Mementos: Persona 5’s Most Underrated Element
The ultimate grind in a game all about grind
Persona 5 is a JRPG masterpiece. It’s one of the PS4’s best titles, and considering the breadth of the platform’s exclusives, that’s high praise. With the recent release of the revamped Persona 5 Royal, I figure it’s time for me to experience this game that people have never stopped talking about.
Through my experience with this game, I’ve realized how unique it truly is. As a Persona newbie (but not a Shin Megami newbie; I’ve been a massive fan of the primarily handheld series since Shin Megami Tensei IV released in 2013), I’m in awe of how in-depth and gloriously complex it is. Superficially, the plot centers around a group of high school students in modern day Japan. As they meet each other and grow as adults, they are thrust into a supernatural world where they must arm up and go to battle against the twisted desires and evils of the adults that populate their world. Persona 5 is a game that is over-flowing with style; even the day to day action (going to school, working part time jobs, hanging with friends) is slick and populated by jaw-dropping pay-offs. The combat is forever efficient and fascinating to experience. As a fan of turn-based systems, seeing how Persona 5 hurries through what can be a sluggish experience is very endearing.
I think that Persona 5’s combat is probably the smallest part of the game. Most of it is done in what serves as the game’s main dungeons (called Palaces here). You’ll fight enemies as you work your way through each of the levels, taking breaks at story moments to return to the real world in order to find your way around obstacles. The only other time you battle enemies are through something called Mementos.
The Mementos are an optional dungeon where you dive into randomized levels and map out floors. They are filled with enemies and items. On top of those things, you accomplish side-quests where you battle mini-bosses to change the hearts of side characters. In most games, these side bits are an afterthought. That is not the case with Persona 5. These mini-bosses often tie into the character-centric Confidant system in ways that reveal even more story details.
Because of these things, I spent WAY too much time in Mementos. Grinding for resources and experience points is a bread and butter aspect of JRPGs; the fact that Persona 5 adds an extra carrot on the end is all the better. I can‘t express how much I like crashing my Cat Bus (no time to explain; just go play Persona 5) into enemies. In one of the game’s coolest ideas, the enemies’ status can change depending on the weather in the real world.
Persona 5 Royal even adds two new collectible items to the mix. If you collect enough of these items, you can go to a newly added NPC to trade for items and special effects. These special effects can effect how much experience and money you earn from adventuring! This is a small addition on the base game, but it goes a long way to making the experience even better. I can make my grind more efficient by grinding more! Genius.
Listen: every choice you make is all about building your party up into more competent fighters and more well-rounded adults. It’s about learning and befriending one of the best casts ever assembled in a video game. Mementos is n’t just a dungeon; it’s an exploration of all the best parts about Persona 5.
Now if you’ll excuse me. I have some flowers to collect.
