With this moniker, the characters can learn how to use their powers to capture hearts, which consequently causes the bad people to change from their evil ways. 

The characters in Persona 5 are more interesting than the characters in the previous games. Some interesting characters to watch out for include the two gay characters an alcoholic reporter, and a comic politician who shows up in some comic scenes. Persona 5 has some interesting twists in the game plot which are quite unexpected.

Persona 5 also makes it possible for players to relate more extensively with non-player-characters. The relationship with these characters also helps to unlock different skills that are useful during battles. Some of the non-player characters also give players tips that can help restore or improve their health and skills. I also found out that relating with Kawakami, a high school teacher, makes my character get things done at a much faster pace.

The dungeons in Persona 5 are far more interesting than the other games in the series. The designs are outstanding, with different great challenges that will impress you. Exploring these dungeons is more interesting than ever, with so many things to do.

Persona 5 Royal: What’s on the Table?

Persona 5 Royal was released on 31^st October 2019 in Japan, and it was released worldwide on 31^st March 2020. Persona 5 Royal is an improved version of the main game. Royal features an extra plot at the end of the game. The game introduced a few new characters including Kasumi and Takuto. Although Kasumi is a playable character, she is not available for use until the third semester. 

Takuto features as the school counselor, and your character and his team are made to visit him often.  Akechi is not new to the Royal, but the game now lets you bond with him as you wish. Takuto, Kasumi, and Akechi are vital to understanding key plots in the third semester. Try to maximize your communication with them.

Additionally, some silent scenes in Persona Default 2 now have voice overs, and you won’t be forced to go to sleep all night. You can now engage in different activities including reading, watching TV, building a tool, etc.  Weapons now automatically reload, giving you more time to concentrate on other aspects of combat. Also, all characters can now pass control to other characters without needing to unlock the feature.  The dungeon exploration is however not as impressive as that of the original game. Overall, Persona 5 Royal is a great version to play after you’ve played Persona 5.

Conclusion

If you love role-playing games, dungeon-crawling games, or games with elements of social simulation games, you would love persona 5. One of the most distinctive features of persona 5 is the depth of the storyline. It covers it all, from politics to rebellion, to social changes. Persona 5 lets it all out addressing multiple social concerns. When playing the game, you will find that Persona 5 does not showcase adults in a positive light. However, teenagers always find new ways to correct wrongdoings in society.