Exploring the Appeal of Shining Resonance Refrain for Persona Fans

Article Key Points

The popularity of Persona 5 is due to its unique blend of anime aesthetics, a captivating soundtrack, and social simulator mechanics that bring fans' slice-of-life anime dreams to life.

Shining Resonance Refrain, a relatively obscure JRPG series, provides a comparable gaming experience to Persona through its anime-inspired visuals, inclusion of a dating simulator aspect, and outstanding musical soundtrack.

Both Persona and Shining Resonance Refrain skillfully integrate music into their gameplay mechanics, and their social simulation elements enable players to forge bonds and enhance character abilities, making them particularly appealing to enthusiasts of this genre.

Persona 5's launch propelled Atlus's long-running franchise into the mainstream, marking a significant shift from its niche status as a JRPG series. This rise to prominence aligns with the increasing popularity of anime and Japanese media globally during the 2010s. Persona 5 stands out with its landmark turn-based combat system and immersive social simulator mechanics. The game's captivating blend of anime aesthetics, an exceptional soundtrack, and the opportunity for fans to indulge in their slice-of-life anime dreams made it a resounding success. Although fans have been able to revisit earlier installments through recent re-releases, many are still yearning for more similar experiences.

The Shining franchise, a JRPG series from Sega, often goes overlooked by fans. While the Shining Force spinoffs helped introduce tactical JRPGs to the Western market, the overall series has become increasingly obscure. Among the more recent additions to the franchise is Shining Resonance Refrain, an enhanced version of Shining Resonance originally released on the PS3. Similar to Persona, Shining Resonance Refrain combines anime-inspired visuals, dating sim elements, and a remarkable soundtrack to create a unique gaming experience. Although the game may not possess the same level of ambition and scale as Persona, it could serve as an ideal choice for Persona enthusiasts seeking something to occupy their time until the next installment in the series becomes available.

Music Is Built Into the Bones of Persona and Shining Resonance Refrain

Persona's incredible success can be largely attributed to its music. While the game's soundtrack isn't integrated within the game world, the music in the recent entries is meticulously composed to suit each scene and setting, fitting thematically with the game's events. What truly sets Persona apart from other games is its incorporation of popular music styles alongside a traditional instrumental score. P4 incorporates J-pop influences, while Acid Jazz permeates every aspect of P5. The music from Persona is not only performed live at concerts but also enjoys standalone success on streaming platforms, separate from the game itself. Additionally, music plays a significant role in Shining Resonance Refrain's identity.

Shining Resonance Refrain's Mechanics are Named After Musical Terms

In Shining Resonance Refrain, music plays a subtle yet significant role. The game incorporates a BAND mechanic, where each character's weapon doubles as a musical instrument. This allows players to "conduct" their party and fine-tune their weapons' stats. By playing rune songs, players can provide different buffs for their party during combat. Music acts as the foundation for the game's systems, similar to how it is in Persona. The game also features vocally driven tracks with pop-inspired elements, reminiscent of Persona's aesthetic cohesion. With its unique combination of pop and fantasy music, Shining Resonance Refrain's soundtrack truly stands out on its own.

Persona and Shining Resonance Refrain Are Both About Relationships

Similar to Persona, Shining Resonance Refrain incorporates a social simulator mechanic that significantly impacts the game's combat and other gameplay systems. In Persona games, players have the opportunity to build relationships with their party members and other associates. As these relationships progress, the protagonist develops a closer bond with the characters and gains a deeper understanding of their personalities through the leveling up of their Social Links. This process also unlocks additional abilities for the characters and allows for the pursuit of romantic relationships. In Shining Resonance Refrain, the Social Links are replaced by a bond system, where all characters share relationships and can be strategically positioned on the Bond Diagram to activate various beneficial effects.

Similarly to Persona, in Shining Resonance, relationships are nurtured by spending quality time with each character, engaging in social activities together. These relationships can also evolve into romantic ones. While the core gameplay of Shining Resonance Refrain follows the action RPG style of other Shining games, such as Tales of Arise, there are noteworthy elements that bear a striking resemblance to P5 and other titles in the Persona series. For players eagerly awaiting the release of Persona 5 Tactica later this month, Shining Resonance Refrain could serve as an engaging interim experience to keep them occupied.

Experience Persona 5, the latest installment in the beloved series, as it unveils the enigmatic Joker. Embark on a thrilling adventure, confronting Palaces, while managing the everyday challenges of student life in this captivating JRPG.

Franchise: Persona

Platform(s): PS3, PS4

Release Date: September 15, 2016

Developed by: P-Studio

Genres: RPG, Social Simulation

Published by: Atlus

Game Engine: Proprietary

ESRB Rating: M for Mature - Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

Average Completion Time: 100 Hours

X|S Enhanced: Yes

File Size on Xbox Series: 39 GB (as of May 2023)

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I'm excited to see the release of Shining Resonance Refrain, a JRPG series from Sega that offers a unique gaming experience similar to the beloved Persona franchise. With its anime-inspired visuals, inclusion of a dating simulator aspect, and outstanding musical soundtrack, Shining Resonance Refrain is sure to appeal to fans of Persona and other JRPGs.

I'm particularly interested in the game's music, which plays a significant role in both the gameplay and the story. The game incorporates a BAND mechanic, where each character's weapon doubles as a musical instrument. This allows players to "conduct" their party and fine-tune their weapons' stats. By playing rune songs, players can provide different buffs for their party during combat. Music acts as the foundation for the game's systems, similar to how it is in Persona. The game also features vocally driven tracks with pop-inspired elements, reminiscent of Persona's aesthetic cohesion. With its unique combination of pop and fantasy music, Shining Resonance Refrain's soundtrack truly stands out on its own.