Despite the fact that Persona 4 was a game about mysterious and brutal murders in a small Japanese town, many veteran fans of Shin Megami Tensei — Persona's parent franchise — thought that it was a little too cheery in comparison to previous titles, including Persona 3, which was, in many ways, a lot more moody and brooding. Things might be looking up for enthusiasts of darker tones, though, as producer Katsura Hashino's recent interview with Weekly Famitsu details.
Kindly translated by Gematsu, Hashino talks about how modern life has had an effect on Persona 5's development and its overall tone. "I don't think it's a stretch to say in this day and age that there are a lot of people out there who feel like they aren't moving forward, that they have no future, and carry a lot of weight on their shoulders every day," he begins. "They're stuck between a rock and a hard place, emotionally speaking; on the one hand, they might not be keen on living by the same rules and values that defined previous generations, while still lacking the will to go out and actually break those barriers down themselves," he continues, before adding: "That dark side of society is a central pillar to the game we want to make with Persona 5."
It's certainly interesting to gain insight into the kind of social commentary that the release will try to bring across, and with that, the producer then goes on to speak about the title's characters, who seem to be breaking the law. "You got these high school punks who are trying to bite back at a world that's trying to pin them down," he says, before admitting that charismatic criminals are hard to come across in gaming: "There have been a lot of books and films over the years that explored the sorts of lives that thieves live and how they're able to shake up the world with what many would perceive to be sheer brazenness, but that's not ground that's very well covered in games and we intend to rectify that." Given what we saw in the role-playing game's first gameplay trailer, we're definitely starting to get a sense of what the studio's trying to accomplish, especially since the cast in question already appear to be full of personality.
We don't think much can deter us from being excited for Persona 5, but what do you make of Hashino's words? Are you anticipating a darker adventure? Show us your shadow self in the comments section below.
[source famitsu.com, via gematsu.com]
Comments 24
I love what I saw. I knew it was gonna be darker than P4 because of the use of red in this game, and I like how that ties in. I can tell this story line is going to be amazing. I'm just wondering though, does the protagonist "transform" into the phantom using his persona or does he just slip on the mask and go from there?
I absolutely loved what I saw. I also expected a darker adventure, but I don't think it will be like Persona 3.
This is my most anticipated game this year and I can't wait for it to come out.
Well seeing as I read that persona 3 is about nihilism, I wonder if this can be even darker? I'm liking the premise though!
Very Catherine vibe like!
Never played a persona game. What are they like?
@Mrskinner In a broad sense, they're JRPGs with elements of high school sims. You make and improve friendships to improve your efficacy in the game's combat, though you have to manage your time between that and other activities wisely, since the game is set up on a calendar.
The main reason that I bought a PS4 (I don't own a PS3) and looks perfect!
@Sanquine excited for P5? I am trying to get through P3 at the moment
@Heavyman99 sounds interesting. Would I need to play the others first?
@Mrskinner I doubt it. But you really should. Some of the best games you'll ever play. I like to say it's pokemon for adults. That might be a stretch but that's all I got. Haha.
@Mrskinner In terms of story none of them link up. They often share the same themes, though, and some recurring bits and pieces.
@Cowboysfan-22 haha sounds interesting. Will have to try them out
@ShogunRok thanks for the info, have to admit I have been a bit intrigued reading the articles on here
Have they confirmed whether the social links mechanic will be present in the game?
@Mrskinner
Each game have a very self contained story, vut they are on the same universe. That means that sometimes there can be a cameo of some minor characters on the series. Having said that, you can choose whatever you want to play first.
My first Persona games was Persona 4 Golden, and the central theme is the pursuit of Truth. Because of that, the main story revolves around a murder case and your group of high schoolers form an investigation team. The main color of the game is yellow, possibly to convey a sense of joy that is present on the game.
After that, I played Persona 3 Portable on PSP and the central theme of that game is Death. Your group form a squad to exectue shadows. The main color is blue, as it tries to convey sadness.
I loved each game, and they are some of the best JRPGs I played. However, I think Persona 4 is better than 3, but it is a really subjective opinion. Persona 4 has a more varied dungeon design and the social links are a lot more deep than P3, which is a plus for me. Having said that, I think the ending of Persona 3 is more impactful.
If you like JRPGs you can't do wrong playing one game of this series but be warned that they are very long. It took me almost 60 hours to get to the credits of each game and I skipped a LOT of sidequests.
I hope it's dark but I hope it's not one of those stories where you can tell the creator is trying too hard to make things depressing and moody. I also hope the characters are more relatable which is why I kinda preferred persona 4 characters over persona 3.
"I don't think it's a stretch to say in this day and age that there are a lot of people out there who feel like they aren't moving forward, that they have no future, and carry a lot of weight on their shoulders every day,"
wow... that sum up my pathetic life pretty well....
@Jairo_MC I love jrpg's and time isn't an issue, I sunk 100 hours plus into each final fantasy and 200 hours into dragon age inquisition. Thank you for the detailed description, I will be trying these games out
@ZeD. To be honest i really need to continue persona 3 ! I love the vibe ! Its a lot darker than persona 4.
My fist playthrough of persona 3 took me over 200 hours - I never thought I'd be so surprised!
@Mrskinner If you love jrpg's you definitely owe it to yourself to check the series out!
Oooh boy I can't wait for this. I'm liking the style they're going for this time.
I'm all for it. More Persona = happier me.
@Mrskinner start with 4, and if you want more jump into 3.. Or you can wait it out and start with 5, which seems like it'll be my Game of the Year.
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