FIRST IMPRESSIONS: PERSONA 5
Feb 26, 2018
Commemorating the 20th Anniversary and after years of delay, Persona 5 is finally released. Nominated for Game's Award Game of the Year and winning the Best RPG category, the game has truly lived up to expectations.
The suave, smooth soundtrack with dynamic red, white and black colour scheme launches into the world of Persona 5. The opening truly is a cinematic experience from the swift transitions and the camera tracking all the characters in action. The grainy style makes the opening look like a vintage movie influenced by the boldness of comic book art. Artistically, the movement makes the characters skating around looking elegant and daring.
Everything I love about the franchise echoes throughout the opening, creating a sense of nostalgia. By the way, all the colours blend together in some creatively interesting transitions.
Likewise, in previous instalments, you are in the shoes of a transfer student who moves to Tokyo after being sued for assault for trying to prevent a crime from happening. Your character is regarded as an outlaw, even though he was only trying to do the right thing. Then, only for his life to get more complicated as he becomes dragged into the supernatural happenings. The team, Phantom Thieves, run off to tackle the injustice by invading a 'palace' and steal the hearts of people.
The story opens with your protagonist thrown straight into the action, which is unseen for the past two games, considering they had painful long introductions. You are the Joker, the phantom heart thief, ready to escape detection.
Within 10 minutes, you are on the battlefield, keeping up with the high pace tension.
The combat style was very familiar to the other games with the use of Personas and melee attacks. Each character has a unique persona, which is incredibly helpful for stronger spell attacks or physical damage. A persona for those who are new to the franchise is a manifestation of the user's personality in the form of a demon.
The art is stunning especially on the PS4 platform. The slow motion of Joker breaking through the glass to escape, a seemingly brief moment there is a sense of relief but, you immediately are caught by the police. In the interrogation, your character by an investigator is asked to recall about the phantom thieves, while you have no idea what on earth is going on. As questions are asked you are thrown into the regular story through flashbacks.
For the Persona games, this was a real switch up. The usual games hint at something unusual in the odd cutscene and then have continuous narrative immediately from the prologue. Whereas, this game has you from the get-go.
The story slowly introduces some new and old elements of what makes Persona what it is. The velvet room returns and takes the form of a prison cell. The same familiar battle layout with the new editions of negotiation and arms. The new elements add a new kind of strategy to the game, encouraging the user not to blindly run into battle when confronting an enemy.
On the first day of the new school, we are immediately introduced into the bizarre world. These are known as Palaces. A Palace reflects how the target sees the place in their heart ranging from a gym teacher’s castle to an artist's museum. These locations always hold ominous meaning behind them. With the game hinting at darker themes, including sexual or physical abuse and attempted suicide.
Each of the games has a unique ideal throughout the game, Persona 3 places emphasis not fearing your death and 4 with accepting the dark side of yourself. Yet Persona 5 focuses on taking justice within your own sides, as Personas are themed around notorious rebellious figures such as Zoro and Captain Kidd. The characters in the game are not as a cut and dry as a group of teenagers seeking justice. Even the villains carrying some weight as the game places emphasis on not just killing the bad guys, it encourages the power to be used responsibly. The decisions they make also affect the real world which challenges the characters mentally and psychically.
Despite the supernatural element, the story attempts to face real problems head-on and it could be the kind of problems anyone can face in the modern world day to day and the story feels so real.
All the soundtracks are stunning in their simplicity. Through its simplicity, the jazzy, smooth tones aren't too overwhelming which doesn't distract a gamer when the game is as visually stunning. My highlight for the soundtrack for each game is always the opening and the fighting music riffs. Persona 5 has the strongest hook in the franchise with 'Last Surprise' with one single line 'Never see it coming.' Yet it contains more intensive tracks, complete with electric guitar riffs. The creators knew exactly what they were doing.
I have only invested 10 hours so far, I know my journey will be far from over with this game and I firmly believe it will continue to make me fall in love even further.