Pros
- Engaging Storyline and Characters
- Compelling Narrative: Persona 5 Royal’s story is a captivating blend of high school drama and supernatural elements. Players take on the role of a high school student who becomes a Phantom Thief, fighting against societal corruption.
- Character Depth: Each character is well-developed, with rich backstories and personal growth arcs. The new character, Kasumi Yoshizawa, adds another layer to the narrative, providing fresh perspectives and emotional depth.
- Enhanced Gameplay Mechanics
- Additional Content: Persona 5 Royal includes new content such as the third semester, new confidants, and extra dungeons. These additions offer more gameplay hours and a deeper exploration of the game’s world.
- Improved Combat System: The battle system has been refined with new mechanics like the Baton Pass, Showtime attacks, and updated Persona fusions. These enhancements make combat more strategic and engaging.
- Aesthetic Excellence
- Visuals and Art Style: The game’s vibrant art style and stylish character designs are a feast for the eyes. The updated graphics in Royal further enhance the visual experience.
- Soundtrack: The soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is one of the best in the genre. The new tracks introduced in Royal blend seamlessly with the original score, maintaining the game’s unique musical identity.
- Quality of Life Improvements
- User Interface: The UI is sleek and intuitive, making navigation and menu management straightforward. The improvements in Royal make the overall experience smoother.
- Balancing and Adjustments: Various gameplay elements have been rebalanced, making the game more accessible to newcomers while still challenging for veterans.
Cons
- Length and Pacing
- Overwhelming Content: While the extensive content is a boon for some, others may find the game’s length overwhelming. Completing Persona 5 Royal can take over 100 hours, which might be a significant time investment for some players.
- Slow Start: The game’s introduction and early chapters can feel slow-paced. The initial hours involve a lot of exposition and tutorials, which might deter players seeking immediate action.
- Repetitive Gameplay Elements
- Grinding: Like many RPGs, Persona 5 Royal requires a fair amount of grinding, particularly in the Mementos dungeons. This can become monotonous for players who prefer a more varied gameplay experience.
- Daily Routine: The daily life simulation aspect of the game, while unique, may feel repetitive to some players. Managing school life, social activities, and dungeon crawling can become predictable over time.
- Complexity and Accessibility
- Steep Learning Curve: The game’s numerous mechanics and systems can be daunting for newcomers. Understanding Personas, social links, and combat strategies requires time and patience.
- Text-Heavy: Persona 5 Royal is a text-heavy game, with extensive dialogue and narrative exposition. Players who prefer more action-oriented gameplay might find this aspect less appealing.
- Limited Innovation from Persona 5
- Similarity to Original: While Persona 5 Royal adds substantial new content, it remains fundamentally similar to Persona 5. Players who have completed the original game may find the experience too familiar, despite the enhancements.
Conclusion
Persona 5 Royal stands as a monumental achievement in the RPG genre, offering a rich narrative, deep characters, and refined gameplay mechanics. Its aesthetic appeal and quality-of-life improvements make it a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike. However, its lengthy campaign, repetitive elements, and steep learning curve may not be for everyone. Balancing these pros and cons will help players decide if Persona 5 Royal is the right game for them.
