My thoughts on the Persona Franchise
Despite getting a PS4 late, my list of games for it is slim to none. So I looked up popular games for the PS4 to see which one interests me. Persona 5 caught my eye, so I gave it a chance. Man, oh man, you have no idea how this game frustrates me. Before I get into that, I'm sure you're wondering what is this series about? Persona is an RPG about a group of teens going through life while fighting people's dark desires in their minds with the power of their personas. This series has been around for 30 years, there are six games in this franchise, and it's one of two spin-offs of another RPG called Shin Megami Tensei if...
The story for this game was insane in a good way. It had twists, turns, and world-building. The story is so thick that it left no stone unturned for the most part. It also deals with the ethics of the group changing someone's heart against their will. I'm not going to say that this is the best story in the franchise because I haven't played all of them. You can play this without playing the others because the games feel self-contained for the most part. There is one thing about this game story that got my attention; that is this is about a group of outcasts. I know what that feels like all too well. Despite that, they bounce back from their situations due to the connections they made. That helps the story feel uplifting. I also like the game's soundtrack.
I'm surprised no one in Hollywood has entertained the idea of turning this story into a series. I mean, the game's story was good enough to get a manga and a stage play. I say that because this is something we need. Why make a big deal about mental health if we're not going to get stories that deal with the human mind? (If we do no one is talking about them.) heck, the movies that deal with dreams don't go far enough. When I reviewed Inception, I complained that it lacked imagination; this game made up for it.
Before I address the elephant in the room, I have one minor issue with this game that is I find the demonic images off-putting. ( To be fair, that's a reference to Shin Megami Tensei if...) What drives me nuts about this game is how hard it is. It's not hard by design; it's hard by structure. When I first played it, it was a hassle. I couldn't do certain things because I didn't maxed out my stats. When I played on Game Plus, I was so close to beating it, but I ran out of SP, didn't stack up on items, and didn't find all my allies. When I played it the third time, I forgot to get an ally. This is why I dread playing it for the fourth time; this game scratches you so thin in so many different directions that you don't have time to yourself to train or craft. ( The last two things I mentioned also matter.)
I know that there is an NPC that can help scratch time, but that didn't do much. Also, this game is long, even with fast-forward. The player's guide needs to make a comeback because this game needs one. If you don't meet certain people at the right time, you miss out on locations and opportunities. Despite how popular this game is, I can't be the only one who has this problem. Also, what's with the different versions of this game? ( I have to OG if you're wondering.) I mean, one of them is a sequel. This game didn't need a sequel. I hated it when game companies do that, you're not getting my money twice!
This game could have been better if it had cut the fat, extended or slow-down time. That's all I have to say about this franchise for now.
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