Also available on Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows Holy shit. This game, yo. I wouldn't say that it exceeded my expectations because of how high Persona always sets the bar, but it fully lived up to my expectations, and that alone is a remarkable feat coming after Persona 3 and Persona 4. There's literally nothing about this game that's disappointing in the slightest. I mean, there's no Chie, but it has two waifus who are even BETTER, so I'll take it. If you've ever played a game in the Shin Megami Tensei series, you know that they're among the premier JRPG series. If you've ever played a game in the Persona sub-series, you know that they're the best of the best of the best in the genre. Everything about Persona is perfect. The art style is anime af, the characters are developed so masterfully that you almost feel like you know them, the soundtracks range from "bitchin'" to "audible orgasm," and the storylines are fabulously written and complex enough to be engaging without being pedantic. This was perfect with Persona 4, but Persona 5 is no exception; this game retains the god-tier quality of its predecessors. Whereas Persona 3 had the Midnight Hour and Persona 4 had the Midnight Channel, Persona 5 has the Metaverse, accessed not by being awake at the right time or jumping into a TV but by accessing a mysterious smartphone app. On your quest to right the wrongs of the world and gather waifus, you'll meet a wonderful cast of characters that seriously gives Persona 4 a run for its money. You've obviously got your protagonist, but you also meet Fucking Cat, Stupid Bromance, Foreigner Jailbait, Tsundere Prez, Timid Billionaire, Gay Artist, Bitch-Ass Punk, and Kawaii Hacker Jailbait along with a whole handful of NPC waifus and bros I'm too lazy to give sarcastic nicknames. So let's talk about what I think is always the greatest strength of any Persona game - the soundtrack. Let's go ahead and get this comparison out of the way: it's not as good as Persona 4's soundtrack. It is, however, DAMN close and amazing in its own right. The soundtrack alone justified the extra $30 for the Take Your Heart Edition IMO even without the Shujin Academy bag, artbook, and Morgana plush. The battle music especially is extraordinarily fitting for the mood of the fights and really helps to get your blood pumping for a tough boss encounter. If I were to pick a grip, I have to very minor ones. First, the grind dungeon where most of your side quests will be done, Momentos, feels a little lackluster to me when compared to Tartarus or the TV world. Take out that comparison and it's great, but when you put it up against its Persona 3 and Persona 4 counterparts, it does feel as if a little bit is left to be desired. Second, that stupid cat keeps making me waste time. It's evening, and I want to go work on a Social Link - "Aren't you tired? Let's go to bed." Bitch, I don't want to go to bed. But fine, I'll make some infiltration tools. "Let's not do that tonight." Look, you furry piece of shit, you're not my dad. But fine. I'll train to boost my HP in battle. "Let's not do that tonight." Whyyyy??? Who cares if I'm going somewhere with all my friends tomorrow? They sell some Red Bull equivalent in Japan, I'm sure. Does it really hinder the experience? Of course not, but it is annoying as shit. To avoid spoiling anything else, I'm going to cut it off here, but this game is truly incredible. After I played Breath of the Wild, I thought "This is my game of the year, no doubt." Then Persona 5 comes along, and shit man, I don't even know anymore. This is a truly god-tier JRPG, the kind that gets remembered as "The best of a generation" years down the light the way Final Fantasy VII and Chrono Trigger get remembered. It doesn't matter if you've got a Playstation 3 or a Playstation 4; you need to get this game. If you don't have either of systems, shame on you! Go fix that! With difficulties ranging from "Not Even Stephen Is This Pathetic" all the way up to "Dark Souls," the game is approachable for players of any skill level. Do NOT give Persona 5 a pass. It's at the very least in the running for "Game of the Decade." My Rating - S |
I'm a teacher.And I like to play video games. I like to collect video games. I like to talk about video games, and I like to write about video games. During the day, I teach high school history; during the night, I spend my spare time gaming. Then I write about it. Archives
April 2024
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