This review contains spoilers
I actually finished this game once. I didn't get to max all of the confidants, but I still enjoyed the game nonetheless. Played on Normal difficulty.
- ME POINTLESSLY RANTING ABOUT THE WRITING -
The story has some incongruencies, which can be noted on your first time playing the game. I'd consider the best written character to be Goro Akechi (which I still think they should have invested more time about the Black Mask stuff, also amazing voice acting) and worst to be Haru (simply not shown enough, half of it's storyline was taken by Morgana). The game has very weak characters compared to Persona 4 and Persona 3, they don't grow on you that much. The writing sometimes also stuck odd with me in occasions: after Ann"s character is revealed and after Kamoshida's Palace, her character is down-played and used for scenes that shouldn't have been written considering her backstory (That one scene where she is forced to "nude model" with Yusuke just to get the crew more information) or when Ryuji saves the entire crew, risking his life in the process, he doesn't appear with the cast for a few minutes and when he appears, the cast beats him up) There are more incidents of this but the review would be already too long if I named them all. I'd consider this game to have a worse story than the other Persona games before this one (except spin-offs.) I still fw it though.
EDIT: Another thing that really bothered me was how in every single palace, Morgana HAS to explain to you what the metaverse is, what the phantom thieves do and treasure and all that stuff. Which could make sense considering that he's telling the new member, but for the player it's so annoying I'd rather they just make Morgana say he told them already.
- GAMEPLAY -
I really loved the dungeon gameplay, it kept me interested in the game, and despite you being able to beat a Palace in one day the social sim aspect of the game was also fun and kept you entertained (unless it was night-time and Morgana forced you to sleep. Glad they changed that a bit in Royal). The battle gameplay was fun too, but got repetitive around Okumura's palace. However it wasn't too of a weak point that it still made me enjoy the game. The game does have a SERIOUS issue in the difficulty aspect, as after Madarame's Palace, with basic knowledge the game was a cakewalk.
-SOUNDTRACK-
Genuinely, I haven't seen many videogame series where the soundtrack is so unique and the praise is definitely deserved. The game's soundtrack fits the game and its aesthetics like a glove and I love it. Love you Shoji Meguro
- WORST AND BESTS -
I'd say that the worst dungeon gameplay was in Okumura's Palace, as the puzzles were time-consuming and bothered me sometimes. Best dungeon of the game is definitely Futaba's Palace, as it was more entertaining than any of the other palaces.
I can't give a true worst confidant as I didn't experience them all, but I really liked Shinya Oda (Tower)'s confidant.
There is no worst song. Best songs are definitely Rivers in the Desert and Hoshi To Bokura To.
4.5/5
- ME POINTLESSLY RANTING ABOUT THE WRITING -
The story has some incongruencies, which can be noted on your first time playing the game. I'd consider the best written character to be Goro Akechi (which I still think they should have invested more time about the Black Mask stuff, also amazing voice acting) and worst to be Haru (simply not shown enough, half of it's storyline was taken by Morgana). The game has very weak characters compared to Persona 4 and Persona 3, they don't grow on you that much. The writing sometimes also stuck odd with me in occasions: after Ann"s character is revealed and after Kamoshida's Palace, her character is down-played and used for scenes that shouldn't have been written considering her backstory (That one scene where she is forced to "nude model" with Yusuke just to get the crew more information) or when Ryuji saves the entire crew, risking his life in the process, he doesn't appear with the cast for a few minutes and when he appears, the cast beats him up) There are more incidents of this but the review would be already too long if I named them all. I'd consider this game to have a worse story than the other Persona games before this one (except spin-offs.) I still fw it though.
EDIT: Another thing that really bothered me was how in every single palace, Morgana HAS to explain to you what the metaverse is, what the phantom thieves do and treasure and all that stuff. Which could make sense considering that he's telling the new member, but for the player it's so annoying I'd rather they just make Morgana say he told them already.
- GAMEPLAY -
I really loved the dungeon gameplay, it kept me interested in the game, and despite you being able to beat a Palace in one day the social sim aspect of the game was also fun and kept you entertained (unless it was night-time and Morgana forced you to sleep. Glad they changed that a bit in Royal). The battle gameplay was fun too, but got repetitive around Okumura's palace. However it wasn't too of a weak point that it still made me enjoy the game. The game does have a SERIOUS issue in the difficulty aspect, as after Madarame's Palace, with basic knowledge the game was a cakewalk.
-SOUNDTRACK-
Genuinely, I haven't seen many videogame series where the soundtrack is so unique and the praise is definitely deserved. The game's soundtrack fits the game and its aesthetics like a glove and I love it. Love you Shoji Meguro
- WORST AND BESTS -
I'd say that the worst dungeon gameplay was in Okumura's Palace, as the puzzles were time-consuming and bothered me sometimes. Best dungeon of the game is definitely Futaba's Palace, as it was more entertaining than any of the other palaces.
I can't give a true worst confidant as I didn't experience them all, but I really liked Shinya Oda (Tower)'s confidant.
There is no worst song. Best songs are definitely Rivers in the Desert and Hoshi To Bokura To.
4.5/5