Summary
A clear dividing line exists within thePersonaseries, as the first three games adhere to the old school rubric of Atlus’ RPGs, while games fromPersona 3on have had their own distinct vibe (and impeccable style), but I still feel likePersona 6couldtake a lesson fromPersona 2to outdo its direct predecessor. While the template pioneered inPersona 3and refined inPersona 4is largely excellent, it is not without its flaws. I recently (finally) beatPersona 2: Innocent Sin, and it was an eye-opening reminder of what thePersonafranchise has been missing.
Persona 3is actually the fourth game in the franchise, sincePersona 2was split into two games:Persona 2:Innocent Sin, andPersona 2:Eternal Punishment.
There are, perhaps,Persona 5elementsP6should avoid, in terms of mechanics, but astructural design that has been present sincePersona 3also needs to go.Persona 3introduced the gameplay loop of Tartarus, a sprawling dungeon withnumerous, procedurally generated floors, that served as the game’s primary battleground.Persona 4had the world of the Midnight Channel, andPersona 5delved into Mind Palaces. When playingInnocent Sin, I was surprised at howrefreshing it was to just go places in the world, blending the worldbuilding of Sumaru City with the JRPG genre’s most iconic gameplay mode, dungeon exploration.
New Persona 5 Feature Lets You Play One Of The Most Iconic Games Ever Made
A new mod for Persona 5 allows Joker to sit down and enjoy one of the most iconic video games ever made and its implementation is seamless.
Varied, Bespoke Dungeons Would Improve Persona 6
The Procedurally Generated Dungeons Introduced In Persona 3 Hold The Series Back
The player-driven pacing of conquering the many floors andbosses of Tartarus inPersona 3is similar to a tabletop RPG campaign that centers around a single “mega-dungeon,” likeD&D’sPtolus, orDungeon of the Mad Mage. The individual “channels” explored inPersona4’s Midnight Channel, or the Mind Palaces ofPersona 5, aredistinct from one another in their themes but are still a largely homogenous way to engage with the world.Persona 2: Innocent Sin, plays closer to an urban adventure, likeWaterdeep: Dragon Heist, where thebattles take place in and around a fully fleshed-out city.
When you have a month to complete a dungeon, it makes sense to spare an evening to bond with a party member who struggles to meet their parents’ approval, but it’s less organic when cultists have hostages at the Aerospace Museum, likePersona 2: Innocent Sin.
WhilePersona 3: Reloadimproves onP3in almost every way, it still reminds veteran fans ofPersonaabout the break from tradition andthe onset of singular dungeon types that are separate from the external reality of the games’ settings. The originalPersonatrilogy followed the template of games like the firstShin Megami Tensei: Soul Hackerstitle and other Atlus games where the dungeons take place in the real world, with demons unleashed in an urban environment. The focus on singular dungeon locales, like the sinister shadow of Gekkoukan High, Tartarus,made dungeon crawling feel separated from reality.
Players seeking tomax social links inPersona 5organically experience worldbuilding for the game’s rendition of Tokyo alongside character development. The same can be said of after-school activities inPersona 3and4. Still, the separation of the dungeon crawling element from the external world of the games’ settings makes conceptual spaces like The Midnight Channel and Mind Palacesfeel more imaginary and less like an authentic part of the world. InInnocent Sin, demons were loosed in the Mu casino, where I had played the slots, and the protagonist’s high school, making dungeons part of the world.
Persona’s Social Link System Has Drawbacks
The Languid Pacing Of Social Links Is At Odds With Narrative Urgency
The post-Persona 3structure isat odds with in-world dungeons to a degree. If I was pursuingallPersona 4: Goldensocial links, I would be engaging with the relationship management sim, which is half of the gameplay of modernPersonatitles. That formatrequires less time-sensitive missions, or it would break immersion. When you have a month to complete a dungeon, it makes sense to spare an evening to bond with a party member who struggles to meet their parents’ approval, but it’s less organic when cultists have hostages at the Aerospace Museum, likePersona 2: Innocent Sin.
Persona 4 Golden: How To Beat The Reaper (Tips, Tricks & Strategies)
The Reaper is an extremely challenging optional boss available in Persona 4 Golden that will take every trick and strategy your team has to beat.
Idon’t want thePersonagames to lose their focus on social links and time managementto be clear. That depth of characterization has let the franchise rise above its JRPG peers, and the more relatable stakes of coming-of-age stories make it more approachable than the bleak and apocalyptic tone of the mainlineShin Megami Tenseigames. ThePersona 2structure is essentially just that of a conventional JRPG, where the heroes travel to places in the real world and fight monsters there in areas defined as dungeons. With tweaks,the old and newPersonastyles could be combined, however.
The originalPersonafeatured an eclectic blend of gameplay formats and presentation, including some 3D first-person segments alongside traditional overhead JRPG movement. LaterPersonagames abandoned this mix of interfaces for a more consistent aesthetic.
Players could have a central hub dungeon, like how the Midnight Channel letsplayers learnPersona 4’s combat system, alongside story-based events wheresupernatural threats bleed over into the real worldas they did in the earlyPersonatitles. Instead of a broad goal, like confronting the shadow self of a serial killer’s prospective victim before the murderer strikes again, as inPersona 4,Persona 6could have atime-based warning to prepare for a supernatural incursion at the end of each month. This allows time for social links, as well as something like a local arcade becoming a dungeon.
Persona 6 Could Be The Best Of Both Worlds
Paying Homage To Persona’s Origins Alongside Its Current Format Is Ideal
Adding this element to the modernPersonastyle could reallyhighlight the best of both worlds. I know I, for one, would find it compelling if the local hangout spot where I spent time developing bonds with party members turned into a nightmarish dungeon. A wider awareness of the reality of supernatural threats could change the tone of the game, but this did not harm the earlyPersonatitles, or any of theShin Megami Tenseiseries games that followed that formula. It could alsoavoid the tedious nature of exploring the same dungeon typein modernPersonagames.
Persona 5 Royal: How To Unlock Showtime Attacks
Showtime attacks vary in damage depending on the pairing of specific characters, but they are absolutely necessary in Persona 5 Royal.
Some rumors suggestPersona 6could be releasing soon, but there is little doubtAtlus is working to carefully polish what has become its flagship RPG series internationally. Given the uptick in popularity and visibility after thePersona 3format change, there may be little motive to rock the boat or tinker with a winning formula. Returning to any element of the relatively more obscure earlyPersonagames might hold little appeal to Atlus. I wouldlove to see bespoke dungeon maps that take place within the city itself, as this would also helpPersona 6stand out as unique.
