Critical: 10/10
Revitalizing its gameplay mechanics, improving upon an already striking aesthetic, and offering more content for fans and newcomers—even though the new scenario is, at best, a complementary addition, Persona 5 Royal is the definitive way to play this landmark JRPG.
Personal: 9/10
If you haven't played Persona 5 at all: what are you waiting for? Go and play one of the best JRPGs of the decade, preferably this version.
That said, this review comes from the perspective of having played the original version: the new characters, flashy cinematics, extra content, and QoL adjustments are initially alluring, but you'll eventually realize it's really just the same (great) game.
Unless you're dying for a second playthrough (and perhaps significantly missed out on certain confidants), Persona 5 Royal shouldn't be too much of a priority. Even fans of Persona 5 should probably take their time elsewhere to spin-offs like Strikers or Dancing in Starlight, or similar experiences like Persona 4 Golden--especially since this is still a 100-hour journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed the new interactions between characters, especially with how the new content was sprinkled throughout the game to create a coherent narrative. Still, the central conflict of Royal begins to lose steam nearing its end, and for that reason, this version's ending doesn't leave the same impact as the original.
By no means do I regret this "second playthrough", though. It was a great opportunity to listen to the wonderful Japanese cast (I played the original with the equally amazing English cast) and bop to this game's jazzy, energetic soundtrack once again.
Revitalizing its gameplay mechanics, improving upon an already striking aesthetic, and offering more content for fans and newcomers—even though the new scenario is, at best, a complementary addition, Persona 5 Royal is the definitive way to play this landmark JRPG.
Personal: 9/10
If you haven't played Persona 5 at all: what are you waiting for? Go and play one of the best JRPGs of the decade, preferably this version.
That said, this review comes from the perspective of having played the original version: the new characters, flashy cinematics, extra content, and QoL adjustments are initially alluring, but you'll eventually realize it's really just the same (great) game.
Unless you're dying for a second playthrough (and perhaps significantly missed out on certain confidants), Persona 5 Royal shouldn't be too much of a priority. Even fans of Persona 5 should probably take their time elsewhere to spin-offs like Strikers or Dancing in Starlight, or similar experiences like Persona 4 Golden--especially since this is still a 100-hour journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed the new interactions between characters, especially with how the new content was sprinkled throughout the game to create a coherent narrative. Still, the central conflict of Royal begins to lose steam nearing its end, and for that reason, this version's ending doesn't leave the same impact as the original.
By no means do I regret this "second playthrough", though. It was a great opportunity to listen to the wonderful Japanese cast (I played the original with the equally amazing English cast) and bop to this game's jazzy, energetic soundtrack once again.