Sometimes it's the journey, not the destination.
The moment to moment vibes of P5R are just immaculate, the game is oozing so much style in almost every single screen and every gameplay system from battle mechanics, oversocial links confidants to every tiny side activity are just polished to perfection.
Where it gets tricky is in its themes and presentation thereof. The whole world is probably more based on Carl Gustav Jung than ever before. "Personas" in this sense fuse two of his concepts: the personas as masks (and thus as outward representations of oneself in social settings) as well as the inner shadows as negative aspects of ourselves we don't want to accept or that are not fit for social norms in general.
The collective unconscious as the reason why the same "archetypes" exist in many people, cultures, mythologies and stories: mother-type goddesses, the trickster, the old sage or a cat that can turn into a car...
This whole dedication to psychology, mythology and storytelling is one of P5R strongest aspects, but also were it falters. Our heroes are all outcast in one way or another and their Personas are often themed around famous figures, that have some trickster-like or otherwise mischevious qualities. They are Tricksters, gods that are not entirely good, yet their strange way of seeing and interacting with the world makes them also bringers of change; bringers of culture itself... And that at least works for most of the individual antagonists you face every month. Infiltrating their "Palace", their "distorted cognition" - that is there sense of self and their surrounding environment - to change them for the better. Where the game falters in its themes is when the whole thing gets supposedly "political". Shido is not only a very flat antagonist his whole ideology is super unclear - he wants to "make a strong country for the masses that can't rely on themselves" - you could argue that sounds very nationalistic, but we don't get to hear anything about how is policy is to be enacted nor what he actually wants to achieve. The whole things sometimes reads like a parody of a politician that isn't really saying anything - but this is our antagonist. We should know, what we stand against. (it also doesn't help that the game often frames this as "corrupt adults" making the whole thing seem very childish at times)
I also really don't like the flat commentary on "the masses". Not onlyour enemies, but our heroes as well often make commentary to most people just being "bored" and thus just on whichever side is most entertaining or trendy, they just want to be controlled and not think for themselves - or thats what the game tells us with the mouths of Shido and the Phantom Thieves both.
By focussing so much on psychology it also makes societal problems come down to a couple of bad actors - the evils of society as individual flaws of people in power, not the system itself.
This is visible the most when talking about gender. The whole Kamoshida sequence is really good an tackles abuse and sexual harassment in a very tangible way without becoming exploitative - only to have Ann having to model naked against her will for the next mission. In general some of the adult dating options and a couple of scenes make women the center point of sexual fetishes - and while they're not as awful as they were in P3 and P4 - they are still heaily disonant with its theme of changing society.
The game really likes the aesthetics of revolution but not its actual content. Makoto is probably one of the best cases here, she learns to go against the system and prevalent power structures, becomes a rebel and wants to carve a way for herself. She becomes a Phatom Thief ... and then she wants to become a cop...cause that will change society...or something... In Persona 5 Royal "change" just means replacing bad apples, not actually changing anything.
...and all that is just really sad cause the whole theming of tricksters and this cast of characters is actually really good. I love these misfits, I love this game, but sometimes I need to just skim over it's messages to still enjoy what's happening.
P.S. I still dated Makoto. Shut up, I can change her!
The moment to moment vibes of P5R are just immaculate, the game is oozing so much style in almost every single screen and every gameplay system from battle mechanics, over
Where it gets tricky is in its themes and presentation thereof. The whole world is probably more based on Carl Gustav Jung than ever before. "Personas" in this sense fuse two of his concepts: the personas as masks (and thus as outward representations of oneself in social settings) as well as the inner shadows as negative aspects of ourselves we don't want to accept or that are not fit for social norms in general.
The collective unconscious as the reason why the same "archetypes" exist in many people, cultures, mythologies and stories: mother-type goddesses, the trickster, the old sage or a cat that can turn into a car...
This whole dedication to psychology, mythology and storytelling is one of P5R strongest aspects, but also were it falters. Our heroes are all outcast in one way or another and their Personas are often themed around famous figures, that have some trickster-like or otherwise mischevious qualities. They are Tricksters, gods that are not entirely good, yet their strange way of seeing and interacting with the world makes them also bringers of change; bringers of culture itself... And that at least works for most of the individual antagonists you face every month. Infiltrating their "Palace", their "distorted cognition" - that is there sense of self and their surrounding environment - to change them for the better. Where the game falters in its themes is when the whole thing gets supposedly "political". Shido is not only a very flat antagonist his whole ideology is super unclear - he wants to "make a strong country for the masses that can't rely on themselves" - you could argue that sounds very nationalistic, but we don't get to hear anything about how is policy is to be enacted nor what he actually wants to achieve. The whole things sometimes reads like a parody of a politician that isn't really saying anything - but this is our antagonist. We should know, what we stand against. (it also doesn't help that the game often frames this as "corrupt adults" making the whole thing seem very childish at times)
I also really don't like the flat commentary on "the masses". Not onlyour enemies, but our heroes as well often make commentary to most people just being "bored" and thus just on whichever side is most entertaining or trendy, they just want to be controlled and not think for themselves - or thats what the game tells us with the mouths of Shido and the Phantom Thieves both.
By focussing so much on psychology it also makes societal problems come down to a couple of bad actors - the evils of society as individual flaws of people in power, not the system itself.
This is visible the most when talking about gender. The whole Kamoshida sequence is really good an tackles abuse and sexual harassment in a very tangible way without becoming exploitative - only to have Ann having to model naked against her will for the next mission. In general some of the adult dating options and a couple of scenes make women the center point of sexual fetishes - and while they're not as awful as they were in P3 and P4 - they are still heaily disonant with its theme of changing society.
The game really likes the aesthetics of revolution but not its actual content. Makoto is probably one of the best cases here, she learns to go against the system and prevalent power structures, becomes a rebel and wants to carve a way for herself. She becomes a Phatom Thief ... and then she wants to become a cop...cause that will change society...or something... In Persona 5 Royal "change" just means replacing bad apples, not actually changing anything.
...and all that is just really sad cause the whole theming of tricksters and this cast of characters is actually really good. I love these misfits, I love this game, but sometimes I need to just skim over it's messages to still enjoy what's happening.
P.S. I still dated Makoto. Shut up, I can change her!