Persona 5: The Gaming Experience
Persona 5 is a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) developed and published by Atlus Co., Ltd. Released in Japan on September 15th, 2016 and worldwide on April 4th, 2017, the JRPG received universal acclaim. Persona 5 garnered large media coverage within the gaming community, as it is the 6th game in the Persona series, succeeding the last game of the series which was released almost a decade ago. While JRPGs are not as common outside of Asia, Atlus has successfully created an interactive video game that has captivated gamers from every part of the world.
Within seconds of playing Persona 5, players are greeted by its jazzy theme song, the main genre of music played throughout game. Using a color palette of red, white, and black along with unique designs, Atlus went above and beyond in making a video game with more than just an incredible storyline. Understanding the importance of aesthetically pleasing graphics, Persona 5 has a flashy and dynamic design that compliments the music and style of the game. The game’s core themes center on rebellion, justice, and loyalty. The player-name protagonist, new to Tokyo, is introduced briefly to players, providing very little backstory other than him having a criminal record due to being falsely accused of a crime. This unjust act drives the story forward, as each challenge within the game focuses on an adult having too much power who abuse their role of authority to take advantage of the younger generation. The protagonist along with his friends band together and become the Phantom Thieves, who are capable of awakening their true selves, or ‘personas’, once they have accepted their rebellious sides. Their personas grant them powers to rebel against each antagonist throughout the game. The Phantom Thieves are granted the ability to enter the ‘Metaverse’, a parallel universe where they change the hearts of villains in order for them to confess their crimes in the real world.
Unlike other RPGs, Persona 5 does not have a linear narrative for the majority of the game; the storyline switches between past and present, the gameplay focusing on past events which provide more details to the player. Towards the end of the game, the player has a full understanding of the main character’s history, which allows the narrative to switch to present tense for the duration of the game. A non-linear narrative keeps the player on their toes; the game is unpredictable, as the player is unaware of the main character’s and his teammates’ situation for the majority of the game. As the main character, you have to manage your time wisely, as time is limited; you must complete each goal by the given deadline, or else it’s ‘game over’.
Persona 5 is a Sony exclusive game, available on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. In-game instances use a turn-based combat system, where the player can initiate an attack, or be attacked if spotted. Avoiding enemies requires stealth, remaining undetected, and attacking from behind to have the upper hand. During battles, the player can only choose 3 other characters to accompany the protagonist. This requires strategizing effectively, as each character has their own skills and abilities that have strengths and weaknesses against specific enemies. Outside of combat, Persona 5 is a JRPG, allowing the player to choose different dialogue options and further relationships, romantic and platonic, with multiple characters — all impacting the storyline. Choosing words that are favorable to specific characters can further your relationship, which increases your stats in school, relationships, and combat skills.
Persona 5, while not an immersive game, is instead incredibly interactive, as the player must make good use of their limited time. The player must balance education, relationships, and time in the Metaverse; all of which encourage plot development. However, each task cannot be completed in one day. Balancing each aspect of the protagonist’s life must be done over a span of in-game days, all while attempting to meet the deadline in which you must complete each task. Through multitasking and strategizing, the game never reaches a dull moment, as the player is unable to take each day for granted. Every possible moment in the game must be used to further improve the protagonist, or a ‘game over’ is imminent. Despite needing to put in over 100 hours of playtime in order to reach completion, Persona 5 manages to educate the masses on several themes found within the game, and its compelling narrative should not be overlooked.
