Enlisting among the Phantom Thieves - Playing Persona 5 Royal

[Falselogic]

Since I did Persona 4 last year and I've had this since it came out seemed like an okay time to start playing. I've just watched the intro and been introduced to the protag's situation, his guardian and the school. Doesn't seem too great. Also, I wasn't expecting the game to be a flashback. Slightly annoying that I know where all of this ends up...

Anyone else playing or played? What did you think? Do you have any insights or hints for me? Are there things I need to look out for since this is the Royal version?

 

[Violentvixen]

Slightly annoying that I know where all of this ends up...

You don't. I'll leave it at that!

 

[Teaspoon]

oooh! very excited to see what you make of this.

(I've been fond of it ever since picking up a manga and going ?????? ...then I read some Let's Play's, naturally.)

 

[Voncaster]

I love Persona 5. Its also the first and only Persona game that I've played.

I will say up front Persona 5 is a long game. It took me over 100 hours to complete. I may not be the best at RPGs, but I'm not inexperienced either. I would tell that to anyone going in.

If your okay with that I found the cast, the activities to do on your off days, and the music to be very enjoyable.

If you are playing the Royal version, you may want to look up who to friend to get the additional chapter. (I did not and I played through the game 2x to see the last chapter! I have a strong aversion to using guides for games I play.)

 

[Falselogic]

Of course, I started this a day before I went on a short mini family vacation... Back last night and played a little today. Made it to the 3rd day or so, April 13th. Took P4 awhile to get going and it seems P5 is very much the same. Though all the characters seem much less interested or straight up angry with the protag than in P4. I guess that's because he's a 'criminal!' Though in most other places I think he'd been seen more as a hero. Maybe that's me just being optimistic.

 

[Falselogic]

I love Persona 5. Its also the first and only Persona game that I've played.

If you enjoyed this one I think you'd enjoy 4 and 3. Especially 3 now that it has been updated. As long as you know what you are getting into with them some of the sexual politics in the game are regressive, but I think at the time they were trying to be progressive. I'm not well schooled on the subject, but you should know that it is there. Not that it isn't in P5. I just got to the part where Sumire makes a contract with the protagonist and it has the creepy guy harassing her, even the reason the protag is at this school is dealing with the sexual politics of Japan and I think they're trying. But again, I haven't dug into this.

But, I did enjoy playing both of the games.

I'm in June. Hoping to wrap up the second palace soon. The game is still introducing aspects of the game but I am enjoying it. I have found the maps more difficult to navigate than those in P4. Thank goodness you can quick travel almost everywhere because navigating the school, Shibuya and the subway system are very confusing! The fights are harder than they were in P4 and the new arcana are throwing me but its all workable.

Which characters did you all have in your parties most of the time? What were your fusion strategies?

 

[Voncaster]

Its been ages since I played. I don't remember fusion strategies.

My favorite parties were:
Primary: Joker, Ann, and Makoto.
Secondary: Joker, Haru, and Morgana.

IIRC, most of the party members were pretty good and capable. The characters I chose were my personal favorites.

***
As an aside I also loved playing through Catherine by the Persona team.

***
I intend to get to Persona 3 Remake at some point. Its really just a matter of time (I'm also skeptical that Atlus won't give it the Royal treatment in some form).

2024 has been an embarrassment of riches for me: FFVII, Vampire Survivors, Castlevania Dominus Collection and currently Silent Hill 2 Remake. I'm very interested in replaying Dead Rising, Slitterhead, Ys and the new Atelier game. I don't know in what order I'll play games, but I will get to Persona 3 at some point.

 

[Falselogic]

Oh, I was not expecting the whole Temperance relationship. And you can date your teacher?! I was so hopeful earlier on about this.

Also, is there someone over at Atlus that just loves children detectives? They pop up an awful lot in their games... I'm in July now.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

If I recall, maxing out the creepy teacher Slink gets you one the best perks in the game, allowing you to do both a dungeon visit and social event in the same day. I don’t know if that was changed in the obligatory special edition, though.

 

[balder the brave]

If I recall, maxing out the creepy teacher Slink gets you one the best perks in the game, allowing you to do both a dungeon visit and social event in the same day. I don’t know if that was changed in the obligatory special edition, though.

This is true! I just played P5 Vanilla for the 2nd time.

It’s very advantageous to prioritize the teacher and the fortune teller social links because their abilities add to your efficiency. You’ll have more opportunities to increase your stats and other social links.

 

[Peklo]

Also, is there someone over at Atlus that just loves children detectives? They pop up an awful lot in their games... I'm in July now.

The writing staff across Persona (particularly from 3 on) utilize a very narrow and established set of archetypes for their central casts which get composited and shuffled around from one game to the next, never altering the core components. Recurring dynamics, narrative roles, personality traits and design cues are an unavoidable refrain when interacting with the series as a whole.

 

[Falselogic]

Oh, I'm going to try and max all links (I usually do) I just thought the teacher/maid thing was cringe.

 

[Falselogic]

The writing staff across Persona (particularly from 3 on) utilize a very narrow and established set of archetypes for their central casts which get composited and shuffled around from one game to the next, never altering the core components. Recurring dynamics, narrative roles, personality traits and design cues are an unavoidable refrain when interacting with the series as a whole.

It's been a long time since I played 3. But 4 and 5's characters certainly share a lot of aspects. I guess a series based on masks and psychological aspects of a person it makes sense that people are all tropes and stock.

 

[Teaspoon]

i bought the game on Steam sale!

not sure when I'll have the attention span to try it, but we'll see

 

[Falselogic]

i bought the game on Steam sale!

not sure when I'll have the attention span to try it, but we'll see

This thread will be here when you do get around to it!

 

[Falselogic]

Okay, I do love that I am now infiltrating the Prosecutor's palace. No wonder she is being so understanding! I'm at the end of October and things are escalating. I've been able to get a number of relationships maxed. Including the teacher and the fortuner teller who offers huge benefits for the player it seems!

 

[Falselogic]

I'm half way through November. Just a few days from having to complete the prosecutor's dungeon. And I have to admit I'm feeling a lil burned out. I probably shouldn't have been trying to min/max everything... While I do have most of the confidant relationships maxed out. I don't know how much fun I'm having at this point.
The boy detective finally joined. I did one mission with the Royal added character but she declined to join. I wonder if I messed up that relationship somehow. It's capped at five now and the few times she has popped up nothing seems to be able to advance it...

I was hoping to get through this before 2025 but it is looking really slim. Oh, and I've avoided looking up how to ensure I get the Royal extra/true ending but I'm faltering on that front I think I want to do it as I don't think I can do this again.

I decided to date Makoto. In P4 I dated all of them. But, the fact that this game warns you when you are about to commit to a relationship and reminds you that you are already in one. I don't think that is the right choice.

 

[balder the brave]

It is def a long game. I had to push myself to play it a few times, but I'm glad I was able to finish it.

More than anything, it was the dungeons and Mementos that I got sick of. You can speed them up a bit with the smoke bomb item that let you sneak past enemies.