...is what I should be able to write about this week. Instead, Persona 5 was delayed late last year (on my birthday, by the way) from its original release date of February 14th to April 4th, a delay of about 7 weeks. This was after the delay from the old release date of Summer 2016, which was itself a delay from a 2015 release. The reasons for this delay were said to be due to Atlus, the games developer and publisher, deciding to "[redouble their] QA and localization efforts" after the Japanese release of the game reportedly "smashed all [their] expectations." Specific mention was made of efforts to voice a larger number of lines in the game, and the game will feature dual audio (that is, both English and original Japanese voice options) via free download when the game is finally out.
This is all well and good, and I'm not saying the game shouldn't have been delayed. I'm a firm believer that, as long as the game actually does come out eventually, preferably while I'm still alive, it should be made as good as reasonably possible. It's still a bummer to know that there's a world where I'm playing the followup to one of my favorite games ever right now. To blow off some steam regarding this, I'd like to list all the reasons I'm bummed that Persona 5 isn't out right now.
Not to mention, as you can see, the game looks incredibly striking: If Persona 3 was mostly a muted blue, and Persona 4 a cheery yellow, then Persona 5 almost strikes a pose with its use of vibrant red. Movements, and UI elements, are sharp and punchy, moving in and out almost with intent to harm. The whole game looks absolutely amazing.
Who Are These Cool Cats?
In my opinion, the Persona series stands on the shoulders of its cast, and I'm liking what I've seen so far. We can only really go by designs, unless we look at Japanese story info which I'd rather not do, but these folks are cool as hell.
...and these are just a couple of the designs I like. Persona has a long history of good characters (though the way those characters are handled has been fumbled in the past), and I'm looking forward to a new cast to fall in love with.
In Conclusion...
Man. I just really wish this game was out. I mean, I have other games to play, but I've been waiting for this one for so long. I'll wait as long as I need to, it's not like I have a choice, but...hey. Atlus. Any chance I could get a copy a little early? Pretty please?
This is all well and good, and I'm not saying the game shouldn't have been delayed. I'm a firm believer that, as long as the game actually does come out eventually, preferably while I'm still alive, it should be made as good as reasonably possible. It's still a bummer to know that there's a world where I'm playing the followup to one of my favorite games ever right now. To blow off some steam regarding this, I'd like to list all the reasons I'm bummed that Persona 5 isn't out right now.
It's Been So Long
I feel the need to stress, again, how long it's been since the last Persona game came out. When Persona 4 came out back in 2008, I was in the summer before my last year of middle school. I was younger than the characters in the story, and if you take into account the game took place several years after it's release date in 2011, I was actually the same age as most of the cast. When Persona 5 is finally released, I'll be so far out of high school that I'm still somewhat surprised whenever I think about it. Even it's announcement was three years ago, back when the release date was given as "2015" in the US and "Winter 2014" in Japan.
Compared to the quick turnaround after Persona 3, released a scant 2 years before it's sequel, it's been a very long and grueling wait. Screenshots and videos indicate this wasn't for nothing, but this wait has still been over 3 times as long as the last. To put it into perspective, in the time since Persona 4 was released, Atlus has made:
That Style Though
Without the ability to play Persona 5, all I can do is look at screenshots, and oh what screenshots they are. A lot of Persona 5 looks like a logical, two-gens-later graphical update on Persona 3 and 4, and they look fantastic, with great details in environments. The big improvement, as many have pointed out, is the stellar user interface of the game. The standard menu has been improved with flashy transitions and dynamic movements:
I feel the need to stress, again, how long it's been since the last Persona game came out. When Persona 4 came out back in 2008, I was in the summer before my last year of middle school. I was younger than the characters in the story, and if you take into account the game took place several years after it's release date in 2011, I was actually the same age as most of the cast. When Persona 5 is finally released, I'll be so far out of high school that I'm still somewhat surprised whenever I think about it. Even it's announcement was three years ago, back when the release date was given as "2015" in the US and "Winter 2014" in Japan.
Compared to the quick turnaround after Persona 3, released a scant 2 years before it's sequel, it's been a very long and grueling wait. Screenshots and videos indicate this wasn't for nothing, but this wait has still been over 3 times as long as the last. To put it into perspective, in the time since Persona 4 was released, Atlus has made:
- A full, updated remake of Persona 4 for the Playstation Vita
- 4 spinoff games, including two fighting games, a rhythm game, and an Etrian Odyssey-style dungeon crawler
- A variety of multimedia deals, including two anime series, several stage plays, a manga, a light novel, and others
- Over half a dozen games in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, which Persona was originally a part of, though that branding has been dropped with Persona 5
That Style Though
Without the ability to play Persona 5, all I can do is look at screenshots, and oh what screenshots they are. A lot of Persona 5 looks like a logical, two-gens-later graphical update on Persona 3 and 4, and they look fantastic, with great details in environments. The big improvement, as many have pointed out, is the stellar user interface of the game. The standard menu has been improved with flashy transitions and dynamic movements:
Battle menus look even more slick. The standard menus of Persona 3 and 4 have been replaced with contextual button presses, which certainly seems like it would make combat much more fast-paced, and if nothing else certainly looks much cooler at a glance:
Not to mention, as you can see, the game looks incredibly striking: If Persona 3 was mostly a muted blue, and Persona 4 a cheery yellow, then Persona 5 almost strikes a pose with its use of vibrant red. Movements, and UI elements, are sharp and punchy, moving in and out almost with intent to harm. The whole game looks absolutely amazing.
Who Are These Cool Cats?
In my opinion, the Persona series stands on the shoulders of its cast, and I'm liking what I've seen so far. We can only really go by designs, unless we look at Japanese story info which I'd rather not do, but these folks are cool as hell.
 |
| Our Harry Potter-Lookin Protagonist |
 |
| Ryuji, the "Best Friend" who seems kind of pervy in trailers, per tradition |
 |
| Makoto, Student Council President and The One Who Punches |
 |
| Futaba, the Shut-In Support Character |
 |
| Morgana, The Mascot. Who immediately seems way less annoying than Teddie. |
...and these are just a couple of the designs I like. Persona has a long history of good characters (though the way those characters are handled has been fumbled in the past), and I'm looking forward to a new cast to fall in love with.
In Conclusion...
Man. I just really wish this game was out. I mean, I have other games to play, but I've been waiting for this one for so long. I'll wait as long as I need to, it's not like I have a choice, but...hey. Atlus. Any chance I could get a copy a little early? Pretty please?
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