These are usually fragmented into attending classes during the mornings, and then using the rest of your time to level up in a dungeon, continue progressing the main story forward, or just hang out with friends. Gameplay is intact on the surface, following one day at a time divided into mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Nothing is forced feels forced, and pretty much all unique aspects of Persona 5 Royal feel like they were at some point planned for the initial release but just didn’t make the cut. Other confidants such as a school counsellor also appear, and his presence is equally fantastic.īoth of these characters introduce new story moments to the original game’s narrative, all of which feel perfectly balanced.
Mysterious gymnast Kasumi Yoshizawa is a new playable character that not only brings a new confidant to meet and level up over time, but she also introduces herself as a new member of the Phantom Thieves. The main story remains the same, although there are new characters, interactions, places to visit, and activities to take part in that weren’t in the original release. It’s funny since it’s one of the most approachable JRPGs to date, and it’s even better with the Royal treatment, but the investment it requires is no small undertaking. Frankly, after going through the original Persona 5 (taking me 111 hours) shortly after release, and now revisiting this story with substantially more content and dozens of rather small but welcome changes, it all still feels like a lot. If you’re a newcomer to the series, this all might sound like a lot to swallow. Under a Pokémon of sorts fashion, you can “capture” and make use of them during battles, and your real-life bonds will make for greater results when combining them. Related: Animal Crossing – New Horizons ReviewĪlong with getting to know more of their backstories, each rank you gain will also increase the power your Personas will gain when creating them, which are basically your main companions in battle performing magic and special abilities. But for every enemy in Persona 5 Royal, a new person will show up in your life, with whom you will create a bond that will evolve over time. These perspectives take place in certain parts of the world, leading to the presence of a palace, the game’s main dungeons that are always tied to a specific date for completion. This strange place manifests itself as a mobile app which, after inserting a couple of keywords, can change reality to present the perspective of crooked adults with nothing but bad intentions: an abusive gym teacher, a mafia boss, an artist who profits on his pupils’ work, and so on.
As expected, this isn’t the only conflict he encounters.
Your named protagonist has been sued for charges he did not commit, forced to relocate to Tokyo, Japan where he has to live a normal student life until probation ends, forever targeted and shamed by society as he attempts to start anew. The Phantom Thieves are here to steal your heart once more with Persona 5 Royal, a redux version of the JRPG that arrived in the west three years ago.įollowing the recent tradition in the series, in Persona 5 Royal you’re tasked to live an entire year at high school going through each calendar day forming friendships, attending classes, and fighting against all sorts of creatures in the so-called metaverse, an alternate reality from our own where people’s distorted desires come to life.